Back to back wins for Rearcross U-16 Boys

Rearcross U-16 Boys recorded a convincing win over Ballymackey last Tuesday evening at Rearcross FC Grounds in their second fixture of the U16 campaign. Rearcross started the quickest and were ahead when Jack Nolan set up his brother Conor Nolan to score inside the opening minutes of the match. This rallied Ballymackey and Sam Fitzgerald saw his effort well saved by Darragh Reynolds in the Rearcross goals. Sam Fitzgerald saw another effort on the Rearcross goals go just wide. A brilliant ball over the top by Seanie Quinlan set Sam Hackett away but Matthew Bergin in the Ballymackey goals was quickest to deflect the ball out for a corner. A dangerous corner kick by Conor Nolan caused menace in the visitor’s penalty area before being cleared. Noah Ryan came to the rescue for the Ballinree side after he cleared off the line from a Jack Nolan effort. Rearcross kept the pressure on and another corner kick saw a Sam Hackett header saved by the keeper. Rearcross made it 2-0 when Jack Nolan was taken down in the box after great play between Sam Hackett and Conor Nolan before Jack Nolan stepped up to convert with aplomb. Ballymackey finished the half strongly as Darragh Reynolds was called in to action with a double save from Adam Whyte.
Rearcross were on the front foot again after the resumption of the 2nd half and Liam Brett played a pin point pass to Jack Nolan, but the effort was saved by the visiting custodian and then great combination play by Liam Brett and Conor Nolan saw a Jack Nolan strike saved. Jonathan Dawson was dominant throughout and his clearance set Jack Nolan away who found Liam Brett in the box but the effort was just wide of the mark. The home side were well on top at this stage and a cross by Jack Nolan saw a header by Colm O'Meara saved on the line by Ballymackey’s Matthew Bergin. The woodwork denied Jack Nolan when his well struck effort clipped the crossbar. Rearcross copper fastened the win when Stephen Ryan got on the end of a corner kick to power a header to the back of the net. Fully credit to a Ballymackey side that didn’t throw in the towel as Darragh Reynolds pulled off a double save to thwart Darragh Kelly late on and then the final action of the tie saw Colm O’Meara’s effort from the edge of the box saved by the visiting custodian, however Rea had already done enough to secure maximum points on this occasion.

Rearcross U-16 Boys: Darragh Reynolds, Seanie Quinlan, Jonathan Dawson, Paraic Carr, James Costello, Conor Carr (Capt), Colm Hickey, Liam Brett, Jack Nolan, Sam Hackett, Conor Nolan
Subs: Ronan Hammersley, Colm O'Meara, Jack Hickey, Stephen Ryan

Ballymackey FC: M Bergin, E Ryan, N Ryan, M Hoare, A Kilgallon (Capt), K Ryan, D Kelly, P Daly, S Fitzgerald, A Whyte, E Connolly
Subs: D Frend, C Ryan, R Caprice, P Williams, J Candau Garcia, E Grace

Referee: Cathal Spillane

Report by Shane Reynolds