Strong showing from Rearcross U-16 Boys before losing on penalties

Rearcross U-16 Boys welcomed Moneygall FC last Thursday evening and it was the away side who settled the quickest. Micheal Collins was to the fore with a telling tackle to stop a Moneygall attack, however the visitors took the lead through a defensive mishap which saw the ball fall to Jamie Thomas Ryan who made no mistake from close range. Moneygall were to add to their lead when Jamie Thomas Ryan glided by 3 Rearcross players with the ball and dispatched past Leo Armstrong in the Rearcross goals. The hosts dusted themselves down and took the fight to Moneygall and nearly had a goal back with a Liam O'Dwyer effort. A brace of Jonathan Dawson free kicks in quick succession came very close to hitting the target. Rearcross were really putting pressure on the Moneygall kick outs and brilliant closing down by Liam O'Dwyer and Patrick Carr saw the latter play in Jonathan Dawson, only for his effort to whiz past the post and wide. Rearcross finally broke through when a powerful Darragh Reynolds shot was saved by Aidan O'Meara in the Moneygall goals before the ball rebounded to the on-rushing James Costello as the match captain booted the ball to the back of the net. Moneygall were rattled now and a Jonathan Dawson corner kick caused mayhem in the box, and Liam O'Dwyer was quickest to react to send the ball to the back of the net to leave it all square on two goals apiece. Rearcross made it 3-2 just before half time as Rearcross keeper Leo Armstrong came and collected a corner kick before releasing Darragh Reynolds out on the right flank who played a brilliant ball over the top for Jonathan Dawson to run on to, as his effort flew to the net to leave it 3-2 to Rea at the half time whistle.
Rearcross were to the fore at the start of the second half as Darragh Reynolds saw his effort saved after being put through by Sean Guidera while at the other end Jack Hickey put in a thunderous tackle to deny a Moneygall attack. It was end to end as Leo Armstrong got down smartly to deny Tiernan Casey. Rearcross piled on the pressure as Jonathan Dawson had three efforts saved by the visiting custodian. Tenacious defending by Stephen Ryan and Conor McInerney stopped Moneygall in their tracks, however Moneygall did draw level against the run of play when a Moneygall corner kick wasn't dealt with and Jamie Thomas Ryan completed his hattrick from close range. Rearcross finished the stronger team with two further efforts by Jonathan Dawson, which were brilliantly saved by Aidan O'Meara. The outcome had to be decided on penalties where Moneygall edged it on a 3-2 scoreline. Jonathon Dawson and Darragh Reynolds were the scorers for Rearcross while Leo Armstrong also saved a penalty. The Moneygall sharp shooters were Darragh Daly, Alex McKenna and Aaron Griffin

Rearcross U-16 Boys: Leo Armstrong, Jack Hickey, Stephen Ryan, Micheal Collins, Conor McInerney, Matthew Ryan, James Costello(Capt), Patrick Carr, Jonathan Dawson, Darragh Reynolds, Liam O'Dwyer
Subs: Leon Wallace, Paudie Clifford, Jack O'Toole, Sean Guidera

Moneygall FC: A O’Meara, A O’Grady, B Gleeson, A Griffin, C Nolan, A McKenna, E Bourke, M Turek (Capt), D Richardson-Daly, J Ryan, T Casey
Subs: H Foot, G Chadwick, C Greed

Referee: TP Sullivan

Report by Shane Reynolds