Semi-final defeat for Rearcross ‘B’ in Glenbane

Rearcross Youths travelled to Holycross with a place in the Tipperary Youths Cup Final at stake. The game started frantically with 3 goals in the opening exchanges. An in-swinging Holycross corner from the left was bundled in at the back post. After this Holycross pressed on and began to get on top. A hopeful lob into the box from the Holycross winger was met by the onrushing striker, who nipped in ahead of everyone to double Holycross’ lead. Rea then tried to impose themselves on the game. Paddy Ryan swung in a corner from the right, which Oisin Reynolds did brilliantly to reach it at the back post and pull it across the box. Jack Nolan was quickest to react and diverted the cross into the top corner. Rearcross then pushed on in search of an equaliser. Hard work and determination from right back Colm Hickey left him with an opportunity on the edge of the box, but his half volley flashed wide. Shortly after some great work from Jonathon Dawson created an opportunity for himself inside the box, his effort dragged agonisingly wide with the keeper well beaten. Holycross restored their 2 goal lead against the run of play, a counter attack led to a shot coming in from the left corner of the box, but a deflection on its way left Seanie Quinlan in goals with no chance. Holycross then pushed on hoping to kill the game off, and they nearly did just that from another swift counter attacking move, but they were denied by an exceptional last-ditch tackle from Conor Carr to keep the deficit at 2. As the first half entered the latter stages, a brilliant ball from substitute Sean Griffin found Paddy Ryan just outside the box, some brilliant footwork from him created an opening on the edge of the box, which he took advantage of brilliantly with a placed shot into the bottom corner. Holycross never sat back, and always looked a danger on the counter. They almost restored their 2 goal lead before the break, but were denied by an onrushing Seanie Quinlan. Just before the halftime whistle Jonathan Dawson thought he had scored the equaliser for Rea, but he was adjudged to have fouled the centre back in the buildup. The score remained 3-2 at the break.
The first half was always going to be hard to follow, and it took a while for the second half to get going. The first major chance came to Holycross, a defensive mix-up left the Holycross striker with the majority of the goal to aim at. However, an exceptional diving save from Seanie Quinlan denied him. Shortly after, some brilliant holdup play from substitute Sam Hackett and a subsequent through ball played Jonathan Dawson through, but he was denied by a brilliant sliding tackle from the Holycross centre half. A few minutes later Jack Nolan slid Sam Hackett through, he brilliantly held off the centre back before unleashing a thunderous strike which looked destined for the roof of the net, but he was denied by a good save from the Holycross keeper. Rearcross failed to clear their lines inside their own box, and after a bit of pinball inside the box the ball ended up in the back of Rea’s net, restoring Holycross’ 2 goal lead. Rearcross never died out in this game. Sam Hackett gave the two centre backs serious trouble after his introduction, some more good work from him led to him getting a shot inside the Holycross box, but it dragged just wide. A delicious delivery from Paddy Ryan was brilliantly scooped out from under the crossbar by the Holycross keeper, the ball made its way back out to Paddy, another lovely cross from him was met by substitute Liam Brett who headed into the roof of the net to reduce the deficit to 1. Shortly after this, Rearcross gave away an indirect free kick inside their own box, from this free the ball squirmed in making it 5-3 to Holycross. Rearcross refused to drop their heads, Seanie Quinlan sent a long free into the box, the ball broke to Paddy Ryan who swung in a dangerous cross. In an attempt to clear the Holycross defender diverted it into his own net to set up a tense finish. In the final minute, as Rearcross pushed bodies forward for an equaliser Holycross killed the game, finishing into the roof of the net after another lethal counter attack.

Holycross FC: J Gildea, C Kehoe, O Joyce, E Ryan(Capt), T Bourke, E Babu, L O’Neill, D Ryan-Fogarty, S Dwan, S Butler
Subs; P O’Reilly, C Walshe, L Cavanagh, C Campion, A Maxwell, C Cavanagh, J O’Gara

Rearcross Youths: Seanie Quinlan, Conor Carr, Luke Carroll, Ryan Amodeo, Colm Hickey, Patrick Ryan, Oisín Reynolds, Aaron Quinlan, Cathal Ryan, Jack Nolan, Jonathan Dawson (Capt)
Subs: Liam Brett, Ronan Hammersley, Colm O’Meara, Dylan Hyde, Sean Griffin, Sam Hackett

Referee: David Butler

Report by Cathal Kennedy