League defeat for Rearcross Youths

Rearcross Youths hosted Arra Rovers at Rearcross FC Grounds on Fri evening and succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against a well drilled visiting side. The hosts were luckless not to open their account in the opening half, before the Rea challenge petered out as the second half wore on. Arra Rovers showed strongly from the kick off and threatened with a D O’Donoghue effort in the 5th minute. The Portroe side hit the front when Dara O’Dwyer broke on the left before sending a smashing effort whizzing to the corner of the net. It was two nil to the visitors after H Hunt’s free kick was floated in to the danger area where Conor Gorman was afforded too much space, before slotting home from close range. The Slieve Felim side were luckless not to pull a goal back on 21 minutes when Larry Collins broke through the centre only for K O’Donoghue to advance and make the block at close range. Brian Hammersley had another fine outing for the Rea boys and did well to get a one-handed turn on E Grace’s corner kick with eighteen minutes to go in the half. Brian Hammersley then followed up with a brace of saves in as many minutes. It was proving to be a tough night for the home side when Larry Collins did well to get behind the Arra rearguard in the 33rd minute before sending a low effort goalbound, the ball struck the butt of the post before rolling agonisingly across the goal line as Arra got back to clear. The Rearcross shot stopper was in the action again after palming a free kick effort from the edge of the box away from the danger zone and seconds later made another close range save. Arra Rovers keeper K O’Donoghue also produced a strong performance on the night and made great use of his area intercepting multiple through balls and denied James Butler with two minutes to go to the half time whistle after advancing to intercept from a one on one.
Rearcross pressed after the resumption and forced K O’Donoghue to save inside the opening five minutes and then Larry Collins produced the trickery on the left with an effort that pulled just wide three minutes later. H Hunt fired on target for Arra Rovers but Brian Hammersley was well positioned to gather at the near post. James Butler prodded on target but the visiting custodian blocked away and was luckless seconds later to see his well struck shot drag wide of the post on the hour mark. Callum Wallace’s well struck free kick was on target in the 24th minute but the Arra keeper watched all the way and gathered cleanly. Arra Rovers ran out comfortable winners in the end and Rea were let off the hook when C Gorman blazed inches wide. Brian Hammersley came to the rescue again with seventeen minutes remaining after parrying from E Grace. Arra kept on the offensive with Luke Carroll front and centre with a fine defensive performance throughout. The woodwork came to the rescue for Rearcross two minutes from time when E Grace’s effort clipped the bottom of the upright before Patrick Kennedy got back to tidy up. Mel Sheridan showed good footwork when introduced but it was Brian Hammersley who had the last say for Rea with another smart save in the dying moments of the game. Rearcross will rue not getting on the scoresheet in the first half, but will go again for their next encounter in what has been a very positive campaign so far this season.

Rearcross Youths: Brian Hammersley (Capt), Patrick Kennedy, Liam Crump, Callum Wallace, Luke Carroll, Max Carroll, Larry Collins, Patrick Ryan, Padraig Griffin, Aaron Quinlan, James Butler
Subs: Jack Brett for Patrick Ryan, Mel Sheridan for Aaron Quinlan

Arra Rovers: K O’Donoghue, L Power, H Hunt, J Dillon, J Quinn, J O’Dwyer, C Grace, D O’Donoghue, E Grace, D O’Dwyer, C Gorman
Subs: D Maloney, A Dharam, A Dorris, T Howard

Referee: David Butler

Acknowledge and thanks to Rearcross Minibus Hire for sponsoring a new set of jerseys for Rearcross Youths and to Premier Parlour Paints for sponsoring togs and socks, read more...

Photos courtesy of John Collins
Report by Ger Kennedy