Rearcross progress to the National stages of the FAI Junior Cup

Rearcross made the short journey to Cullen to face Cullen Lattin AFC in the FAI Junior Cup. Rearcross started the tie brightly and had a couple of early efforts on goal without really troubling the Cullen keeper. The best of these chances saw Conor Nolan pick up the ball on the left wing and he beat his marker and played a great through ball to James Deegan but his left footed strike was straight at the keeper. After the 10-minute mark Cullen started to grow into the contest and had their best spell of the match. They nearly opened their account on the 20th minute, the Rea defence had two attempts to clear the ball but failed to do so and the ball fell to the Cullen attacker who let fly and his strike beat Cathal Kennedy but it struck the inside of the post and bounced out. Ten minutes later saw Cullen rattle the post for the second time. Another mix up in the Rea defence saw the ball failed to be cleared, another good strike saw the ball hit the post and the rebound fell to a Cullen player but with the goal at his mercy his strike went the wrong side of the post. A real let off for Rea on this occasion. From here Rearcross rallied and finished the half the stronger. They had several corners which amounted to no clear-cut chances. Paddy Deegan had a free kick from 25 yards out but failed to hit the target to leave it nil all at the break.
Rearcross started the second half very well and were very unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. Paddy Deegan received the ball on the right wing and beat the full back, and then flashed the ball across the six-yard box but there was no one the end for a simple tap in. The next chance fell to Tadgh O Siochrú, following a long throw into the box by Paddy Deegan to the feet of James Deegan who flicked the ball to the onrushing Tadgh O’Siochrú whose fierce volley from an acute angle was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Rearcross introduced Paddy Dawson in the 65th minute on the right wing and five minutes later he put the visitors one nil up after receiving the ball thirty yards from goal and his well struck effort seemed to deceive the Cullen keeper before ending up in the corner of the net, much to the delight of the travelling support. Cullen at this stage were pushing men forward and it was Rea who nearly caught them on the counter attack. Daragh O Siochrú dropped into midfield to receive the ball and turned to play a through ball to James Deegan who found himself one on one with the keeper but just as he was about to pull the trigger the ball bobbled and his strike went the wrong side of the post. A few minutes later Rea thought they had made it 2 nil, when Paddy Dawson got the ball on the right wing and his brilliant cross found Conor Nolan whose first time strike hit the back of the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. The next chance again fell to Rea when the ball broke to James Deegan in the box and his lobbed effort just went over the bar with the keeper beaten. To their credit, Cullen Lattin kept pushing until the end and the last chance fell to them but a combination of Cathal Kennedy and Greg Kennedy ensured the scoreline remained at one nil. Hard to pick any individual out as it was another great team performance with the subs also making a good impact off the bench. Best of luck to Cullen Lattin AFC for the remainder of the season and a big thanks for providing food after the match. Rearcross are now through to the last 64 of the competition and into the open draw.

Cullen Lattin AFC: D Hueston, M Fitzgerald, D McGrath, J Riordan, A Vance, T Stokes, M Reardon, T O’Mahony, F O’Grady, J Flannery, T O’Neill (Capt)
Subs: A Lohan, J O’Halloran, B Carey, M Elligott, D O’Brien, D McGrath, L Mulcahy

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy, Callum Wallace, Stephen Rochford, Phillip Deegan (Capt), Greg Kennedy, Paul Nolan, Tadhg O’Siochrú, Phillip Deegan, Conor Nolan, Daragh O’Siochrú, James Deegan
Subs: Patrick Dawson, Cillian Kennedy, Brian Nolan, Kieran Devitt, Robert Harrington.

Referee: Michael Duffy

Report by Robert Harrington

Patrick Dawson nets the all important goal for Rea

Post match interview with Mike Kenny (Cullen Lattin AFC Manager)

(L to R): Phillip Deegan (Rearcross FC Capt), Michael Duffy, Tony O'Neill (Cullen Lattin AFC Capt)

Rearcross FC

Cullen Lattin AFC