Jenkinson and Davis on song for Arklow

LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE ROUND-UP

ARKLOW TOWN FC ST JOSEPH’S FC 2 1

ARKLOW TOWN FC’S under-16 girls held off a gallant St Joseph’s side to claim a sweet victory in their Wexford Women’s and Schoolgirls Soccer League meeting at Bridgewater Centre Park last Saturday afternoon.

Key to the victory was the superb work ethic contained within this Arklow Town FC side. All over the field they toiled for 80 minutes of entertaining action on the grass pitch and nowhere more so than in the middle of the park where Aida Urbanchiute and Shannon Hughes proved hugely dominant for the home side.

Town’s opening goal arrived when Ella Jenkinson got in behind the St Joseph’s defence thanks to a neat through ball and she fairly hammered it home high to the roof of Tanya Kennedy’s net making it her fourth goal in three games for the talented midfielder.

St Joseph’s asked plenty of questions of the Arklow Town FC defence, including seeing a shot rocketing back off the crossbar, but Imelda Juncaite in the goals had a very good day between the sticks while Roisin Quintan, Amber Byrne, Roisin Madigan and Niamh Geaoghan were solid and committed in defence.

It remained 1-0 to the home side at the break.

Eight minutes into the second half, Arklow Town looked to be home and hosed when the busy Katie Davis hoisted a dangerous ball across the St Joseph’s square where Ella Jenkinson just couldn’t finish to the net.

The ball was cleared but Town just wouldn’t give up and back they came again.

The ball was worked to Katie Davis again who lobbed a beauty over Tanya Kennedy for the game’s second goal.

St Joseph’s were never going to give in without a fight and 23 minutes later Amy Mitten beat Imelda Juncaite in the Arklow Town goal and we had a serious match on our hands.

Town didn’t retreat into themselves as so often happens when a team is trying to defend a lead. They kept attacking and giving it their all and were unlucky to see Ellie Menton’s effort some back off the crossbar.

They had some hair moments as well but team effort, hard work and plenty of ability pulled them through for a deserved victory in the end.

1. Imelda Juncaite,

2. Roisin Quintan, 3. Amber Byrne, 4. Roisin Madigan, 5. Niamh Geaoghan,

6. Shannon Hughes, 7. Aida Urbanchiute, 8. Katie Davis, 9. Ella Jenkinson,

10. Ella Menton, 11. Anna Byrne. Subs: 12 Jacoda Chimuniska, 13. Elena O’Neill, 14. Niamh Byrne.

Arklow Town:

1. Tanya Kennedy, 2. Sophie Rooster,

3. Lauren Murphy, 4. Ciara Blake, 5. Eleanor Hammeil, 6. Katie Carr, 7. Edel Kehoe, 8. Millie Cassidy, 9. Amy Mitten,

10. Aoife Manley, 11. Holly Meehan. Subs: 12. Grannia Dempsey, 15. Tara O’Connor.

St Joseph’s Kilmuckridge: Referee:

MJ Wadding