Deadly Devereux!
Calem’s late peach secures title for Arklow United
ARKLOW UNITED AUGHRIM RANGERS 2 1
CALEM DEVEREUX scored the winning goal deep in extra-time as Arklow United came from behind to beat Aughrim Rangers and win the Thomas Scott Cup at the end of a fiery decider, marred by unfortunate scenes that took place after the final whistle.
In a game high in twists, if a bit low in quality, Aughrim were on their way to victory through Shane Connolly’s own goal. Arklow, who grew into the game as it progressed, equalised late on through Alan O’Neill, before Calem Devereux sealed the deal with an extra-time free-kick.
Considering how intense the match became later in the day, it could come as a bit of a surprise to know that, for the first half, it was positively tame. Aughrim had the better of what half-decent chances came. On 25 minutes, Roan Lynch cut inside off the left wing before playing a glorious cross-field pass with the outside of his left foot to Dan O’Hare, whose shot went wide.
The two combined again on 35 minutes. O’Hare doggedly chased a lost cause down the left-hand side, before cutting the ball back to Lynch, whose effort was saved by Tiernan Murray.
For all of their endeavour, Aughrim were unable to break the deadlock as both teams went into the break level.
Aughrim took the lead in bizarre fashion in the second half. O’Hare did well to turn a pass around the corner for Adam Rochford to chase down the left.
His initial touch was heavy, but Shane Connolly’s back-pass to slip past the despairing Tiernan Murray and into the back of the net.
Arklow mounted substantial pressure and finally got their equaliser with just two minutes left. Calem Devereux played a clever short free-kick into the path of Jack Kavanagh, whose shot was saved. Fellow substitute Alan O’Neill was on hand to turn the ball home and send the game to extra-time.
Very little transpired over the course of extra-time, but it was Arklow who were in the ascendancy.
Not only were they fresh off the heels of that late equaliser, but they also utilised their squad in more a productive manner, while Aughrim made just one substitution in regulation time.
The game came alive in the second half. On 103 minutes, Arklow were in front. Calem Devereux was
fouled on the edge of the Aughrim area and took it upon himself to step up.
His free-kick curled into the bottom left corner of the net, cuing jubilant celebrations and Devereux sliding on his knees into the embrace of those on the sideline.
With the game all but over, a tired, frustrated Aughrim had their mission made all the more improbable by the dismissal of Eoin Forsyth following an altercation with United’s Niall Higgins which foreshadowed what would come. When the final whistle blew and Higgins celebrated in front of the Aughrim bench, tempers flared as one of the Aughrim players rushed onto the pitch to engage in an ugly, physical confrontation
with the Arklow sub. Tensions were eventually dissipated and Higgins was shown a retroactive red card for his role, although Arklow didn’t mind as they got their hands on the Thomas Scott Cup.
Tiernan Murray, Conor Blaney, Dan Doyle, Shane Connolly, Darren Reilly, Mark Nolan, Paddy Roche, Richie Neary, Stephen Kavanagh, Calem Devereux, Tom Kavanagh. Subs: Zach Kilbride for P. Roche (HT), Jack Kavanagh for T. Kavanagh (49), Niall Higgins for R. Neary (57), Alan O’Neill for D. Doyle (75), Nathan Carr for C. Blaney (103). AUGHRIM RANGERS: Padraig Byrne, Mick Brennan, Dylan Lynch, Dylan Rochford, John Annsley, Shane O’Keefe, Adam Rochford, Darragh Byrne, Eoin Forsyth, Roan Lynch, Dan O’Hare. Subs: Jason Doyle for S. O’Keefe (76), James Doyle for D. O’Hare (108).
REFEREE: Jason Redmond