O’Leary shines as Arklow Town triumph at home
ARKLOW TOWN BALLYOULSTER 2 0
BALLYOULSTER made the long trip to Arklow to take on their Under-12 DDSL rivals Arklow Town Football Club who had been on a good run of form throughout the season.
Arklow Town started the game much better than their opponents and could have opened the scoring on the fourth minute through an excellent effort from Paul Moore but the attackers powerful shot skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Arklow Town had majority of the possession in the opening 15 minutes of the game and went close on a number of occasions but couldn’t quite find the back of the net.
Sean Byrne was working tremendously hard upfront and often found himself isolated when he gained possession of the ball but it was his build up play in the 16th minute that almost seen his side gain the lead.
The attacker won the ball in the air from a kick out from Arklow Town keeper Adam O’Leary, Byrne then played the ball out wide to Sean O’Neill who squared the ball across the penalty area to Byrne but the striker’s shot was well saved superbly by Conor Melbourne.
Some great build-up play from Sean Byrne and Sean O’ Neill but just needed that finishing touch to grab the opening goal.
With the home side knocking on the door again and again it was only a matter of time before they grabbed the opener which again came from a kick-out by keeper Adam O’Leary.
O’Leary had been having an excellent game for the hosts, the sweeper keeper had saved his side a couple of times in the first half as he was always quick off his line to snuff out the danger and clear the ball but this time the keeper picked out Sean O’Neill in the centre of the pitch.
O’Neill made a darting run through the centre of midfield before playing in a through ball to Adam Reid who finished off the attack with slotting the ball into the corner of the net. 1-0 to Arklow Town on 19th minute of the first half.
The home side struck again just before the end of the first half with Adam Reid and Sean O’Neill combining again to grab the second goal of the game. Joe Kindlon gained possession on the right wing and played a ball down the wing to Reid who went on a wonderful run before squaring to O’Neill who blasted the ball into the net to give his side a comfortable two-goal lead going in at half-time.
There was pressure early in the second half from Ballyoulster and they could have grabbed a goal back on the 43rd minute when striker Luke Lynch fired a low shot towards goal but only to be cleared off the line by Patrick Shaw, much to the delight of the home sides defence who had lost concentration for the first time in the game.
Arklow Town keeper Adam O’Leary continued to pull off save after save for his side as Ballyoulster pilled on the pressure late in the second half.
The best save came on the 55th minute when Vuyo Mosea beat the Arklow Town defence and went one on one with O’ Leary but the sweeper keeper got out early to deflect Mosea’s low shot out for a corner.
A great save by O’Leary to keep the game at 2-0 going into the last few minutes of the game.
Eabhan Kinch almost wrapped up proceedings in the last minute of the game with a long powerful shot from 20 yards out that looked to be going into the top corner, but at the last second the ball dipped and went just an inch wide of the post.
Great confidence and technique from the youngster to take a shot on from that far out.
No goals from either side in the second half but a well fought victory from the home side to get the win against a good Ballyoulster side who will be disappointed not to at least get something out of the game in the second half as they pushed Arklow Town right until the last minute, but it’s the home side that take the full three points.
1. Adam Leary, 2. Kyle Mills, 3. Patrick Shaw, 4. Fionn Wolohan, 5. Eabhan Kinch, 6. Ryan Scanlon, 7. Sean O’ Neill, 8. Joe Kindlon, 9. Sean Byrne, 10. Adam Reid, 11. Paul Moore.
1. Conor Melbourne,
2. Teslim Ishola, 3. Markas Costochenko, 4. Oisin Daly, 6. Ryan Bujingo, 7. Sam Kelly, 8. Scott Redmond,
9. Sean Mimnagh, 10. Luke Lynch,
11. Conor Keto, 12. Vuyo Mosea, 13. Liam Cremmins.
Tony Doran