Disappointing as Arklow make exit
ARKLOW TOWN LIFFEY WANDERERS 1 6
ARKLOW TOWN went out in the first round of the Intermediate Cup after disappointing 6-1 defeat to Liffey Wanderers.
Arklow Town’s LSL team were looking to get their cup campaign up and running on Friday evening at Bridgewater Centre Park.
The LSL side are now under the direction of Gavin Doyle and Willie Kavanagh and they would have to find a way past experienced Dublin side Liffey Wanderers in the first round of the competition.
Arklow Town started the game much better than their opponents as it seemed like the travelling side looked to have gotten off to a nervy start with some misplaced passes and lack of communication between the midfield and the central defence.
‘The Town’ had their first opportunity in-front of goal on the fourth minute after some great play between Johnathan Kelty and Ross Hanley. Kelty won back possession in his own half before going on a darting run beating three Liffey Wanderers midfielders, Kelty then picked out Hanley who had made a run down the right wing. Hanley controlled the ball first time and cut inside on his left foot unleashing a powerful drive towards goal. Unfortunately for the home side Wanderers keeper James Mooney was alert and tipped the ball just over the bar.
The first goal of the game came on 35th minute against the run of play from the away side. Wanderers striker Shane Dolan went down just outside the penalty area, although Dolan was caught on the ankle the striker did go to ground very easily, this resulted in referee Johnny Glynn awarding a freekick just outside the area. Midfielder Dylan Roche stepped up and struck the ball with a great curling effort that flew into the back of the net making it 1-0 to the away side.
Wanderers had clearly gained a massive amount of confidence since going in-front and this continued to show in the beginning of the second half as they grabbed another goal on 47th minute with a great finish by Adam Deegan.
Arklow Town almost pulled one back on the hour mark through a freekick from Johnathan Kelty. Kelty whipped in a curling freekick from the right hand side that looked like it was going in but just grazed the post, a superb freekick from Kelty that just needed a touch from anyone in the box to force the ball into the net.
The hosts were dealt a huge blow in the 65th minute when midfielder Lee Kenny was forced off through injury. Kenny went in on a challenge with a Liffey Wanderers defender but came off the worst of the two as the defender went into the challenge with his studs up and went over the ball, somehow the midfielder managed to avoid being sent off for the dangerous challenge.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side as they conceded another two goals in quick succession one coming from a freekick with an unfortunate mistake by goalkeeper Keith Hanley and the other coming from some excellent skill by Liffey striker Aidan Roche.
Arklow Town did manage to create multiple of chances in front of goal throughout the second half but it just looked like it was going to be one of those nights for the hosts as Kelty, Hanlon and Furlong went close but just couldn’t manage to capitalise. The away side finished the game off scoring another two goals before the 90 minutes were up with a penalty from Gary Young and a great first time finish on the 84th minute by Lee Roche. The home side did manage to grab a consolation goal with the last kick of the game as Johnathan Kelty slotted home a well-placed penalty on the 93rd minute.
It’s a night to forget for the LSL side as they failed to capitalise on the chances they created throughout the game but its Liffey Wanderers who march on to the second round of the Intermediate Cup.
1. Keith Hanley, 2. Cullan Walsh, 3. Johnathan Doyle, 4. Jack Somers, 5. Sean Crowley, 6. Peter Sherwood, 7. Johnathan Kelty, 8. Lee Kenny, 9. Darren Furlong, 10. Ross Hanley, 11. Sean Hurley. Subs: Stewie Mills for Lee Kenny (64min), Adam Hanlon for Johnathan Doyle (64min), Andrew Maher for Sean Hurley (71min).
1. James Mooney,
2. Anthony Gray, 3. Glen O’ Connor, 4. Dylan Roche, 5. Carl O’ Brien, 6. Gary Young, 7. Sam Simpson, 8. Adam Deegan, 9. Aidan Roche, 10. Lee Roche, 11. Shane Dolan.
Johnny Glynn