Rearcross Youths play out thrilling 4 all draw

Rearcross Youths hosted Ballymackey FC in this reversed league fixture on Saturday evening and played out a thrilling 4-4 draw. The home side made the first incision in the 2nd minute when an Oisín Reynolds headed effort from a Patrick Ryan corner kick wasn’t far away. Seanie Quinlan had a fine outing for Rearcross between the posts and made a smart save moments later to deny an effort from outside the box. The visitors took the lead on five minutes when Christopher Diasonama crossed to Mark Hoare who finished to the net. The Ballymackey woodwork denied Patrick Ryan’s well struck effort following a well worked pass from Cathal Ryan, this was followed by a Jack Nolan effort which was on target but the visiting custodian got down well to save. The Slieve Felim were enjoying a period of dominance as a Colm Hickey strike whizzed inches outside the upright. The tie was levelled at 1-1 on 27 minutes when Patrick Ryan’s corner kick was clinically headed home by Luke Carroll from the edge of the six-yard box. Rea went ahead on the half hour mark when Patrick Ryan’s free kick found Aaron Quinlan who sliced the ball to the corner of the net. A well contested opening half saw Cathal Ryan fire a low effort on target which was saved while at the other end Seanie Quinlan did well to gather on the second attempt in a crowed goalmouth.
An action packed second half saw the Ballinree draw level eight minutes in when Darragh Kelly finished a with a daisy cutter from out on the right which went in off the far post. The goal of the game came three minutes later when Christopher Diasonama fired a delightful strike to the roof of the net from just outside the eighteen-yard box to leave it at 3-2 to away side. It was nip and tuck as Jack Nolan pegged it back level again in the 64th minute with a smashing finish which went in off the butt of the post with the assist coming from Patrick Ryan. Rearcross keeper Seanie Quinlan was brave to avert the danger while and then, Jack Nolan was unlucky to see his effort hit the post and go wide. Colm Hickey was next up a splendid long-range effort which was parried over by the keeper at the expense of a corner kick. The game was in the melting pot at this stage and it was Ballymackey that pounced to make it 4-4 when Christopher Diasonama prodded home from close range in a crowded goalmouth with five minutes to play. Full credit to a Rearcross side that showed great determination to earn a deserved share of the spoils a minute later when Patrick Ryan’s corner kick was met by Luke Carroll who crashed the ball the back of the net with a powerful header much to the delight of the home supporters. Rearcross had to battle all the way on the evening to earn a result but all players can stand proud after a sterling performance.

Ballymackey FC: C Hassett, J Fitzpatrick (Capt), E Ryan, D Hartnett, M Ryan, M Hoare, D Kelly, C Diasonama, J Healy, A Kilgannon
Subs: D Kennedy, N Ryan, S Conway, M O’Brien, D O’Shaughnessy, O Ryan

Rearcross Youths: Seanie Quinlan, Oisin Reynolds, Luke Carroll, Ryan Amodeo, Liam Brett, Aaron Quinlan, Patrick Ryan, Cathal Ryan (Capt), Colm Hickey, Dylan Hyde, Jack Nolan
Subs: Conor Carr, Josh Cleary, Ronan Hammersley, Patrick Carr, James Costello

Referee: Robert Mandrila

Report by Ger Kennedy