Higgins hits winner
Midfielder misses and scores penalty in United victory
A battle of two mid-table teams took place at Celtic Park on Sunday in Division 2 between Shamrock Celtic and Arklow United (A).
Shamrock Celtic sat in 10th place in the league with 14 points whilst Arklow United were one place above Cetic in ninth with 15 points, this meant both teams needed the three points to climb out of the middle of the table and try and challenge for the title.
It started off a very even game with two very matched sides in terms of attacking football.
Both teams would quickly go on the counter-attack after winning the ball but neither side could capitalise on their opportunities in front of goal.
Arklow United’s frontman Zach Kilbride almost got the opener of the game after being a set up with a great ball from Luke Walker, but the Arklow man rushed his shot and hit the side netting in the ninth minute.
Shamrock Celtic’s Noel McVeigh picked out Anto Byrne on a number of occasions in the opposite half but also failed to put away his chances early on, although the striker’s pace was causing a lot of trouble for the Arklow United centre-halves.
Byrne would link up with McVeigh deep in his own half before making a run out wide left looking to be picked out by McVeigh but right-back Alan O’Neill made some great challenges on a number of occasions to stop the striker from shooting, O’Neill remained solid throughout the game for the United defence.
Celtic’s Colin Cassidy was unlucky not to open the scoring with his head from close range on the half hour mark.
A well delivered free-kick from Simon Bouchier met the head of Cassidy, who went totally unmarked at the back post, but somehow the defender didn’t connect properly with the ball and the chance went wide.
Luke Walker thought he had scored the first of the game in the 36th minute when he slotted the ball past Shamrock Celtic keeper Stephen Doyle but the Arklow man was well offside.
Walker found it hard to keep onside a number of times throughout the game.
United kept on pushing and finally broke through just before half-time when Mick Murphy was through on goal before he was taken down by keeper Stephen Doyle.
Niall Higgins stepped up to take the spot-kick, and he had a 100 per cent record before taking the penalty.
Higgins tried placing the ball to the right of the keeper but Doyle guessed the right way and got a right hand to the ball.
A poor penalty from the midfielder and a missed opportunity to put his side ahead before half-time.
United grew in confidence as the second half progressed. Walker had many chances to put his team in front but again the speedy attacker ran too early and was caught offside multiple times.
Higgins had a chance to redeem himself in the 65th minute when he went down after a challenge from Gary Doyle in the penalty area and again the referee pointed to the spot.
Higgins quickly grabbed the ball to take the spot-kick as he knew he had to convert to turn the game on its head.
The midfielder went the same way again down the right side of the goalkeeper but this time Doyle went the wrong way. 1-0 Arklow United and a shout of relief from the United midfielder Niall Higgins.
Not long after the first goal Doyle had to be substituted off because of a knee injury which he obtained with the challenge on Murphy for the first penalty in the first half.
United could have killed the game off late in the second half when both Zach Kilbride and Peter Tyrell had golden opportunities against sub goalkeeper Brandon Doyle but failed to hit the target.
Celtic tried to push for an equaliser by bringing on Scott Meaney late in the game but there just wasn’t enough time for the winger to produce many chances and the United defence held out.
A good win for United as they climb up the table with a few games in hand but for Shamrock Celtic they stay in tenth position in the table after Sunday’s loss.
Shamrock Celtic: 1. Stephen Doyle, 2. Noel McVeigh, 3. Peter Carter, 4. Colin Cassidy, 5. Gary Doyle, 6. Craig Doyle, 7. Glen McCarthy, 8. Aidan O’Neill, 9. Stephen Morris, 10. Anto Byrne, 11. Simon Bouchier, 12. Scott Meaney, 13. Brandon Doyle, 14. Mick Hodginson.
Arklow United: 1. Owen Kavanagh, 2. Alan O’Neill, 3. Darragh Walker, 4. Paul Lawler, 5. Nathan Carr, 6. Graham Heaney, 7. Niall Higgins, 8. Mick Murphy, 9. Luke Walker, 10. Mark Nolan, 11. Zach Kilbride, 12. Alan McBride, 13. Peter Tyrell, 14. Michael Tango.