Rearcross bow out of Premier Division Shield despite spirited fight back

Rearcross A's competitive season began on Tuesday last when they welcomed Shinrone to Rearcross for a Shield 1/4 final contest. Both sides are well accustomed to each other from multiple meeting over the last few seasons with all games usually tight and well contested. This game was to prove no different. Teams were evenly matched for the first 20 minutes with Rearcross perhaps shading things but it was the away side who struck the 1st blow on 20 minutes. Good work from Rearcross had seen them force a corner but a powerful header from the centre back saw the ball land near the halfway line and Rearcross were immediately in trouble. Having committed too many men forward for the corner, they were caught short at the back and Shinrone made them pay. The winger picked up the ball at the centre circle and flew down the wing. Patrick Ryan did his best tracking back but some clever play by the winger saw him play a lovely ball across the box to Riann McLoughlin who took a touch before finishing cooly past Cathal Kennedy in the Rearcross goals. Things were to get worse for Rearcross 10 minutes later. A ball was played in from the left wing and the Shinrone attacker was allowed far too long in the box. He took the ball down, danced around a defender before being taken down by Cathal Kennedy in goals, a penalty no doubt which was converted by Riann McLoughlin. Rea saw out the rest of the half and were left under no doubt by management at half time that things needed to improve. However, things were to get worse before they got better. 5 minutes into the second half, a long delivery from Cathal Kennedy was headed clear by the Shinrone defence. It was picked up by the Shinrone midfielder who sent a quick ball through to Simon Hutchinson Hayes who outran the Rearcross defence before a lovely finish past Cathal in the Rea goals. To be fair to Rea, they could have downed tools at this stage but that's not the Rearcross way. Some substitutions by the Rearcross management seemed to have the desired effect with Eoin Kavanagh's introduction to the middle of the field making a difference. It was 3 1 with 30 minutes remaining when James Deegan sent a rocket of a free kick to the net with the power of the shot seeming to fool the goalkeeper, game on. It was 3 2 with 15 minutes remaining when Eoin Kavanagh followed up a shot by James Deegan and won a penalty in the process. Up stepped the ever-reliable Greg Kennedy who finished smartly to the bottom right-hand corner to leave the minimum between the sides. Unfortunately, though that was as close as Rearcross got and Shinrone moved forward to the semi-finals of the shield. Rearcross can look back on their first half performance as to the reason for the defeat but they can take great heart from the way they rallied in the second half, being unlucky in the end not to get something from the game. Best for Rearcross were Conor Nolan, Cathal Kennedy and Eoin Kavanagh who impressed off the bench with his tireless running. No game for Rearcross A this weekend with the league kicking into full swing on the Weekend of September 17th.

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy (Capt), Oisin Reynolds, Gary O'Brien, Greg Kennedy, Adam Hurley, Conor Nolan, Kayden Amodeo, James Rochford, Stephen Rochford, Paddy Ryan, James Deegan.
Subs: Eoin Kavanagh, Ryan Amodeo, Philly Deegan, Paul Ryan.

Shinrone ‘A’: B Younge, G Hayes, S Kelly, M Cordial (Capt), R Dempsey, D Cahill, C Cleary, K Fallon, R Ely McLoughlin, S Hutchinson Hayes, M Harty
Subs: D McLoughlin, T Bartlett, L Reamsbottom, C Jesus Da Silva

Referee: David Butler

Report by Eamonn Devitt

James Deegan pegs a goal back with a fine strike from a free kick outside the box

Greg Kennedy converts with aplomb from the spot to make it 3-2