ARKLOW MARCH ON
United produce a dominant display to cruise into final
ASHFORD ROVERS ‘B’ 0 ARKLOW UNITED 2
ARKLOW United advanced to the final of the Thomas Scott Cup with a comfortable victory over Ashford Rovers at sun-kissed Ballinalea Park last Sunday morning.
Goals in the first period from midfield general Niall Higgins and Karl Kirwan laid the foundation for victory, in a match where Ashford never really troubled their visitors.
With United’s midfield trio of Higgins, David O’Neill and Kirwan dominating the centre of the park it was Arklow who were immediately on the front foot.
The first shot in anger arrived after seven minutes with Kirwan finding right back Alan O’Neill in space, who unleashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards that keeper James Boullier did well to parry behind.
Veteran left winger Shane Roche then tested Boullier from distance before finding himself in on goal and dragging a poor effort wide after creating the chance for himself by hassling defender Naoirse Treacy.
The hosts’ first chance arrived on ten minutes when lively midfielder Paul Duffy freed Leon Murphy down the right wing, whose first time hanging cross saw strikers Chris Sillery and Shane Farrell get in each others way in an attempt to get their headers in on goal.
Ashford were struggling in midfield and Arklow seemed to have more time and composure on the ball in this department, although Murphy did provide some sparks of magic with nifty flicks and skills.
A feature of the match was United’s keeper Mark Harte’s booming clearances that were landing in the Rovers danger zone.
On 15 minutes from one of these long balls Roche flicked on and centre forward Jonny Quinn was onto it in a flash, he guided the ball past Boullier, however centre back Leigh Farrell managed to scramble off the line.
Eventually on 20 minutes United’s pressure paid off. Roche, who was a constant thorn for Rovers on the left flank, whipped a cross in that was collected by Quinn, he had the vision to lay off to the incoming Higgins who drilled home from 20 yards through a gaggle of Ashford bodies.
Ashford tried to respond with Eoin Reilly heading a Chris French corner over.
However, United continued to exert their dominance with Higgins striking just over, David O’Neill stinging Boullier’s gloves with a drive, Roche testing the net minder with a long range free and Quinn firing just wide after being fed by O’Neill.
Eventually on 38 minutes Arklow got the second goal their dominance deserved. Kirwan hassled and harried a nervous Rovers backline and collected possesion 30 yards out from goal.
He surveyed his options and decided to unleash a rocket that nestled in Boullier’s net leaving the keeper flapping at thin air.
United had chances to kill Rovers challenge off completely with pacey Zach Kilbride hitting the post after creating the chance himself and Kirwan with a sublime dipping volley that Boullier managed to scramble wide.
Ashford, after a number of positional switches at half time came out with more purpose.
Shane Farrell headed at Harte after getting on the end of a French free kick.
Rovers were getting more territory without ever looking really dangerous with United’s centre back Shane Connolly’s reading of the game a joy to behold.
Ex-Arklow Celtic man Tom Kavanagh came on for Quinn and looked dangerous immediately.
Higgins and Kilbride combined superbly on the right flank with the later firing an effort over.
Another Harte clearance was taken down by Kavanagh with an exquisite first touch, he spread the play to Kilbride who screwed an effort wide.
United might have added the insurance goal in the last 20 minutes but poor finishing and brave Boullier shot stopping kept Ashford alive who themselves never looked like troubling Harte in the Arklow goal.
A dominant deserved victory for the visitors with Shane Roche, Higgins and Connolly all impressive.
Man of the match had to be Karl Kirwan who was instrumental in most of their good play.
For Rovers Leon Murphy tried his heart out and keeper Boullier was excellent in goals apart from slightly erratic kicking.
United advance to the final on May 26th where they will play Glencormac United in Pat O’Toole Park, Rathdrum. An occasion both sides will look forward to.
ARKLOW UNITED: 1. Mark Harte, 2. Alan O’Neill, 3. Conor Blaney, 4. James Hogan,
5. Shane Connolly, 6. Niall Higgins, 7. Zach Kilbride, 8. David O’Neill, 9. Jonny Quinn, 10. Karl Kirwan, 11. Shane Roche. Subs: 12. Tom Kavanagh for Quinn (50 mins),13. Richie Neary for Higgins (67 mins), 14. Stephen McManus for Roche (77 mins).
ASHFORD ROVERS: 1. James Boullier,
2. Naoirse Treacy, 3. Eoin Reilly, 4. Lee Nicholls, 5. Leigh Farrell, 6. Sean Beale, 7. Chris Sillery, 8. Paul Duffy, 9. Leon Murphy,
10. Shane Farrell, 11. Chris French. Subs:
12. Kane O’Shea for S. Farrell (62 mins),
13. Chris Mahoney for Reilly (77 mins), 14. Cormac Byrne for Murphy (84 mins). REFEREE: Carl Doyle.