Rearcross ‘B’ secure Cup semi-final spot with away victory

Rearcross were the visitors to Ballymackey for the Nora Kennedy Cup quarter final. It was the away side that settled quickly and were moving the ball well in midfield. Oisin Kelly had the game’s opening chance when he was played in on the right but his shot was blocked out for a corner. It was on the 30th minute mark when Rea took the lead, a corner from the right was swung into the near post by Gavin Denihan and Colm Carey got a flick on the ball which looped in over the keeper and into the far corner of the net. 10 minutes later the away side went 2 nil up, following neat play from the trio of Colm Carey, Rob Harrington and Oisin Kelly on the edge of the area the ball was worked out to Paul Carey whose 1st time cross found Colm Carey at the back post and he volleyed to the net. 2 nil at the break.
Rea got off to the best possible start when the game resumed. This time it was Colm Carey that turned provider when he received the ball on the left wing and fizzed the ball into the box where Paul Carey was and his brilliant 1st touch allowed him to volley to the net giving the keeper no chance. Ballymackey almost immediately pulled a goal back when Andrew Hayden picked up the ball outside the box and his low strike found the corner of the net. Ballymackey made a few changes and the fresh changes were making a difference and for the next 15 minutes they threw everything at Rea. However, the back four of Colm Nolan, Eamon Wade, Eamon Devitt and Paul Ryan were defending well and they cleared everything that came at them. Rea weathered the storm and got their 4th goal when a dangerous free kick was swung into the 6-yard box by Gavin Denihan and it was turned into the net by the Ballymackey defender. Rea got their 5th goal with 5 minutes to go, Colm Carey completing his hat trick when he won a 50/50 ball with the keeper and rolled it into an empty net. A great team performance from Rea and they now face Sallypark in the semi-final.

Ballymackey ‘B’: J Dunne, R Mandrila, S Gibbons, G Kevin, L O'Connor, T Delaney (Capt), J Kenneally, T McCarthy, P Duffy, R Kenneally, A Hayden
Subs: C Dervan, D Haverty, M Connolly, T Hogan, J Kenneally, D Campbell, M Grace, P Bergin, E Heneghan

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Colm Nolan, Paul Ryan, Eamonn Devitt, Eamonn Wade, Donnacha O’Brien (Capt), Robert Harrington, Colm Carey, Oisin Kelly, Paul Carey, Gavin Denihan
Subs: Anthony Ryan, Felim Deegan, William Horrigan,

Referee: David Butler

Report by Robert Harrington