Goals galore as Rearcross 'B' win against Birdhill in pre-season friendly

Rearcross played host to Birdhill in this pre-season friendly on Saturday evening which turned out to be a very entertaining game. Rearcross got in an early shot when Oisín Kelly set up Mike O'Gorman but his effort was saved by the Birdhill keeper. A few minutes later Birdhill made the best use of a poor Rearcross clearance from defence with Thomas Floyd putting them 1 up. Rearcross quickly equalised when Gavin Denihan headed home from an Aidan Bryan free kick. The away side took the lead shortly after when Brian Hammersley made a good save in the Rearcross goals but Birdhill's James Tobin was quickest to respond and scored the rebound to put the 2-1 up. Good play from Oisín Kelly and Aidan Bryan on a couple of occasions almost saw Rearcross get their second but for Eoin Sheldon to narrowly miss a cross in front of goal and Dave Brennan shooting over. Birdhill were still putting pressure on the Rearcross defence and Kieran Devitt put the ball out for a corner in what could have been Birdhill's 3rd. Rearcross equalised when Dave Brennan was fouled in the box and Aidan Bryan converted the resulting penalty. Mike O'Gorman got a third for Rearcross to put them ahead and just before the half Anthony Ryan made it 4-2 for the home side when he headed home an Oisín Kelly corner. Birdhill were unlucky not to get one back before the half only for Brian Hammersley making a super save in the Rearcross goal.
Rearcross started brightly in the second half with Mike O' Gorman striking the crossbar with a super strike from outside the box. Both sides playing good attacking football, Brian Hammersley coming off his line forcing the Birdhill attack to shoot and his effort going wide while at the opposite end Mike O'Gorman headed over from an Oisín Kelly cross. Birdhill had a great effort on goal after good play from their midfielders but it went over the bar. Oisín Kelly on the right side of midfield for Rearcross was putting in a lot of crosses for the strikers but on this occasion, Colm Nolan pulled it back to Oisín and he finished superbly to the net. Birdhill once again went on the attack forcing Brian Hammersley into making another fine save and Eoin Sheldon was on hand to clear the loose ball. Birdhill did get their 3rd goal when Colin Floyd finished to the net from a cross field pass. Willie Horrigan got onto a Gavin Denihan pass and struck it well but it just dipped wide of the post. Both sides had plenty of chances on goal with Birdhill shooting over, a shot saved and one went straight across the goal mouth but wide. Rearcross got their 6th when Diarmuid Rock made a good defensive tackle on the wing in the Birdhill half with the ball falling to Paul Carey who cleverly back heeled to the on running Mike O'Gorman who finished to the Birdhill goal. Birdhill pulled 1 back in the last couple of minutes when a quick taken free found Colin Floyd and he successfully scored to make it 6-4 and that's how it finished. Eoin Sheldon, Robert Harrington, Aidan Bryan & Ger Nolan put in good displays for Rearcross in what was a good entertaining game refereed by Michael Barry.

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Ger Nolan, Robert Harrington, Anthony Ryan, Felim Deegan, Oisín Kelly, Eoin Sheldon, Gavin Denihan, David Brennan, Michael O'Gorman, Aidan Bryan
Subs: Kieran Devitt, William Horrigan, Paul Carey, Colm Nolan, Diarmuid Rock, Michéal Murphy

Birdhill FC: Keith Hogan, Niall Duffy, Jake Edwards, Cathal Floyd, Shane O’Brien, James Tobin, Nathan Lenihan, Liam Dunne, Thomas Floyd, Chris Carew, Brian Tobin
Subs: Lee Ryan, Colin Floyd, Kealon Floyd

Referee: Michael Barry