Wicklow Town B see off the Dons

TWO VERY avoidable defensive errors in the first half, and a stroke of bad luck which saw Ed Dunne having to leave the field, cost the MK Dons dear at Wicklow Town on Sunday, when the home side booked its final place in the Shield by three goals to two.

Both sides played attacking football in the first half which yielded two goals each, Graham Heaney opening the Dons' account in the 22nd minute with a long, loping ball over the head of Town's keeper Michael Hodgkins after outrunning the opposition. Disaster struck the visitors, however, almost immediately afterwards, when top goal scorer Ed Dunne was double-tackled in Town's box and, slipping awkwardly, sustained a dislocated finger, and a sprained ankle and had to be replaced by Tom O'Leary.

Town seized the opportunity, Eddie Kelly scoring in the 32nd from a strike at the edge of the Dons' box; five minutes later, Conor Cox made it two when Dons' 'keeper Stephen Byrne strayed too far out of his goalmouth in an attempt at sweeping.

Just on half-time, the Arklow men evened matters up with a Tom Kavanagh penalty after Kevin Moorhouse was crudely fouled in Town's box.

Both sides kept the energy level up after the resumption, with Town coming closer to scoring. The Dons defence was solid and had their many attacks not ended with the ball being struck from too far out optimistically too many times, might have taken the lead.

Heartbreak came for the Arklow men in the 89th minute, with Eddie Kelly heading in a corner shot for his second. Town now meet Arklow Utd in the final, a team the Dons have beaten twice and drawn against once this season. It's a case of could-have-been for the Dons.