Arklow U-16s book place in final
ARKLOW GOREY 43 19
ON Saturday afternoon, Arklow secured their place in the Shield final and will defend the title they won last season.
Having played a tough opening half of the season in the Leinster Premier league, these battle hardened boys were in no mood to relinquish their South East title.
On a bitter cold and showery day Arklow were hot out of the blocks when out-half Conn Kinsella gathered the ball from the Gorey kick off.
With nimble footwork, Kinsella cut a line right through the opposition to gift Arklow an opening try with just fifty seconds of play on the clock. He then slotted over the conversion to give the home team a 7-0 lead.
Arklow continued to apply pressure but failed to capitalise on their opportunities, the next score did not come until the thirteen minute mark but it was a quick move from Gorey that saw them level the game at 7-7.
The home team were stunned when just four minutes later Gorey pushed a maul over the try line to leave the score 7-12 with seventeen minutes gone.
In fairness to Arklow, they re-grouped and massive efforts from Ross Burke and Billy Molloy saw the home team apply massive pressure which eventually led to a try from tighthead prop Sean McCarthy. This was turning into a ding-dong battle with the score 12-12 and only one quarter of the game gone.
With just five minutes left on the clock, Arklow introduced Oran Kelly following an injury absence and true to form the number 8 wasted no time in scoring Arklow’s third try following great support play from Dean Kelly and newcomer Danny Byrne, leaving the score 17-12 at half time.
After the break, Gorey copied Arklow’s early attacking style and after a turnover in the centre of the field, the Wexford men hit Arklow once more for a converted try to bring the score to 17-19.
This was not how the script was supposed to be and Arklow knew full well they had a game on their hands. As if also copying the first half, Conn Kinsella once more got has hands on the ball and with great support play from Luke Doyle, Kinsella touched down under the posts and then converted his own try again. Arklow taking the lead at 24-19.
There was a sense now that Arklow were not for turning again. Jamie Tobin made massive yardage with the ball tucked safely under his arm and with fast recycling from Padraig Birmingham the ball was received by Oran Kelly ten yards out, a quick turn of foot by him was enough to leave the Gorey full back stuck to the ground as Kelly touched down for his second of the day, and with a conversion by Kinsella following the score stood at 31-19.
The Arklow back line were now passing the ball with confidence with Josh Brennan, Will Molloy and Chris O’Brien all demonstrating their passing abilities on the day. Indeed it was from such a backline move that centre Dean Kelly broke through the Gorey defence in the 28th minute of the second half to score a massive try and put Arklow with one foot in the final. The score now read 39-19.
From here Arklow were in full control and with the benches emptied and all players getting game time. Josh Tunney and Eoin Byrne made massive impacts upon their introduction. But the final word went to Arklow as Roan Frehill stole a ball from a Gorey ruck to set up a hat-trick for Oran Kelly with just five minutes remaining.
The final score read 43-19 to the home side, a place in the final against Co. Carlow in the spring and a great way to finish what has been a fabulous year for this great bunch of young men.