Rearcross 'B' hold the aces over Birdhill

Rearcross ‘B’ travelled in numbers to Birdhill on Sunday morning in their first away game of the league season. Birdhill were just off the back of winning the second division shield the week beforehand, meaning it would be a tough test for Rea. Rea played free flowing football from the off with some good passages of play particularly down the left wing with Colm Carey and Cathal Ryan linking up well. However, the hosts took the lead early on against the run of play when a Liam King cross found its way to the net. Rearcross didn’t let their heads drop and replied a few minutes later when a Brian Hammersley goal kick was taken down by Cathal Ryan who found the run of Colm Carey who then struck a brilliant shot across Colin Floyd in the Birdhill goal and into the net. It was then Birdhill’s time to strike again when Liam King’s effort from outside the box managed to find its way into the back of the net. Rea went in 2-1 down at half time despite playing the better football.
The second half began with Rea once again dominating the play and got their deserved equaliser in the 61st minute when a Gavin Denihan free kick from just inside his own half was delivered into the Birdhill box and scrambled into the net by Oisín Kelly. Rearcross eventually took the lead in the game when Gavin Denihan went on a mazy run across the middle of the field and played a perfectly weighted ball over the top for Colm Carey who struck the ball first time into the bottom corner of the Birdhill net in what was a brilliant finish. Birdhill kept pushing and almost got a 3rd when a free kick on the edge of the box was parried by Brian Hammersley and then cleared off the line by Oisín Reynolds. Rea then went and put the game to bed in injury time when two youngsters Patrick Ryan and Jack Nolan linked up excellently as Patrick played a great ball over the top which Jack took down well and then found the run of Patrick with a lovely cross field ball, Patrick made no mistake as he finished well to see the game out. Well done to Cathal Ryan and Jack Nolan on making their junior debuts for the club.

Birdhill: C. Floyd, G. McGrath, F. Troy, J. English, T. Ryan, S. Wrynn, S. Geraghty, L. Ryan, S. Nolan, L. King, C. Carew.
Subs: M. O’Flaherty, D. Corrigan.

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Paul Ryan, Gavin Denihan, Eamonn Devitt, Sean Malone, Kieran Devitt, Max Carroll, Oisín Kelly, Colm Carey, Colm Nolan, Cathal Ryan.
Subs: Oisín Reynolds, Patrick Ryan, Shane Lenihan, Jack Nolan, David Brennan, Gary Ryan, Paul Carey, PJ Lenihan, Anthony Ryan.

Referee: Lee Doran

Report by Brian Hammersley

The Club would like to acknowledge and thank O’D Cleaning Supplies for their generous sponsorship of windbreakers for Rearcross ‘A’ & ‘B’ players and extend thanks to Paul Carey for organising the sponsorship.

Colm Carey finishes superbly to the net from a Cathal Ryan assist

Oisín Kelly scrambles Gavin Denihan's free kick over the line to level matters for Rea

Colm Carey with a splendid 2nd goal of the day courtesy of a Gavin Denihan long range assist

Patrick Ryan leaves no way back for Birdhill with a fine finish from a clinical cross field pass by Jack Nolan