KEARNEY NICKS IT
Centre-half’s strike wins Shield for Wicklow Rovers ‘B’
WICKLOW ROVERS B ARKLOW TOWN 1 0
CENTRE HALF Nicky Kearney scored the solitary goal as Wicklow Rovers B claimed the Youths ‘B’ Shield as they defeated Arklow Town 1-0 in a rather drab encounter in Pat O’Toole Park on Monday evening.
The game got off to a scrappy start as clear cut chances were hard to come by for both sides. Rovers got off to the stronger start though as in the sixth minute, Jafaar Ali’s volley from a long ball by David Browne was well saved by opposite goalkeeper Dylan Byrne.
The deadlock was broken after 18 minutes as Joseph O’Shea whipped an inviting free-kick in from the right hand side, Town keeper Byrne came to claim it, but the ball was subsequently spilled leaving Nicky Kearney to finish into an open goal.
Arklow failed to create many chances of note throughout the first half, with their best coming after 29 minutes as they broke past the Wicklow defence, with Danny Bradshaw’s half volley being blocked and turned away for a corner.
From the resulting corner, taken by Bradshaw, the ball was met by the head of John Boyle, which hit the butt of the post.
Wicklow Rovers began to get on top in the next ten minutes, with three very good chances.
First, Joseph O’Shea’s 25-yard drive crashed against the crossbar. Then, Conor Collier beat several Arklow players with a mazy run only for his shot to be smothered by Dylan Byrne, who was keeping Arklow’s hopes alive.
He made another great save with his fingertips from a Paul Marah volley after a long ball over the top from Ciaran Byrne.
Jafaar Ali was causing the Arklow defenders problems with his pace on the right wing, as did Joseph O’Shea with his energy in midfield
Before referee Michael Kennedy blew for half-time, Arklow created a decent chance as Luke Cummins put the ball just wide of Pat Sammon’s post after he was slipped in by Cian Quinn.
Like the first half, the beginning of the second half lacked chances with both sides struggling to grasp a hold on the game.
Arklow Town received a major blow seven minutes into the second half when they were reduced to ten men as Danny Bradshaw was given his marching orders after reacting angrily to a tackle.
Both defences excelled throughout the second period, with Dan Harris and Jack Dowd Molloy of Arklow Town particularly putting in good performances with a mix of crunching tackles and precise passing.
The introduction of Drew Campbell into the Rovers midfield made an impact and certainly livened up the game.
The first real chance of the half came after a cross by Campbell was met by a Paul Marah volley but again he couldn’t find a way past Dylan Byrne.
Immediately, Arklow broke up the field in numbers, but Luke Cummins could only fire wide as the Wicklow defence stalled claiming for offside.
‘The Town’ had an incredible chance to level the game as a floated free kick by Jack Dowd Molloy met Dylan Murray six yards from goal but unfortunately for Murray, his header went well beyond the crossbar.
Wicklow grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck in the final moments of the game but failed to convert any of their chances.
The first of which fell to striker Nathan Wynne after another long free kick fell straight to his feet, he diverted the ball straight at the keeper, with the rebound coming straight back to Wynne, but somehow he couldn’t finish with the goal gaping.
The fresh legs of Wicklow’s substitutions were a huge benefit for them late on against a weary Arklow side, who arrived in Rathdrum with just 11 men.
Rovers broke away several times in the closing minutes, but again the Arklow defence consisting of Harris and Dowd Molloy along with John Boyle and Ryan Tolan held firm.
The game fizzled out in the latter stages but nevertheless for Wicklow Rovers B, a hard fought victory on a warm evening at Pat O’Toole Park
1. Dylan Byrne,
2. Dan Harris, 3. Ryan Tolan, 4. Jack Dowd Molloy, 5. Ferdia Hunt,
6. John Boyle, 7. Dylan Murray, 8. Danny Bradshaw, 9. Cian Quinn, 10. Sean Aigbologa, 11. Luke Cummins
1. Pat Sammon, 2. Ciaran Byrne, 3. Joseph O’Shea, 4. David Browne, 5. Luke Durac, 6. Daragh Gibney, 7. Conor Collier, 8. Paul Marah, 9. Nathan Wynne, 10. Jafaar Ali, 11. Nicky Kearney. Subs: 16. Iarla O’Donnell for Gibney (HT), 12. Drew Campbell for Byrne (66 min), 13. Charlie Williams for Marah (81 min), 15. Joseph Geraghty for Ali (82 min), 14. David McNabb for Wynne (89 min).
Michael Kennedy.
ARKLOW TOWN: WICKLOW ROVERS B: REFEREE: