Late equalizer earns share of the spoils for Rea

Ballymackey FC were the visitors to Rearcross FC grounds on Sunday morning last for a league fixture with Rearcross FC A. Ballymackey had started the season well and were crowned shield champions after beating BT Harps 2 0 in the final. Rearcross made 3 changes to their starting lineup from the previous week's league win against Holycross with Paul Nolan, Brian Nolan and Patrick Dawson making their first league start of the season. The game started at a hectic pace with both defences giving up little in terms of chances and a tight battle being contested in midfield. The first big chance of the game fell to Rearcross in the 25th minute. Good pressing by the midfield saw a short back pass being played to Taylor Duffy in the Ballymackey goals. Cillian Kennedy needed no invitation and intercepted the pass before being hauled down by Taylor Duffy, penalty to Rea. Up stepped the usually reliable Greg Kennedy who was unlucky to see his well struck effort stopped by the Ballymackey custodian and cleared away to safety. Rearcross would come to rue that missed chance in the 35th minute. Rearcross gave away possession and a quick flowing counter attack saw the ball go from back to front where Eamon White was in the perfect spot to finish to an empty net. Cathal Kennedy made a fantastic save in the 40th minute to keep things as they were and so it was 1 0 to Ballymackey at the break but Rearcross management were relatively happy at the break as their side had played a lot of good football in the 1st half. Rearcross knew they were going to have to work hard in the 2nd half if they were to get anything out of this game and that is what they did. Rearcross were well on top in the 2nd half but were finding clear cut chances hard to come by even though they were seeing the lion's share of the ball. James Deegan was introduced in the 55th minute and Rearcross switched to a 4 4 2 formation which began to open up the field and gave Rearcross a bit more room. Rearcross kept pushing and pushing and finally got their just deserts in the 90th minute. Rearcross won a corner which was swung in by Patrick Dawson who sent a lovely ball to the penalty spot which was met by an onrushing Paul Nolan who met the ball perfectly to send the ball crashing to the net past a number of Ballymackey players on the line, sending the sizable Rearcross crowd into raptures on the sidelines. The referee blew his whistle shortly after and that was how it finished. Rearcross will see this as a point gained rather than a point dropped, especially when you take into account the time the goal was scored and the effort that was put in especially in the 2nd half. Rearcross currently lie 3rd in the Premier Division with 4 points from 2 games. Next up is an away trip to last season's champions BT Harps in Templemore this coming Sunday at 11.

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy (Capt), Jake Slattery, Greg Kennedy, Paul Nolan, Brian Nolan, Conor Nolan, Kayden Amodeo, James Rochford, Stephen Rochford, Cillian Kennedy, Patrick Dawson
Subs: Oisín Reynolds, Adam Hurley, James Deegan, Philip Deegan, Oisín Kelly, Patrick Ryan

Ballymackey 'A' T Duffy, S Cantwell, C Spillane, B O’Dwyer, D McDonnell, A Steed, C Galvin, C Delaney (Capt), A White, K Kenneally
Subs: D Spillane, J Lawlor, C Maher, L Hogan, C Doheny, G Ryan, D Kennedy

Referee: David Butler

Report by Eamonn Devitt

Paul Nolan crashes a dramatic injury time equalizer to the net