Rearcross Youths lose out on 6-4 scoreline in league opener

Rearcross Youths kicked of their new season in Rearcross on Saturday against Knigh United and lost out on 6-4 scoreline after an intense encounter where the game could have swung either way before Knigh sealed the win. Rearcross keeper Jonathan Dawson had a fine outing and raced off his line in the 10th minute to avert the danger with a powerful clearance. The Rearcross custodian was in the action again in the 15th minute with a good block but Eoin Kelly followed through to finish from close range. The hosts enjoyed a spell of dominance and pegged it back level when Sam Hackett was well positioned to knock Jack Nolan’s rebounded effort over the line. The Slieve Felim outfit came close on 37 minutes when Sam Hackett’s powerful drive was blocked by Darryl White at the near post. Rearcross hit the front three minutes later when Patrick Ryan’s free-kick broke to Sam Hackett who finished with aplomb. The lead was short-lived however as Simon Cleary finished with a fine effort just before the break to leave it all square at the half-time whistle.
The Puckane side dictated affairs after the re-start and took the lead seven minutes in when Simon Cleary followed through to score. Rea were still very much in the game and were unlucky not to level with efforts from Patrick Ryan and Cathal Ryan. It was 4-2 to the visitors on the hour mark when Simon Cleary nipped in for his second of the day from close range. Rearcross kept plugging and Jack Nolan came close with a good strike which was saved at the post while Jonathan Dawson was busy at the other end, ably supported by Luke Carroll who timed a tackle to perfection to deny a scoring opportunity. The hosts were left with an uphill battle when Zakk Ryan made it 5-2 on 73 minutes with a well taken goal. Full credit to a Rearcross side that didn’t throw in the towel as Luke Carroll reduced the deficit two minutes later after blasting to the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box. Knigh were now on the backfoot as Rea were on top and it was brought back to the minimum when Jack Nolan scored the goal of the game in the 82nd minute with a wonderful strike from out on the right that nestled in the top corner of the net. Rearcross were driving forward in numbers in search of the equaliser but Knigh pounced to score what proved to be the deciding goal with five minutes to play when Eoin Kelly tapped in from close range to seal the points for the visiting side. Rearcross will take a lot of positives from their opening encounter and will build on this performance for the next outing.

Rearcross Youths: Jonathan Dawson, Seanie Quinlan, Aaron Quinlan, Oisin Reynolds, Conor Carr, Patrick Ryan, Cathal Ryan(Capt), Luke Carroll, Liam Brett, Jack Nolan, Sam Hackett
Subs: Colin O’Meara, Patrick Carr, Colm Hickey, Ronan Hammersley, Liam Ryan, Paddy Ryan

Knigh United: Darryl White, Alex Dillon, Tom McGrath(Capt), Cian Hannon, Dominik Rojczyk, Noah Ducie-Maher, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Scott Garland, Eoin Kelly, Conor Ryan, Simon Cleary
Subs: Cian Kinsella, Jack Fogarty, Zakk Ryan, Charlie Walsh, Avarham Aharon, Matthew Walsh, Eoin Dervan

Referee: Colin O’Gorman

Report by Ger Kennedy