Winning ways continue for Rearcross U-13’s with 3-1 away win

Rearcross U-13 Boys were away to Ballymackey ‘B’ last Saturday and collected maximum points on a 3-1 scoreline. The Rea boys started the quickest and Jonathan Dawson was unlucky with a volleyed effort in the 3rd minute after Micheál Collins delivered a cross in from the right and then a Jonathan Dawson free kick into the box was headed just wide of the mark by Patrick Carr on the five-minute mark. Ballymackey custodian Tadhg Murphy saved again from a Micheál Collins strike to keep the scores level. Again, and again Rearcross peppered the Ballymackey goal but Tadgh Murphy was up to the task. A brilliant  chip over the Ballymackey keeper by Patrick Carr was cleared off the goal line by a Ballymackey defender. Rearcross kept the pressure on and a trio of shots on goal in quick succession from Jonathan Dawson, Conor Nolan and Ciaran McLoughlin were met each time by equally brilliant saves by Tadgh Murphy. The deadlock was finally broken in the 25th minute when Jonathan Dawson’s corner kick caused all sorts of panic before being headed over the line by Conor Nolan. Tadgh Murphy was in superb form throughout and made three more saves before half time to keep the score line 1-0 at the half time whistle.
Ballymackey started brightly in the second half and their first strike on goal was brilliantly saved by Darragh Reynolds. James Costello was having a very commanding match and he and his fellow backs of Stephen Ryan, Andrew Hanley and Jack Hickey kept the Ballymackey forwards at bay. The Rearcross midfield of Micheál Collins, Patrick Carr, Ciaran McLoughlin and Ryan Quigley started to dominate the play and all were involved in build-up play to a Conor Nolan strike and a brace of efforts from Jonathan Dawson but found the Ballymackey keeper equal to the task with a number of brilliant saves again. Rearcross finally added to their lead when good interplay set Jonathan Dawson away who finished with a fine strike. The Slieve Felim side were pushing for a third with Patrick Carr, Stephen Ryan and Conor Nolan all getting strikes on target but the Ballymackey shot stopper saved on each occasion to keep his side in the tie. The Ballinree side scored their only goal of the game when a free kick by Ben Ryan had too much power before beating the outstretched Darragh Reynolds in the Rearcross goals while at the other end, Rearcross had three more strikes on goals saved by Tadgh Murphy who truly produced a man of the match performance. Rearcross finally scored their third of the match when Micheál Collins sent a brilliant header past the Ballymackey keeper after latching on to a cross from Patrick Carr to copper fasten the win for Rea.

Rearcross U-13 players were given Rearcross FC gear bags kindly sponsored by Mid-West Oil after the match, sincere thanks to Mid-West Oil for their generosity.

Rearcross U-13 Boys: Darragh Reynolds, Jack Hickey, James Costello, Stephen Ryan, Andrew Hanley, Michael Collins, Patrick Carr, Ciaran McLoughlin, Ryan Quigley, Conor Nolan, Jonathan Dawson, Conor McInerney, Paudie Clifford, Cathal Hickey, Patrick Hanley, Matthew Ryan, Liam O’Dwyer

Ballymackey 'B': Tadgh Murphy, Liam Kennedy, Oliver Duff, Joe Fahy, James Mounsey, Ryan Kennedy, Ben Platt, Evan Ryan, Charlie Cummins, Craig Kennedy, Myles Kelly, Ben Delaney, Sean Treacy

Referee: Bobby O’Connor

Report by Shane Reynolds