Appleby’s late strike wins derby for United
at Ferndale Park ARKLOW UNITED ARKLOW TOWN
stretched and hooked the ball away from Cillian Appleby who looked to be going one on one with Byrne, but the keeper deemed the challenge to be unintentional andpickeduptheball.
Referee Carl Doyle awarded United an indirect free-kick just on the edge of penalty area which was converted by Cristian Roche to give his side an equalising goal.
Both sides did manage to find the net before the end of the first half but both were blown up for offside, Conor Mc Loughlin’s headed goal was ruled out for United and Chris Furlong for Arklow Town.
Arklow United piled on the pressure in the second-half but just could not find the back of the net.
Some great efforts from Trevor Fitzgerald and Cillian Appleby early in the second-half was topped by even better saves from Dylan Byrne.
As time went on United threw caution to the wind and went full on all-out attack on their opponents and put more men forward but as they piled men forward they left themselves vulnerable in defence which meant they almost got caught out on multiple of occasions with Chris Furlong, James O’Brien and Luke Cummings going on the counter-attack but could not find the back of the net.
The deciding goal came on 87 minutes from the home side when substitute Joe Forde cleared the ball from his own penalty area which landed at the feet of Cillian Appleby who cut inside on his preferred foot and curled the ball into the corner of the net to give his side a dramatic winner.
It did look like Forde was merely clearing the ball from danger but the credit has to go to Appleby who skilfully placed the ball perfectly past the keeper Dylan Byrne who had performed brilliantly all game.
A dramatic end to a thrilling derby cup tie with two teams who battled right until the last minute of the game, but it’s Arklow United who will progress to the semi-final of the Youth Cup.
1. Dean Flood Hayes, 2. Conor Blaney 3. Trevor Fitzgerald. 4. Ryan Doyle, 5. Conor Mc Loughlin, 6. Jake Kinsella, 7. Cristian Roche, 8. Kieran Chong, 9. Sean Davenport, 10. Cillian Appleby, 11. Cian Mc Bride. Subs: Jack Flynn for Kieran Chong (55min), Jamie Redmond for Cian Mc Bride (75min), Joe Forde for Jake Kinsella (78min).
ARKLOW UNITED: ARKLOW TOWN: