Kearon bags winner
Last-gasp goal wins nine-goal thriller for Arklow Celtic
ARKLOW Celtic made the short trip to Ballywaltrim last Sunday morning for what turned out to be the most entertaining match-up in Division 2 so far this season.
Celtic were sitting in fourth place before the game and the three points were vital to the away side as they remained ten points off league leaders Rathnew, whilst the home side St. Fergal’s also needed a win to help them climb out of midtable.
Both teams had to adapt to the terrible rain and windy conditions but St. Fergal’s were first to use the wind to their advantage.
Striker Damo Forde had all the chances for his team in the opening five minutes as the home side tried to get the pacey attacker into the game with numerous balls over the top, which was causing problems for the Celtic defence.
The Celts had the opportunity to go ahead in the eight minute when a weighted pass from midfielder Shane Walker found striker John Kearon in acres of space but the through ball was mopped up by Fergal’s keeper Stephen Papper before Kearon could pull the trigger.
The first goal of the game came from sloppy defending from a Saints corner.
Conor Greegan made a great delivery to the back post to Forde who headed across goal then Celtic defender Brian Thompson made an attempt to clear the ball but the defender swiped at the ball and it flew backwards into the net, and unfortunate own goal for the Arklow man.
The Saints were now taking full advantage of the wind blowing in the direction of the Arklow goal.
The home side kept making that ball over the top to Forde and he almost got his first of the game on the 24th minute, the striker went one on one with Arklow keeper Pa Monaghan but the keeper made the striker take the shot on his right foot and the ball hit the bar and went over.
Celtic were soon back in the game and equalised on the half hour mark.
Kearon again created the opportunity played the ball out wide to Mark Wolohan who returned the ball across goal to Kearon who saw O’Regan in space and stepped over the ball which let O’ Regan find Edwin Walker free in the box to fire home and make it 1-1. A great passage of play from the away team.
Fergal’s started to play one touch football and after great work from midfielder Stephen Mc Grath. The Saints playmaker went by two Arklow defenders before finding Jamie Curran in space who took the shot first time and fired past Pa Monaghan in the Arklow goal. 2-1 to the home side on the 38th minute.
Fergal’s could have went 3-1 up at the end of the first half but the referee deemed Forde’s challenge on the Celtic keeper to be illegal and opted for a free out to the away side, much to the disappointment of the Saints striker.
There was only two minutes gone in the second half when the Saints left back made a darting run up the left wing and was in the right place at the right time to finish off a well worked attack from striker Lee Hempenstall. 3-1 to the home side on the 47th minute.
Celtic man John Kearon was chasing down every ball and making every challenge to try get his team back in the game and he again started off the counter-attack for his team, finding Shane Walker in space who then found Mark Wolohan who poked the ball past the Fergal’s keeper to make it 4-2.
The game again turned in Fergal’s favour when the lively Damo Forde got on the end of a well delivered cross and calmly stroked the ball past Monaghan into the net.
With 80 minutes gone and the away side 4-2 down it looked like they would be coming away with nothing from the game. But the Celts still believed they could still take something from the game.
Another moment of genius from Kearon came on the 82nd minute when he combined with Brian Thomspon from a short corner.
Kearon came short for the corner and held up the ball to let Thompson get in a better position before playing the ball to the right back who curled a short into the left top corner, another great well worked goal from the Arklow side.
Celtic kept on working and continued to create opportunities to break down the solid home sides defence and refused to give in and not take anything from the game.
Disaster struck for Fergal’s in the 84th minute when John Kearon was fouled in the area and the referee gave a penalty kick. Edwin Walker stood up bravely to take it, but his shot was saved by Papper. It was beginning to look like looked like it wasn’t Celtic’s day.
Walker was frustrated at himself for missing the penalty and the midfielder was working hard to get another chance for his teammates, and did exactly that in the 86th minute and cut a lovely through ball to Mark Wolohan who cut inside the penalty area on the right hand side and crossed the ball first time to Brian Thompson who arrived late in the box and headed home to make it 4-4.
Kearon still wasn’t happy with a draw, the striker wanted to take the full three points from the game and encouraged his team mates to keep going until the final whistle.
Although there was few minutes left in the game after they equalised the Arklow side had numerous opportunities to finish the game off.
Celtic kept pushing and pushing for a fifth goal and it finally came for the away side in the last kick of the game.
Kearon once again wouldn’t give up on an over hit ball and won the ball back before beating the last defender and slotting the ball cheekily through the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 5-4. Credit to the striker who got what he deserved after working tirelessly throughout the game.
Great fighting spirit from the Arklow side and never die attitude but St. Fergal’s will be very disappointed they didn’t finish the game off at 3-1 in the second half.
Arklow Celtic: 1. Pa Monaghan, 2. Brian Thompson, 3. Darren Rowan, 4. Jay Wolohan, 5. Nevin Keane, 6. Kevin O’Reegan, 7. Mark Wolohan, 8. Edwin Walker, 9. Shane Walker, 10. Mark Doyle, 11. John Kearon. Sub: Paddy Walker.
St. Fergal’s: 1. Stephen Pepper, 2. Barry O’Brien, 3. Gary Walsh, 4. David Cullen, 5. Danny Heffernan, 6. Jamie Curran, 7. Conor Greegan, 8. Stephen McGrath, 9. Ray Walker, 10. Damo Forde, 11. Lee Hempenstall. Sub: Adam Kelly.