Winning ways continue for Rearcross U-14’s

Rearcross U-14s made the short journey down to Birdhill to play Lough Derg. Rearcross started faster than the home team with Johnathan Dawson’s free kick saved by the Lough Derg keeper in the 5th minute. Conor Nolan was causing Lough Derg trouble with his running in behind their defence, forcing the Derg keeper to make two great saves. Lough Derg grew in to the game putting our keeper Darragh Reynolds under pressure. On the 15th minute, Rearcross went 1 nil up when a Johnathan Dawson corner curled all the way into the back of the net. Lough Derg heads didn’t drop, they created their best chance of the half on the 25th minute when the Derg winger played a lovely weighted ball in behind the Rearcross defence, to their striker but Darragh Reynolds was quick to react and take control. The Rearcross defence and midfield were under pressure just before halftime, but Jack Hickey did well to win the ball back in defence, Rearcross countered fast but Ciaran Mcloughlin’s pass to Conor Nolan was intercepted and cleared out for a corner. On the 30th minute Rearcross doubled their lead. Johnathan Dawson’s dangerous corner was flicked in for an own goal just before half time. Rearcross knew coming out for the second half the game wasn’t over, Lough Derg were the team that started better in the second half creating lots of good chances in front of the Rearcross goal but the defence made sure nothing was getting past net minder Darragh Reynolds. On the 45th minute, the Rearcross midfield of Patrick Carr and Conor Nolan started to get hold of the game in midfield. This led to a great chance for Conor Nolan on the 47th minute but the Lough Derg defender took it away from Conor’s feet at the last minute with a great timed tackle. Rearcross scored their 3rd goal of the day on the 55th minute, when Cathal Hickey won a free kick for the away team. Lough Derg thought they had dealt with the Jack Hickey free kick into the box, but Patrick Carr came out of nowhere and put the ball into the top corner with a great strike on his right foot. Lough Derg didn’t give up and kept coming at the Rearcross defence but the defence wanted to come away with a clean sheet under their belt. In the last minute of the game, Rearcross scored their fourth and final goal with a powerful header from Stephen Ryan. Rearcross were full value for the win but will need to keep the good form going for the remaining games of the season.

Lough Derg ‘B’: A Kerin, T Hogan, P Mooney, L Green, M Lynch, F Murphy Coonan, L McKeogh, J Reil, M Jugowiec, D Kennedy, D Morgan
Subs: A Hayes, A Mills, E Pauliunas, S Gibbons, J O’Connor, J Nelson, C O’Donovan

Rearcross U-14 Boys: Darragh Reynolds, Conor McInerney, Jack Hickey, Stephen Ryan, James Costello, Michael Collins, Patrick Carr, Ciaran McLoughlin, Conor Nolan, Jonathan Dawson,
Subs: Paudie Clifford, Leon Wallace, Sean Guidera, Cathal Hickey, Andrew Hanly

Report by Patrick Dawson