Luckless Rearcross lose out in sudden-death penalty shoot-out

Moneygall and Rearcross played out an entertaining game for the Nora Kennedy Cup final in near perfect conditions in Drombane. Moneygall started the brighter of the 2 teams and took a deserved lead in the 8th minute. The ball broke to Tomas Teehan on the edge of the area and he beat the Rea defender before smashing the ball into the corner of the net. Rea seemed to settle after going 1 nil down and were playing their way into the game and were getting joy down the wings with both Colm Carey and Oisin Kelly looking dangerous. They found themselves level after 25 minutes with a sensational goal. A ball was cleared down the field by Donnie O Brien where Gavin Denihan controlled it with his 1st touch and then unleashed a half volley from way out which flew into the net giving the keeper no chance. This seemed to wake Moneygall up as they lay siege to the Rearcross goal for the remainder of the 1st half and nearly took the lead on a few separate occasions. The best chance was when they were awarded a penalty when Jack Coughlan was pulled down in the box just as he was about to get his strike away. Up stepped Tommy Devereux but his shot went over the bar.
The 2nd half saw Rearcross start the better of the 2 teams. Gavin Denihan had a few early shots at goal but he failed to keep them down. At the other end Brian Hammersley was called into action when he produced a great save from a Tommy Devereux shot. Rea's best move of the 2nd half saw them break at speed when the ball was fed up to Paul Carey who in turn played in Colm Carey who turned the defender inside out but his left footed strike went the wrong side of the post. Rea were dealt a blow with 15 minutes remaining when they lost their captain Willie Mackey to a knee injury. Moneygall had the next chance when the ball broke to Stephen Maher just outside the box and he held off the defender but his volley went just past the post with the keeper all but beaten. Deep into stoppage time Gavin Denihan thought he had won it for Rea when his left footed strike from outside the box looked destined for the net but David Toohey got his fingertips to it to tip it over the bar. Both teams were out on their feet for the extra time period with chances few and far between. Moneygall had the best chance in the 1st half when a C. Moloney header came back off the post from a corner kick. The game would be decided by penalties. Both teams missed their 1st penalty and even after both teams had taken their 5 spot kicks they couldn't be separated at 4 all. Sudden death and it was advantage Moneygall as Rea missed. Moneygall held their composure to win it with their next penalty. A hard loss to take for Rearcross as they gave it everything on the day. Wish a speedy recovery to Willie Mackey and also a big thanks to Liam Nolan of the Congo Bar for providing food after the game

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Eamonn Devitt, Paul Ryan, William Mackey (Capt), Eamonn Wade, Robert Harrington, Donnacha O’Brien, Colm Carey, Oisín Kelly, Paul Carey, Gavin Denihan
Subs: Sean Malone, Patrick Ryan, Michael Feehan, Paddy Carey, Colm Nolan

Moneygall ‘B’: D Toohey, J Powell, P Egan, E Quinlan, J Griffin, T Devereux, J Ryan, T Teehan, J Coughlan, C Moloney, W Jones
Subs: David Corbett, S Maher, B Toohey, Paddy Devereux, O Maxwell, A Coe, S Maher, Robert Lewis, A Devereux, S Hodgins, D Quinlan

Referee: Bobby O’Connor
Assistant Referees: David Butler, TP Sullivan

Report by Robert Harrington

Gavin Denihan crashes home a superb strike for Rea, surely a goal of the season contender!

Photos courtesy of Gary Culbert

The following match report is courtesy of NT&DL's Gary Culbert

A family affair as Moneygall ‘B’ claim shootout glory

Rea’s Gavin Denihan rifled in the goal of the season in the Nora Kennedy Cup final, but it wasn’t enough as goalkeeper David Toohey became a Moneygall hero in the penalty shootout. The last time Moneygall ‘B’ won silverware was 35 years ago under the tutelage of Tom Quinlan, who was in attendance at Clodiagh Rangers’ pristine grounds on Friday to watch his son Ben take the reins and bring an end the baron years.
The truth is that there was very little between the teams on the night, but Moneygall were the side to settle into the game quickest, and they got their just reward with an early goal through central midfielder Tomas Teehan, who poked into the net after bursting through the heart Rea’ rearguard. Jayden Coughlan deserves massive credit for the move too though; it was the 16-year-old’s composed one-two on the edge of the box that created the chance.
Paul Graham Carey put himself about and was a real threat for Rea’, but it was his strike partner that lit up this final with a goal of the highest quality just before the half hour mark. 40 yards from the opposition goal, Gavin Denihan controlled a headed clearance before striking clean through the ball with his laces on the half volley, sending the ball arrowing in off the crossbar. It was a beautiful piece of skill worthy of winning the final outright.
Ben Quinlan’s side had a chance to restore their lead just before the interval when Jack Ryan was pulled down in the box. But just like Kevin Fitzgerald did for the Moneygall first team a few weeks back, Tommy Devereux fired high over the crossbar from the spot.
There was little between the sides for the remainder of normal time and indeed extra time, any chances that did find their way on target were dealt with by the respective keepers, and so the dreaded penalty shootout would be required to separate these very evenly matched sides.
Moneygall ‘B’ assistant manager Kelvin Coughlan was previously the Moneygall youths manager, he had four of his former players in the ‘B’ team squad for the final. One of those was 17-year-old Brian Toohey, who having just watched his older brother save Rea’s final penalty, ended the contest by finding the corner of the net despite the keeper diving the right way. Que scenes of bedlam as Moneygall ‘B’ ended their 35 year wait for glory.
David Toohey was ultimately picked as the player of the match due to his saves in the shootout and towards the end of normal time. Whilst there were honourable mentions for Jayden Coughlan, John Paul Griffin, and stand-in skipper Patrick Egan - who was a calming, logical voice amongst a fiery Moneygall backline. Ben Quinlan’s side will look to use this cup run as a springboard for promotion out of the second division next season.

Moneygall ‘B’: David Toohey; Jonathon Powell, Enda Quinlan, John Paul Griffin, Patrick Egan ©; William Jones, Tomas Teehan, Corey Moloney, Jack Ryan; Thomas Devereux, Jayden Coughlan.
Stephen Maher for W. Jones (45)
David Corbett for J. Ryan (66)
Brian Toohey for T. Teehan (86)
Oisin Maxwell for T. Devereux (106)

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley; Eamonn Devitt, Eamonn Wade, William Mackey, Paul Ryan; Colm Carey, Robert Harrington, Donnacha O’Brien, Oisin Kelly; Paul Graham Carey, Gavin Denihan.
Michael Feehan for P. Carey (74)
Sean Malone for W. Mackey (79)
Patrick Carey for E. Devitt (82)

Player of the Match: David Toohey

Brothers in arms: Centre half Enda Quinlan and manager Ben Quinlan
pose with their father Tom Quinlan, who used to manage Moneygall ‘B’.