Munster Junior Cup exit for Rearcross ‘A’ in Templemore

Rearcross travelled to Templemore to face BT Harps in the Munster Junior Cup. Both sides had made good starts to their seasons. The opening 20 minutes was a cagey affair as both sides were trying to get a foothold in the game. Daragh O Siochrú was unlucky on a couple of occasions to get in behind the BT defense only for to be called back for offside. BT went 1 nil up on the 25th minute when a long-range free kick was played into the Rea box and the clearing header saw the ball fall to Szymon Popiela and his first time volley flew into the top corner giving Jim Caplis no chance. Rea nearly hit back immediately though as a free on the left-hand side was swung in by Tadgh O Siochrú and just eluded the outstretched leg of Michael O’Gorman. BT Harps made it 2 nil on the 35th minute when the dangerous Popiela picked up the ball and turned and ran at the Rea backline before unleashing a strike from outside the box which found its way to the top corner of the net, another great strike. To their credit Rea kept battling and thought they had pulled one back before halftime when a corner found Philly Deegan at the back post but his strike was cleared off the line.
With a change in formation at halftime Rea looked to get back in the game but were hit with a sucker punch on the 46th minute when Rhys Loughnane collected the ball outside the box and his shot looped in over Jim Caplis to effectively kill off the game. Rea did keep fighting to try and get back into the game but nothing seemed to click for them on the day. Daragh O Siochrú found himself one on one with the keeper only for his strike to be saved. Paddy Dawson a 2nd half sub was getting on plenty of ball and starting to have an influence on the game with his freekick from 25 yards out was well saved by the BT keeper. Paddy Dawson also had another strike from the edge of the area which clipped the outside of the post and went wide. It wasn't to be and the game ended 3 nil to the hosts. Best of luck to BT Harps in the next round of the competition.

BT Harps ‘A’: T Bourke, L Fairbrother, L Campion, B Roche, J Coleman, R. Ait Ouhamou, J Johnson, J Bourke, S Poliela, R Loughnane, R Loughnane.
Subs: J Moloney, K Fennell, J Monaghan, B Stapleton, J Kennedy

Rearcross ‘A’: Jim Caplis, Callum Wallace, Stephen Rochford, Philip Deegan, Greg Kennedy, Paul Nolan, Tadhg O’Siochrú, Conor Nolan, Daragh O’Siochrú, James Deegan, Michael O’Gorman
Subs: Patrick Dawson, Cillian Kennedy, Brian Nolan

Referee: Robbie Nevin

Report by Robert Harrington