The one that got away
Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup semi-final

You don't always get what you deserve in life, as Rearcross found out last night when they came up against Kuba Beben in inspired form in the BT Harps goal. Harps had their first meaningful shot on target with just 10 seconds left to play of the regulation 90 minutes. Jamie Bergin firing in at the front post with the violent ruthlessness of a top striker, having being played in by substitute Christopher Ryan. The first 45 minutes in Rearcross will go down as one of the most forgettable halves of football ever seen is the NT&DL, as both sides cautiously tried to figure each other out. However, that suited Rearcross fine, and was probably exactly what they would have wanted before the match: to still be in the game come half time. They achieved this goal by sitting into a compact and disciplined 4-5-1 formation:

Cathal Kennedy;
Stephen Rochford, Eoin Sheldon, Greg Kennedy, Brian Nolan;
Conor Nolan;
James Deegan, Philly Deegan, Paul Nolan, Paddy Dawson;
Cillian Kennedy;

Harps on the other hand were missing their lieutenant - Sean Paddy Guerins - which resulted in an uncharacteristic lack of intensity. It didn't help either that Eanna McBride, Ben Stapleton, and Jack Johnson were all missing either. And so, the first half was played exclusively in the Rearcross half, but only just, with Jack Kennedy at centre back seeing more of the ball than any other player, but mostly in harmless areas in and around the halfway line, as Harps played the ball across their own back four, looking for an opening that just wasn't there. Again, credit to Paul Carey for setting up his team in a way which stifled the opposition - we don't often see a low-block deployed in the NT&DL, let alone working! The only problem for Rearcross in the first half was, that when they did get the ball, there was never any meaningful threat on the counter attack. As both sides descended the steps of the immaculate Rearcross FC grounds at half-time, the modest crowd in attendance could not help but remark on how comfortable each set of players looked: Rearcross felt like they could hold Harps out, whilst the visitors were content that there was no threat on the counter - but that would soon change...
Rearcross had more chances in the first 5 minutes of the second half than they had in the entirety of the first half. The game soon turned into a personal battle between James Deegan and Kuba Beben, one which the league's top keeper won time and time again, to James Deegan's and Paul Carey's dismay. As the game ticked towards the 90-minute mark it only ever looked like there would be one winner, but a timely substitution from the management team of Henry Newman, Johnny Coleman, Mark Fennell, and Shane Purcell - the introduction of Christopher Ryan - would go on to turn this game on its head. The former Nenagh Celtic midfielder brought much needed communication to the Harps midfield, and was a calming presence during his 9-minute cameo at the end of the game. The 33-year-old is not what you would necessarily describe as an impact sub; there is no raw pace or fancy tricks. The Nenagh Celtic team that Henry Newman guided deep into the FAI Junior Cup and Munster Junior Cup was full of players like Christopher Ryan, players that might not run rings around you, but that use their game intelligence and experience to make the ball do the work. Jack Kennedy performed exceptionally well when given the armband in Sean Paddy's stead, but the Man of the Match award has to go to Kuba Beben for his refusal to be beaten on the night.
Greg Kennedy, Paul Nolan, Brian Nolan and Eoin Sheldon all impressed for Rea', whilst the relentless work rate of James Deegan and Paddy Dawson tracking back did not go unnoticed by the Rea' faithful. Football is a cruel sport. Paul Carey done everything right and proved that he can set up a team well on the biggest occasion. Even in the build-up to the goal, he could be heard telling his players that they had left too many men up the pitch, warning of the impending threat from Harps. In the end it's hard to quantify the game: were Harps so poor because of the way that Rearcross set up, stifling the visitors' ability to play through the lines; or were this threadbare BT Harps side there for the taking on the night had Rea' been a little more attacking in their approach?
Either way, this one will hurt for some time.

Rearcross ‘A’: Cathal Kennedy (Capt), Brian Nolan, Eoin Sheldon, Greg Kennedy, Conor Nolan, Philip Deegan, Paul Nolan, Cillian Kennedy, James Deegan, Patrick Dawson
Subs: Michael O’Gorman, Robert Harrington, Eoghan Kavanagh, James Rochford, Patrick Ryan, Oisín Reynolds

BT Harps ‘A’: J Beben, S Purcell, F Fairbrother, J Kennedy (Capt), C Russell, D Lawlor, W Collier, C Foy. J Bergin, R Loughnane, B Mitchell
Subs: R Loughnane, C Ryan, D Cody, T Collier

Referee: Robbie Nevin
Assistant Referees: David Butler, Corman Sullivan

Report & Photos courtesy of Gary Culbert