Celtic stay in race
Win over Arklow keeps Shamrock Premier title hunt
SHAMROCK CELTIC put four past Arklow Town at Travers Insurance Park on Saturday afternoon as the visitors look to make a late push in the Premier Division.
The win sees the Shamrock Park side in fifth spot on 19 points, eight points adrift of league leaders St. Peter’s but with three games in hand on the side who they will welcome to the Rathnew venue this coming weekend for what has the potential to be a cracking encounter.
Shamrock Celtic put the home side under pressure right from the start as striker Gary Dempsey almost opened the scoring in the third minute.
Arklow defender Darragh O’Leary had his pocket picked on the edge of the box by Dave Parkinson who crossed the ball into Dempsey who rose high in the penalty area to head the ball, but his effort smacked off the crossbar. An early warning for the hosts in the early stages.
Town were dealt a massive blow in the 22nd minute when their keeper Keith Manley was forced off as he picked up an injury making a save.
Centre back Dave Kealy donned the gloves, but they were forced to play with 10 men until the hosts got a substitute on.
The disappointment of losing their keeper did not hold Arklow Town back as they opened the scoring just on the half-hour mark. A beautifully struck longrange shot from Sean O’Neill was enough to take the lead as Celtic goalkeeper Ken Turner could do nothing but watch the ball fly into the back of the net in the 30th minute.
Shamrock Celtic rallied and equalised 10 minutes after going a goal down, a fine effort from midfielder Andrew Earls swung the game back level with five minutes left to play in the first half.
The travelling side took the lead in the final minute of the first half. A through ball down the centre of the
Arklow defence picked out striker Luca Rampersaud who rounded the keeper before slotting home from a tight angle to take the lead.
Town almost did enough to draw the game back level within five minutes of the restart as Shane Walker rose above everyone in the box to head a crossed ball towards goal, his header had enough power behind it, but it went inches over the bar.
Celtic grabbed their third goal of the game in the 70th minute. Gary Dempsey controlled the ball in the box before firing towards goal, the shot was straight down the middle of the goal, but Kealy couldn’t keep it out as Celtic took a two goal cushion.
A mistake at the back from the Arklow defence and the goalkeeper meant late substitute Adam Cuddihy was gifted the chance at slotting the ball into an empty net in the 85th minute as the game slipped from the home side’s grasp.
Arklow Town substitute Calem Devereux did grab another goal back for his side in the final minute as he lobbed the oncoming Shamrock Celtic keeper to make it 4-2, but there was no time for a comeback.
With those three games in hand, Shamrock Celtic now have the opportunity to put even more points on the board in the next few weeks but will have to be in top form on the weekend as they host league leaders St. Peter’s in Shamrock Park on Sunday.
Arklow Town will look to regroup and get back to winning ways as they face bottom of the league Glencormac at Ryders Field on Sunday.