Cup defeat for understrength Rearcross 'A' in Roscrea

Rearcross were on the road for the Tipperary Cup quarter final against Killavilla as they were the visitors to Villa Park. The away side started brightly and should have found themselves 1 nil up when a well worked move saw the ball fall to Michael O Gorman on the right and his pin point cross found Cillian Kennedy at the back post but his header just went the wrong side of the post. 5 minutes later Killavilla found themselves 1 nil up, Rea manged to clear the initial corner but the ball was worked back out to Darren Coleman who’s cross into the box saw Ruairi Murphy nip in ahead of Cathal Kennedy to head into the net. 10 minutes later Rea found themselves level when a corner from the left was swung into the back post by James Deegan where Greg Kennedy was on hand to head to the net. Rea were having their best spell of the half and it James Deegan who nearly put them 2-1 up when he picked up the ball from a throw in and beat his marker before unleashing a strike from outside the box which just landed on the top of the net with the keeper beaten. Rea would not have to wait long to take the lead though, when Michael O Gorman was taken down in the box for a penalty. Up stepped Greg Kennedy to make it 2-1. James Deegan had the final chance of the half when he flashed a shot just over the bar from inside the box.
Killavilla started the 2nd half well and were all over Rearcross with Rea just about managing to hold out. Villa’s best chance from a corner which was headed off the crossbar with Rea just about clearing the rebound. Killavilla got their reward in the 60th minute when Johnny Corboy cut in from the right and drove at the Rearcross defense before unleashing a left footed strike which gave Cathal Kennedy no chance. The game was end to end now as both sides went in search of a winner. Cillian Kennedy's running power was causing the Villa defense all sorts of problems on the counter attack and he found himself one on one with the keeper only for the keeper to pull off a good save. It was Cillian again who had the next chance when he spun his marker inside the box but he could not keep his strike down. Michael O Gorman also had a good chance but his strike was deflected over the bar for a corner. Paddy Dawson had Rea's best chance of the 2nd half when Michael O Gorman crossed the ball to him at the back post only for the keeper to pull off an unbelievable save to keep the scoreline at 2 all. Down at the other end Mikey Ryan had the ball in the net but he was just offside. It was Mikey Ryan that got the 3rd goal for Villa following good play from Tom Ahern on the right wing as his cross put it on plate for Mikey who tapped into an empty net. Rearcross rallied and Paddy Dawson’s free kick from outside the box look destined for the top corner only for Ian Treacy to head over the bar. Killavilla put the game to bed with a few minutes left when Tom Ahern played in Johnny Corboy and he flicked the ball over the onrushing Cathal Kennedy, a lovely finish. A tough one to take for Rearcross on another day if they had taken some of their chances may have got something out of the game.

Killavilla ‘A’: Aaron Mulready, Dylan Carey, Ian Treacy, Roddy Teehan, Dylan Carroll, Michael Ryan (Capt), Darren Coleman, Tom Ahern, Michael Fitzgerald, Ruairi Murphy, Johnny Corboy
Subs: Ben Lynch, Craig Byrne, Miko Pasalic, Josh Wynne, Mark O Dwyer

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy, Greg Kennedy, Stephen Rochford, Brian Nolan, Eoghan Kavanagh, Patrick Dawson, Darragh Carr, Conor Nolan, James Deegan, Cillian Kennedy, Michael O’Gorman (Capt)
Subs: James Rochford, Sean Malone, Eamonn Devitt

Referee: TP Sullivan

Greg Kennedy levels for Rearcross with a headed goal from a corner kick

Greg Kennedy edges Rearcross 2-1 ahead from the spot

Report by Robert Harrington