Maximum points for Rearcross U-16 Boys

Rearcross U-16 Boys played host to Holycross FC last Saturday in their last home game of the league. Rearcross started the quickest and good link up play between Seanie Quinlan and Jack Nolan saw the latter play in Sam Hackett but Cian Campion was quick off his line to collect. Paraic Carr was unlucky with an effort when a Jack Nolan freekick from out on the right caused trouble in the Holycross defence. Liam Ryan then saw his header go wide from a Colm Hickey corner kick. Darragh Reynolds was called into action and made a fine save to deny Tadhg Bourke. It was end to end as Sam Hackett saw his effort saved by the Holycross keeper. Rearcross eventually took the lead when a long clearance by Darragh Reynolds evaded the Holycross defence, as Liam Ryan was quickest to react to prod the ball home. Nearly straight from the kick off, the ball was won by Conor Carr who played a pass into Sam Hackett who was unlucky to see his effort hit the cross bar and go wide. Liam Ryan came close to adding to his tally but Holycross keeper Cian Campion got a handed touch as an in-rushing Liam Brett was unlucky not to finish the rebound. Sam Hackett was again unlucky not to score after latching on to a mis-hit clearance, when the ball flew over the bar. Holycross kept plugging and got an equalizer when Paudie O' Reilly was quickest to react to a loose ball from a corner kick delivery.
The Slieve Felim side introduced their bench at half time and the fresh legs make a telling impact. Jonathan Dawson played in Sam Hackett who brought a great save out of the visiting custodian but there was no stopping the next effort when Sam Hackett made it 2-1 after being put through by Colm Hickey. Cormac Walshe for Holycross tried his luck from distance, but Darragh Reynolds in the Rearcross goals made the save. Jonathan Dawson increased the lead to 3-1 after running on to a Colm Hickey pass. The Rea boys were on top at this stage as Jonathan Dawson saw another effort saved by the keeper before Jack Nolan scored to make it 4-1 following a powerful run. Conor Carr was luckless not to score after connecting with a dangerous Sam Hackett cross from the right flank. Jonathan Dawson doubled his tally with a smart finish to stretch the lead to 5-1. Colm Hickey then tried his luck from outside the box, but full credit to a Holycross side that didn’t throw in the towel as James Ely, Eoin Cummins and Edwin Babu all threatened, but Darragh Reynolds in the Rearcross goals averted the danger with some fine goalkeeping. The last action saw Conor Carr luckless when his well struck effort hit the cross bar, but Rearcross had already done enough to secure a comfortable win on this occasion.

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

Holycross FC: C Campion, C Finn (Capt), C Walshe, P O’Reilly, N Dillon, T Bourke, A Maxwell, J Ely, B Babu, E Cummins, C Cavanagh
Subs: F Ryan, D Cullagh, P Ryan, N Ryan

Referee: Aidan Kenneally

Report by Shane Reynolds