Share of the spoils for Rearcross ‘A’ against the league leaders

Rearcross travelled to high flying Ardcroney for their 4th game of the league campaign. Both sides started cautiously and it was defences on top for the most part. Rea fashioned the opening chance of the half when Darragh Carr flashed a header the wrong side of the post following good work on the wing from Cillian Kennedy. Ardcroney's best form of attack were long throw ins from Jack Daly where centre half Luke Dervan got forward at every opportunity. On the 35th minute Ardcroney would get their reward from a long throw in when Luke Dervan’s flicked header went off Rob Harrington's head and looped over Cathal Kennedy where Kieran Spain was on hand to finish at the back post. This spurred Rea into action and they could have found themselves level on 2 separate occasions. The 1st saw Cillian Kennedy flick the ball onto James Deegan but his shot flew over the bar. Cillian himself then had an opportunity but his strike also went over the bar. 1 nil at halftime.
Rea thought they had equalised straight after the break when Cillian Kennedy's strike went through the keepers’ legs but didn't have enough purchase on it to cross the line. It wouldn't take long though for Rea to get level. A flicked through ball from Greg Kennedy saw Cillian Kennedy latch onto it and he flicked the ball past the onrushing keeper into the corner of the net. From here Rea pushed hard to force a winner. Paddy Dawson had 2 efforts one from a freekick and one from outside the box, both which Kevin Shinners got down smartly to tip around the post. James Deegan thought he had won it for the visitors when he went through one on one and finished to the net with a great strike but the goal was ruled out for offside. Rea had one final chance to win it when great work in the middle of the park saw Conor Nolan play James Deegan through but his shot went over the bar.

Ardcroney FC: K Shinnors, D Slattery, D Persse, A Darcy, L Dervan (Capt), A Hayes, K Spain, R Austin, R Hughes, J Daly, P Molloy
Subs: S Hayes, C Culhane, D Cahalan, C Hanley, D Ryan, L O’Regan

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy (Capt), Eoin Sheldon, Brian Nolan, Robert Harrington, Greg Kennedy, Darragh Carr, Patrick Dawson, Paul Nolan, James Rochford, James Deegan, Cillian Kennedy
Subs: Conor Nolan, Stephen Rochford, Callum Wallace, Eoghan Kavanagh, Paul Carey,

Referee: Jim McGrath

Report by Robert Harrington

Cillian Kennedy levels for Rearcross after getting on the end of a Greg Kennedy delivery