Home defeat for Rearcross 'B'

Rearcross ‘B’ hosted local rivals Birdhill last Sunday afternoon in what looked to be an entertaining affair. The game started with high intensity as both sides troubled each other’s defences early on. Birdhill were just inches away from taking the lead after 10 minutes when Sean McHugo’s free kick from range was directed brilliantly over the wall and rattled off the inside of the post and away from goal. This was a let off for Rea who were quickly made aware of the threat that Birdhill posed. The scoring was opened in the 24th minute when Gary O’Brien finished neatly into the bottom corner of the Birdhill net from the edge of the box to put Rearcross in the driving seat. However, the joy was short lived as Birdhill’s Craig Doyle scored a free kick from just inside the Rea half to level proceedings in the 39th minute. Birdhill went and added to their tally just before half time when Liam King went through one on one with Brian Hammersley and slotted home to put Birdhill in front. It was a stern Rearcross team talk at half time as the hosts knew the standards would have to be raised to get back into the game.
The opening few minutes of the second half were somewhat positive from a Rearcross perspective as a number of half chances were created. Unfortunately, Birdhill took over soon after as Liam King got his second of the day in the 69th minute when a Brian Hammersley clearance was deflected off him and into the net. Jack Delahunty extended Birdhill’s advantage just a couple of minutes later as he dispatched a clinical penalty into the roof of the net. Craig Doyle then completed his brace about the 10 minutes later as his shot from a tight angle found its way into the net to add more salt to Rearcross’ wounds. The final blow came in the 85th minute when Conor Hickey converted from a one on one to finish the game at 6-1 to Birdhill. It was a bitterly disappointing result and performance from Rearcross to lose a derby game in such fashion but focus now has to turn to Friday nights Tipperary Cup fixture at home to BT Harps ‘A’.

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Paul Ryan, Gary O’Brien, Eamonn Devitt (Capt), Sean Hickey, Max Carroll, Colm Kennedy, Kieran Devitt, Colm Carey, Gavin Denihan, Mikey Feehan
Subs: Tom O’Dwyer, Sean Malone, Oisín Reynolds, Colm Nolan, William Horrigan

Birdhill FC: K. Hogan, C. Doyle, B. Tobin, J. English, M. O’Flaherty, S. McHugo, C. O’Malley, S. Geraghty, C. Hickey, C. Byrne, L. King (Capt)
Subs: J. Delahunty, D. Whelton, W. Murphy, R. Shinners-Hannon, S. Wrynn, S. Nolan, C. Floyd

Referee: Robert Mandrilla

Report by Brian Hammersley