Appleby’s late strike wins derby for United
ARKLOW UNITED ARKLOW TOWN 2 1
ARKLOW Town made the short trip across town to face Arklow United in a local derby game for the quarter-final of the Youth Cup at Ferndale Park.
The away side had struggled for league form so far this season and hoped to reignite their form with a cup run but would have to find a way past a well-drilled Arklow United side.
United started the game with some heavy pressure on their opponents and should have opened the scoring in the third minute after a ball over the Town defence found Cillian Appleby who went one on one with Arklow Town keeper Dylan Byrne but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Fortunately for the travelling side Byrne was on top form throughout the game and kept his side in the game, pulling off some great saves throughout the cup tie.
Cillian Appleby had another golden opportunity in the 11th minute when he again had the chance to open the scoring when Trevor Fitzgerald whipped a freekick to Appleby, who made a great run to the back post but his header went just over the bar.
His strike partner Cian McBride looked like he was set to open the scoring five minutes later when a ball over the top by Cristian Roche put McBride one on one with the Arklow Town keeper but his shot went just wide of the post.
Arklow Town’s midfielder Jack Molloy had been working hard in the centre of midfield, breaking up play in the centre of the pitch and then playing the ball into Chris Furlong who was playing on the shoulder of the United centre-backs looking for the right through ball to get him in on goal.
Molloy’s hard work paid off in the 20th minute when he put pressure on United keeper Dean Flood Hayes who was given an awkward back pass from his defence.
Hayes tried clearing the ball before Molloy gained ground on him but Molloy was clever enough to jump and block his clearance before beating the keeper to slot the ball home into an empty net.
A great goal against the run of play for the away side and a well-deserved goal for a determined Jack Molloy who was not willing to let the United keeper go unchallenged.
Arklow Town had gained great confidence since getting the opener and were putting some great passages of play together but unfortunately for the travelling side they couldn’t find the back of the net for a second time in the first-half.
A controversial indirect free-kick for United led to the equalising goal for the hosts in the 32nd minute of the first-half.
Arklow Town keeper Dylan Byrne believed he was in his right to pick up a ball that came toward him after his team mate 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 and picked up the ball.
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.