CELTIC’S DERBY JOY
Rivals from Arklow produce a thrilling semi-final
ARKLOW CELTIC 3 ARKLOW UNITED 2
THE Thomas Scott Cup run goes on for Arklow Celtic as they beat town rivals Arklow United with ten men to continue their run on to the final for the first time in many years.
Sunday morning brought a thrilling semi-final derby game with two Arklow teams, Arklow Celtic and Arklow United battling it out to make it to the final of the Thomas Scott Cup final.
Both teams started battling right from the off and for the first ten minutes it was difficult to pick a winner from the two Arklow teams.
As expected from a derby game there was a very physical opening to the game with tough challenges flying in from either side, as both teams were looking to put their stamp on the game.
The first opportunity of the game came in the fifth minute from a well delivered free kick that was chipped into the penalty area by Celtic defender Shane Walker, it was almost met by the left foot of striker John Kearon but United keeper Owen Kavanagh came off his line just in time to smother the ball.
Just as Arklow Celtic started to gather momentum in the game central defender Paddy Walker was shown a red card in the 15th minute for violent conduct towards Arklow United defender Nathan Carr.
Carr and Walker went in for 50-50 tackle but Carr had his studs raised and caught Walker on the shin which resulted in the Arklow Celtic player reacting physically towards his opponent before being shown a straight red for violent conduct and sent for an early shower.
Carr somehow avoided both a warning and a yellow card for the challenge.
It was always going to be difficult for the home side to compete against their opponents with one man less but on the half hour mark Celtic took the lead with a goal against the run of play.
Defender Shane Walker took the ball from out of defence and played a through ball to John Kearon, Kearon then played the ball back to Lee Doyle who took the shot first time from long range and found the back of the net. A great strike from the Celtic forward to make it 1-0.
Two minutes later United struck back with a free kick from defender Paul Lawlor.
Lawlor hit a low powerful shot which hit the ground and bounced back up and into the corner of the net.
Celtic keeper Edwin Walker thought it was going wide but miss judged the strike. 1-1 it remained until half time.
Both teams regrouped at half time and came back out looking to get another goal to finish off the semi-final tie. Lee Doyle went close on a number of occasions to make it 2-1 to Celtic but the striker found it difficult to keep himself onside. United striker Luke Walker also found it difficult to remain onside and capitalise on some great chances.
On the 62nd minute Celtic took the lead for the second time in the game.
A well delivered free kick was whipped across the goal from Paul Werder and met by his team mate Jay Wolohan, who coolly fired his team back into the lead. A great delivery from Werder.
Arklow Celtic again failed to get themselves organised and weren’t concentrating after scoring what they thought was the winner as Johnny Quinn capitalised on a loose uncleared free kick.
Quinn was the first to react in the penalty area to take a strike towards goal which was blocked by Kevin Moorsehouse but Quinn followed up with a rebound shot which flew into the roof of the net to make it 2-2, and put his team right back into the game.
Paul Werder had been struggling with an injury since early in the first half and had to come off and was replaced by Nathan Doyle, which let Shane Walker move up into central midfield and Doyle into defence.
This changed the game for the home side as Walker pulled the strings from the centre of the park, spraying balls across the pitch looking to open up the United defence and get a winning goal.
Celtic manager Stephen Cullen was reluctant to make any substitutions late on in the game as it was on a knife edge but the Celtic coach replaced Mark Wolohan with Darren Rowan in the 78th minute, who made an instant impact.
Shane Walker found Rowan on the left wing in acres of space, Rowan made a darting run down the wing before cutting inside and crossing to Kearon who controlled the ball on his chest before taking the shot first time on the volley to make it 3-2.
Celtic took the lead for the third time.
United battled hard to try get an equaliser late on but time just ran out for Arklow men.
A well fought victory to Celtic with ten men for majority of the game.
The Arklow side continue to march on in the cup and hope to get some silverware for the first time in many years.
Arklow Celtic: 1. Edwin Walker, 2. David Moorehouse, 3. Sean Garvey, 4. Shane Walker, 5. Jay Wolohan, 6. Paul Werder, 7. Mark Wolohan, 8. Paddy Walker, 9. Kevin Moorehouse, 10. John Kearon, 11. Lee Doyle. Subs: 12. Mark Doyle, 13. Nathan Doyle, 14. Darren Rowan.
Arklow United: 1. Owen Kavanagh, 2. Alan O’Neill, 3. Darragh Walker, 4. Paul Lawlor, 5. Nathan Carr, 6. Michael Wolohan, 7. Johnny Quinn, 8. Graham Heeney, 9. Zach Kilbride, 10. Luke Walker, 11. Alan Mc Bride. Subs: 12. Niall Higgins, 13. Richard Neary.
Referee: Karl Doyle