Winning start for Rearcross Youths in their NT&DL Debut

Rearcross Youths made a winning start to their NT&DL campaign with a 3-0 win over Holycross FC on Saturday afternoon at a blustery Rearcross FC Grounds. Indeed, the margin would have been greater but for a man of the match performance from visiting keeper Joe Joe Ryan. The opening exchanges were evenly contested as Rearcross shot stopper Brian Hammersley made a clean save from a well stuck free kick and then at the other end a Callum Wallace free kick was parried by Joe Joe Ryan with James Butler unlucky not to drive home. The hosts enjoyed long spells of dominance after this and came close when a cracking effort from Larry Collins lifted inches over the crossbar on the fifteen-minute mark. Patrick Ryan got in on the action minutes later but the shot was blocked away at the expense of a corner kick. Rearcross were on the ascendancy as Max Carroll pushed forward and connected with a looping effort that dipped behind the net. Larry Collins was dominant throughout and came close before the ball was deflected away. It was all Rea at this stage as Patrick Kennedy swung in the cross from the right but Holycross cleared their lines after a skirmish. Rearcross keeper Brian Hammersley had to be brave midway through the half after getting down well to gather the ball under pressure. The best chance of the half came on 33 minutes when Larry Collins let fly with a fine left footed effort but the ball drifted over following good approach play by Mel Sheridan. It was proving to be one of those outings for Rea after Callum Wallace’s well stuck free kick was goal bound only for Joe Joe Ryan to reflex with a superb save to turn the ball over the bar on the stroke of half time.
The tide turned for Rearcross in the second half, although Joe Joe Ryan was again proving his worth with another fine save from James Butler four minutes in. The home team were let off the hook two minutes later when Luke Cavanagh got a headed touch on a corner kick as the ball skidded inches outside the upright. Rearcross pushed on after this and hit the front on 55 minutes when Aaron Lenihan found James Butler in space who drilled a low effort to the back of the net. The Rea boys had their heads up after this and Jack Brett wasn’t far away with a long-range effort on the hour mark. Joe Joe Ryan continued with his top-notch goalkeeping performance to deny James Butler. It was 2 nil to the NT&DL debutants after Taylor Light produced the footwork to create the opening for Aaron Lenihan who netted from in front of goal. Rearcross copper fastened the win after Callum Wallace headed a corner kick back across a crowded goalmouth, but Aaron Quinlan had read to perfection and crashed the ball home to seal a gallant win for Rearcross. Nicholas Dawson, Aaron Quinlan and Luke Carroll all did well when introduced. Thanks to a youthful Holycross team for a very sporting encounter and well done to referee Bobby O’Connor on an accomplished performance.

Rearcross Youths: Brian Hammersley, Patrick Kennedy, Jack Brett, Callum Wallace, Max Carroll, Aaron Lenihan, Patrick Ryan, Larry Collins, Mel Sheridan, James Butler, Taylor Light
Subs: Nicholas Dawson, Luke Carroll, Aaron Quinlan

Holycross FC: JJ Ryan, J Ryan, C O’Connor, C Lohan, H Lohan, L O’Sullivan, J Fennessy, G O’Reilly, O Quiret, P Garzio, S Ryan
Subs: C Kehoe, S Dwan, G Alvaro, L Cavanagh

Referee: Bobby O’Connor

Report by Ger Kennedy