Share of the spoils for Rea following dramatic equalizer in injury time

Rearcross ‘B’ hosted Sallypark ‘B’ under lights on Friday night. Both teams had won their opening two league fixtures meaning it was all to play for in this affair. Rea started the stronger of the two teams, pressing high from the off. They were rewarded after 12 minutes when Colm Nolan got a head on the end of an Oisín Kelly corner to put the home side ahead. Rea extended their lead only a few minutes later when Kieran Devitt’s strike from range found it’s way over the head of the Sallypark goalkeeper and into the net. It was a brilliant start for Rearcross but Sallypark kept pushing hard to get back in the game and they did exactly that halfway through the first half when Kieran Maher managed to win a free header from a corner kick to pull one back for the away side. Rea kept playing some good football for the remainder of the half. Max Carroll nearly extended the advantage before half time when his low driven effort was well saved by Kieran Ryan in the Sallypark goal. Rearcross went in ahead at the break for the first time this season, after a positive first half.
Mikey Feehan and Donnie O’Brien were introduced at half time to add some fresh legs to the attack. Sallypark came out all guns blazing in the second half and equalised early on when Michael Carey was put through one on one with Brian Hammersley and he slotted home into the bottom corner. To Rea’s credit they didn’t let the heads drop as Mikey Feehan regained the lead for the home side almost immediately with a tidy finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The game was far from over yet with Sallypark refusing to back down. The visitors were awarded a free kick half ways through the second half and up stepped Tom Delaney who found the net with a wonderful strike from range to get Sallypark back in the game once more. Sallypark then took the lead only a few minutes later when Tom Delaney knocked the ball past Brian Hammersley and allowed Kieran Maher to finish into an empty net. Indeed, the game could have been out of Rea’s reach in the minutes that followed only for a wonderful goal-line clearance by Sean Malone and then moments later Brian Hammersley produced a superb save at the expense of a corner kick which was cleared. This set the game up for a dramatic ending as Rea gave it everything for the last ten minutes. The hosts came close numerous times in the dying minutes; however, it looked like all hope of salvaging anything from the game was lost when Sallypark won a throw in the Rearcross half with just a minute left on the clock. Thankfully for Rearcross, Sallypark were pulled for an offside which allowed Rea to send the ball back up the other end. This time the ball went out for a Rearcross throw which was taken by Eoghan Kavanagh who with the help of a Sallypark head was able to find Colm Carey who in turn delivered a pinpoint cross to the head of Mikey Feehan who found the net from close range giving the keeper no chance. This sent the home support into delighted applause in what was a hard worked point to keep us top of the league. All in all, it was a great fighting performance to salvage a point from the game despite leading for so long.

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Paul Ryan, Eoghan Kavanagh, Eamonn Devitt(Capt), Sean Malone, Kieran Devitt, Max Carroll, Oisín Kelly, Colm Carey, Colm Nolan, Cathal Ryan.
Subs: Donnacha O’Brien, Patrick Ryan, Michael Feehan, Jack Nolan, David Brennan, Gary Ryan, Shane Lenihan, Anthony Ryan, PJ Lenihan.

Sallypark ‘B’: K. Ryan, C. Grace, M. Carey, M. Kinane, L. Ryan, A. Fahey (Capt), A. Murray, R. Delaney, J. Hogan, T. Delaney, K. Maher.
Subs: R. Gillick, J. Ryan, B. Kelly O’Flynn, D Reid.

Referee: Cormac Sullivan

Report by Brian Hammersley & Ger Kennedy

Colm Nolan heads Rearcross in front with a well finished header from an Oisín Kelly corner kick

Kieran Devitt edges Rea two nil head with a delightful chip from outside the box

Mikey Feehan puts Rearcross back in front with a tidy finish from the edge of the box

Mikey Feehan heads home a dramatic equalizer deep into injury time from a Colm Carey cross