Rearcross come from behind to earn comprehensive win in Glenbane

Rearcross made the short journey to Holycross for their 2^nd league game. Aided by a strong breeze in the 1st half it was Rearcross who made the early running with both James Deegan and Cillian Kennedy looking threatening up front. Despite Rearcross's early dominance of possession it was the home team who took the lead in the 16th minute. A misplaced pass at the back saw Callum O Connor nip in and collect the ball which he took to the end line and his pinpoint cross found Clay Lohan in the 6-yard box and he finished to the net. It didn't take long for the away side as 10 minutes later they levelled the tie. A great ball from Cathal Kennedy saw the ball loop in over the full back and onto the onrushing Philly Deegan whose cross broke to James Deegan and he made no mistake with his volley finishing to the roof of the net giving the keeper no chance. Rearcross huffed and puffed for the remainder of the 1st half but couldn't breach a stubborn Holycross defense. 1 all at halftime.
A few stern words amongst the Rea players at halftime seemed to make the difference as they came out a different team in the 2nd half. Rea took the lead 9 minutes into the 2nd half when a free kick from Paddy Dawson saw the ball only half cleared and Eoin Sheldon's shot come cross found Cillian Kennedy in the box and he finished to the roof of the net. From here Rea took over the game and would add 3 further goals in an 8-minute spell. Cillian Kennedy added his 2nd of the game, when a corner broke out to Brian Nolan on the edge of the box and he fed the ball out to Paddy Dawson whose cross was expertly finished to the net by Cillian whose 1st time volley flew into the net. A couple of minutes later Paddy Dawson made it 4-1 when a corner fell to Eoin Sheldon and he laid the ball to Paddy whose strike from the edge of the area went into the top corner. James Deegan would add his 2nd of the game when a long clearance from Cathal Kennedy fell to Cillian Kennedy who played James in and his 1st time strike gave the keeper no chance flying into the corner of the net. To their credit Holycross never gave up but a combination of Cathal Kennedy and the back 4 ensured the scoreline would remain 5-1 as they dealt with everything. Another great team performance by Rea on the day.

Holycross FC: J Ryan, S Quinlan, D Manning, C O’Connor, A Ryan, K Denny, J Ryan, C Lohan, C O’Connor (Capt), S Ryan, G McDonald
Subs: T Dwan, D English, C Hevey, S Coady Clancy, J O’Dwyer, N Albery

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy (Capt), Brian Nolan, Eoin Sheldon, Robert Harrington, Greg Kennedy, Patrick Dawson, James Rochford, Paul Nolan, James Deegan, Philip Deegan, Cillian Kennedy
Subs: Conor Nolan, Darragh Carr, Max Carroll, Patrick Ryan, Jack Nolan

Referee: Cormac Sullivan

Report by Robert Harrington

James Deegan pegs Rearcross back level after getting on the end of a Philip Deegan cross

Cillian Kennedy shoots Rea ahead after the ball broke in the box

Cillian Kennedy nets his second of the day with a first time volley to the back of the net

Paddy Dawson edges Rearcross 4-1 ahead with a shot from just inside the box

James Deegan copper fastens the win with a neat finish inside the post

Action photos courtesy of Sean Morgan