Town turn on style
Arklow are too strong for plucky St Anthony’s outfit
ST ANTHONY’S ARKLOW TOWN
ARKLOW TOWN A maintained their fine start in the U-12 Donal O’Leary Premier thanks to a brilliant all-round performance against a plucky St. Anthony’s side.
The Kilcoole outfit were missing five key players due to feiles and holidays but did themselves proud as they never threw in the towel and goalkeeper Billy Delaney was particularly impressive.
Arklow were brilliant in possession and they had plenty of it and could have had more goals on another day but the 0-2 success was enough to keep them on the coat-tails of Enniskerry.
Both goals came in the first half - Kalel Nolan and Jack McCarthy did the damage - and also missed a penalty in the second half in fantastic conditions at Finn Park.
In the very first minute, Dylan Lynch drove at the Saints defence and was only denied a superb opening goal by a fine save from Billy Delaney.
Lynch went close again in the second minute and by the sixth minute, tidy build-up play allowed Shane Monaghan to try his luck but Delaney ruined the Town party again.
There was nothing Delaney could do in the 13th minute though as Town raced from one end to the other.
Anto’s had the ball in the Arklow box but couldn’t muster a shot and the visitors regained possession and raced forward in numbers and Nolan applied the finishing touch to an excellent team move.
Arklow were in for a second when Jack McCarthy controlled the ball before expertly laying it off to Dylan Lynch who failed to hit the target with his effort.
The Arklow defence almost showed their attackers how it was done when Enda Cullen delivered the perfect cross from the right flank for Tiernan Gahan.
He met it with a crisp side-foot volley but it zipped wide of the post.
In the 18th minute - and with temperatures soaring - referee Daniel Grehan implemented a water break which confused some players into thinking it was halftime but a there was still time for a second goal before the interval did arrive.
Jack Davitt - who was absolutely brilliant - provided it with some delicious skill to beat his man before crossing it into the middle for Jack McCarthy to brilliantly head home.
The pair combined again two minutes later to almost produce a third.
Davitt again showed lovely skill and teed up McCarthy but the stiker couldn’t quite find the finish this time.
Seven minutes into the second period, Davitt went it alone as he again danced past his man but was denied by a smart save from Delaney.
A handball by a Saints defender in the penalty area gifted Arklow a chance to grab a third but the spot kick was narrowly over and the Kilcoole side remained just two goals behind.
That deficit was almost reduced to one when Jake Mitchell managed to trick his way past numerous defenders and get a shot away but he couldn’t claim a goal as Shane Monaghan got back to clear it off the line.
There was a second water break allowed in the 46th minute and it was well deserved as all players worked their socks off on Saturday.
Arklow’s Harry McDonald nearly netted a stunner from distance when his left-footed drive was flying towards the top corner but Delaney threw himself at the ball and tipped it behind for a corner.
The sides will meet again soon for a cup final and with Anthony’s hoping to be at full strength, it should be another fascinating clash.