Fenlon Cup joy for super Arklow Town FC side
ARKLOW TOWN FC FIRHOUSE CARMEL 5 2
CUP final days are a players dream from a young age and it was no different for the Arklow Town FC under-15 DDSL players last weekend.
The squad set off early northbound up the N11on the team bus that seen them arrive good and early for their cup final day out at the AUL complex.
After beating some very good opposition on their way to the cup final, The Arklow Town lads knew that Firhouse would not be an easy team to get past.
The game started lively with both teams nervous to make any mistakes.
Firhouse were first to strike by hitting the Town net in the 12th minute.
The Arklow boys were unfazed by the quick goal and within two minutes they scored their first goal - A superb strike from Luke Scanlon from 26 yards rattled the Firhouse net to make it 1-1.
Then three minutes later after a great run down the firhouse left hand side, Marcel Kasperek slotted home the ball into the opposition net. It was now 2-1 and the game was very much alive.
The Town boys were starting to put some nice passing moves together and were on top in the game.
But on the 24th minute, after a break down Arklow Town’s lefthand side, Firhouse snatched an equaliser. 2-2 and the game was starting to pick up in pace.
From the tip off the Town boys were moving the ball again around the pitch nicely and had a few chances to go ahead in this tight game, but couldn’t find the Firhouse net.
In the 32nd minute the Town hit the opposition net again with a fantasic individual run from Joe McGeary that seen him skip past four players to slot the ball home. 3-2 and the Town found themselves ahead again in the game.
The County Wicklow side’s fourth goal came on the stroke of half-time with Marcel latching on to a nicely weighted ball that was played over the Firhouse defence. Marcel composed himself to slotted the ball home for the Town team to go into the half time break 4-2 ahead and controlling the game.
It was a very entertaining first half that seen six goals scored and some chances missed by both teams. Could both teams keep the tempo of the game going in the second half and score more goals to keep the big crowd entertained?
The second half started lively with both teams pressing each other quickly on the ball around the pitch.
This cut out the flowing football seen in the first half.
The Town boys got their well deserved fifth goal in the 54th minute. A great pass over the Firhouse defence picked out Conor McCarty in the opposition’s box. Conor’s first touch was superb and his second touch hammered home the ball to make it 5-2.
The game flowed from end to end in the final stages of this cup final which seen both teams miss more chances.
With some great play during the seventy minutes by both teams, the Town boys were delighted to hear the referees final whistle to a great cheer from the onlooking crowd at the AUL complex.
If ever a group of players deserved to bring home a league cup trophy well it was on this day.
A group of players with great commitment, attitudes and a love for the game seen it all happen on cup final day.
Arklow Town FC: Dylan Byrne, Sean Markey, Joe McGeary, Luke Scanlon, Marcel Kasperek, Owen Moore, Matthew Dodd, Leigh Hannigan, Reilly Hogan, Conor McCarty, Jordan O’Neill (c), Francesco Canosa, Conor Mahon, Adam Arsland, Sean Clare, Colm Walsh.