Murphy thrives in Junior Cup opener
at Finlay Park bicycle kick that landed tamely in the Rovers goalkeeper’s arms.
However the breakthrough came shortly afterwards when in the eleventh minute Connors flicked on a Ken Turner free kick and Murphy latched onto it to finish past Ryan Murphy in the Rovers goal. It was a deserved lead.
Wicklow went close on more occasions in the first half but couldn’t get a second before the half time whistle. A couple of players rose highest in the box but their header was off target. Twice winger Alan Delaney got into a shooting position in the box but first a despairing tackle and secondly a poor effort let East Wall Rovers off the hook.
Wicklow needed a goal to make that pressure count and Rovers came close to equalising. If they had been a little more composed on the ball in the Wicklow area it could have spelled trouble but heavy touches meant the danger was averted.
However Ken Turner also had to make a couple of important saves to keep Rovers out. He showed all his reflexes to save a Robert Kelly header that bounced around his feet and shortly afterwards Gerard Reid launched a volley that was heading for the top corner only to be blocked out by a diving Turner.
Wicklow went in at half time a goal ahead but it always seemed like a matter of time before more goals came their way. And soon they did. A woefully under hit back pass by Rovers defender Jason Rooney let Murphy steal in and easily round the ‘ keeper for his second and give a sense of relief to the team.
Rovers pushed forward to get a goal back and their pressure forced a couple of half chances but again Turner was comfortable in the goal. It also left gaps at the back for Wicklow to attack on the counter.
Last gasp defending stops them a couple of times but it can’t stop them the third time when Wicklow cleared a corner to Murphy and he knocked it on to the impressive David O’Connor to sprint into the Rovers half and into the box. His ball across the face of goal gives Murphy an easy finish for his hat trick.
The match was all but over after that as Wicklow were well on their way to victory with twenty minutes to go. Wicklow had time to try a couple of corner routines and Alan Delaney went close again for them before five minutes until the end Murphy scored his fourth.
David O’Connor took a throw in that went all the way to the back post and with Delaney having brought all the Rovers defenders towards the front post Murphy was left free to run into the space and head the final goal of the game. It’s a good start to the season for the Wicklow Town men who played some good football and have a very good striker in Murphy.
Wicklow Town: 1. Ken Turner; 2. John Carton; 3. Mick Delaney; 4. Ian Brannigan; 5. Lenny Carton; 6. Peter Finnegan; 7. David O’Connor; 8. Brendan Cox; 9. Alan Delaney; 10. Gareth Murphy; 11. John Connors. Subs: 12. Chris French for John Connors (71 mins); 13. Simon Bouchier for Brendan Cox (76 mins); 14. Oisin O’Reilly for John Carton (80 mins).
East Wall Rovers: 1. Ryan Murphy; 2. Christopher Maher; 3. Robert Kelly; 4. David Gardiner; 5. Jason Rooney; 6. Gary Murran; 7. Jonathan McDonald; 8. Ian Maher; 9. Gerard Reid; 10. Thomas Murphy; 11. Luke Molloy. Subs: 12. Jonathan Quinn for Luke Molloy, 16. Daryl Conroy for Robert Kelly (both HT); 15. Cian Doran for Daryl Conroy (54 mins, inj.); 13. Lee Carabini for Jonathan McDonald, 14. Robert Bradley for Christopher Maker (both 71 mins).
Referee: Michael Kennedy