Delight for Arklow United as they see off their Celtic cousins
the wind at their backs and they had a penalty appeal waved off by referee Frank Croasdell when striker Luke Walker was bundled over. Graham Heany replaced an injured Sean Garvey on 17 minutes for United.
Arklow Celtic had their first real effort in the 21st minute; a knockdown from Edwin Walker to Lee Doyle, whose effort was dragged just wide.
Back came United with a series of corners. The first saw Canavan in goal happy to tip over. The second was whipped in dangerously but flashed unhindered across the goal.
Shortly after, Niall Higgins showed more of his dead ball skills with an effort from all of 40 yards.
His drilled effort with the aid of the strong breeze had goalkeeper Canavan scrambling to tip over the bar.
A long clearance by United was flicked on by target man Mark Nolan whose header ricocheted off the Celtic defence back to Nolan whose first time snap shot just flew wide.
Tempers flared again soon after in this local derby after an altercation between United’s Doyle and Celtic’s David Moorehouse but Croasdell was quickly on the scene to defuse the situation.
On the half hour another sublime free kick from Higgins was nodded just wide by Luke Walker.
Celtic finally got a foothold as the breeze died down a bit and a few half chances were created. The first was an excellent ball over the top from the tenacious Moorehouse and saw Mark Wolohan beat United keeper Doyle to the ball. He rounded him but the defence got back to snuff out the threat.
A minute later another hopeful ball over the top to Lee Doyle saw the Celtic man fire narrowly wide.
United were forced into a second substitution of the opening half when Robert Mullervy replaced the unfortunate Dean Doyle.
Moments later a Celtic attack resulted in Lee Doyle stabbing the ball forward to Shane Walker whose effort blazed high and wide.
Celtic were pushing more and more now and a through ball by Paddy Walker saw the alert Doyle in the goal beat Edwin Walker to the pass.
At this stage it became the Lee and Stephen Doyle show. The first chance for the lively Lee Doyle saw him curl an effort just past the post. A couple of minutes later Celtic’s Doyle had an effort stopped by the keeper’s legs and on the stroke of half-time a corner headed goal wards by Lee was smothered by Doyle to close out the half.
With the wind picking up again and against United, they sat deep, inviting Celtic onto them.
Lee Doyle was substituted after picking up a knock to be replaced by John Kearon.
Celtic got on top now. Kevin O Regan fired over, Paddy Walker struck a thunder bolt of a free kick straight at keeper Doyle.
On 54 minutes, beautiful build up play involving Kearon, Paddy Walker and Mark Wolohan saw the later fire his effort marginally wide.
Another effort by Paddy Walker blazed over. Edwin Walker also had an effort blocked away. On 67 minutes Wolohan and Edwin Walker were replaced by Kevin Moorehouse and Mark Doyle.
Shortly after, a rare United attack saw Mullervy race through but his attempted chip was parried away by Canavan.
With 15 minutes left a gilt edged chance fell to Celtic’s Kearon who stroked the ball wide however seconds later he redeemed himself a scooped pass by an increasingly influential Shane Walker was toe poked home to give the hoops a lifeline.
The next Celtic attack resulted in a corner. A floated delivery towards centre-half Jason Wolohan on the edge of the box saw a massive wind up from the defender only to see his effort balloon over the bar. United had all hands on deck now as Celtic threw everything at the hosts in search of the equaliser.
On 85 minutes, good work by Mark Doyle saw Paddy Walker fire wide. Kearon supplied second half sub Mikey Doyle who made Stephen Doyle produce an excellent save.
Into injury time, more Celtic pressure saw the ball drop to Mark Doyle whose first time shot whistled across the goalmouth and wide. United almost made the last moments a bit more comfortable with a lightening break out. Second half sub Jamie Garnett galloped down the right wing his centre was met by fellow sub Ben Travers whose powerful header narrowly cleared the bar.
The long whistle sounded shortly after much to United’s delight and Celtic’s dismay. A good cup tie played in the right spirit; Niall Higgins and Shane Walker were immense for their respective teams.
Arklow United A: 1. Stephen Doyle, 2. Nathan Carr, 3. Darragh Walker, 4. Eddie McLoughlin, 5. Paul Lalor, 6. Niall Higgins, 7. Sean Garvey, 8. Mark Nolan, 9. Zack Kilbride, 10. Luke Walker, 11. Dean Doyle. Subs: 12. Robert Mullervy, 13. Ben Travers, 14. Graham Heany, 15. Jamie Garnett, 16. Eoin Kavanagh.
Arklow Celtic A: 1. Paul Canavan, 2. David Moorehouse, 3. Darren Rowan, 4. Jason Wolohan, 5. Nevin Keane, 6. Kevin O’Regan, 7. Mark Wolohan, 8. Shane Walker, 9. Paddy Walker, 10. Edwin Walker, 11. Lee Doyle. Subs: 12. John Kearon, 13. Mark Doyle, 14. Kevin Moorehouse, 15. Mikey Doyle, 16. David Kenny.
Referee: Frank Croasdell