Zach on the attack
Kilbride’s early goal earns first win for Arklow United
CARNEW AFC ARKLOW UNITED 0 1
AN early goal from Zach Kilbride was enough to seal a vital three points for Arklow United against Carnew at the Back Alley on Sunday morning.
The weather conditions proved to be a major factor in the league fixture as it was a wet and windy morning at the Back Alley in Carnew.
It was United that struck first with an excellent counter-attack on the fourth minute, winger Conor McLoughlin started the attack by picking out striker Zach Kildride on the halfway line.
Kilbride’s first touch was what caught out the Carnew defence as he flicked the ball with his heel to Luke Walker who then played an excellent through ball for Kilbride to run on to.
Carnew’s keeper Paddy Adair was reluctant to come off his line and Kilbride made no mistake and slotted the ball to the keeper’s right to give his side an early lead inside the first five minutes.
It took over 15 minutes for the home side to get into the game as they continued to make minor mistakes when in possession.
When they eventually started to keep the ball and put some passes together they put their opponents under serious pressure.
The home side were using the wind to their advantage in the first half as they played balls in over the United defence to John Kavanagh, whose aerial ability made it easy to get knock downs to his team mates. This style of attacking play almost came off on a number of occasions in the first half as Kavanagh set up Conal McCrea, Wayne Kinsella and Cillian Gilligan but Arklow keeper Dean Flood Hayes was in his usual excellent form and pulled off some great saves to keep his side in front.
Carnew were starting to grow impatient in their attempt at getting an equaliser as they just couldn’t find the back of the net.
JJ McCrea was very unlucky not to grab an equaliser on the 31st minute when his free-kick struck the post, much to the delight of United keeper Hayes who looked like he wouldn’t have been able to keep out the strike.
Carnew had another opportunity to grab a goal back just before half-time as United defender Alan O’Neill used his hand to prevent Cillian Gilligan flicking the ball past him in the penalty area, which resulted in referee David Jameson pointing to the spot.
Gilligan stepped up to take the penalty but saw his effort brilliantly saved by the Arklow keeper.
Carnew began the second-half playing against the wind which made it even more difficult for the home side to get an equalising goal. Gilligan was unlucky not to grab a goal back on the 56th minute when he was played in John Kavanagh by a clever backheel but Gilligan’s effort clipped the post.
Carnew pilled on the pressure and pushed almost all their players forward hoping for an equalising goal, but unfortunately they just couldn’t find the back of the net.
While the home side were pushing players forward they failed to keep out Luke Walker and Zach Kilbride who were ready for the counter-attack.
Walker almost doubled his side’s lead on the 71st minute when a clearance from Paul Lawlor landed at his feet, but unfortunately when he went one on one with Carnew keeper Paddy Adair he couldn’t find the back of the net, slicing his shot just wide.
Carnew had numerous of chances to grab a goal back before the end of the game but with some great goalkeeping and many clearances off the goal line the away side held out for a well-deserved win.
It was always going to be difficult for United as they scored early in the game but they defended like it was a cup final and kept out a very good Carnew side and deserved all three points, whilst the home side will be very disappointed they couldn’t at least come away from the game with a point as they had numerous chances to win the game.
1. Paddy Adair, 2. Will O’ Neill,
3. Eoghan Dolan, 4. Dan Nolan, 5. Justin House, 6. Conal McCrea, 7. Wayne Kinsella, 8. Sean Murphy, 9. JJ McCrea, 10. John Kavanagh, 11. Cillian Gilligan. Subs: PJ O’ Keefe for Justin House (60min), Eugene Jordan for Conal McCrea (65min)
United: 1. Dean Flood Hayes,
2. Alan O’ Neill, 3. Dan Doyle, 4. Eddie McLoughlin, 5. Paul Lawlor, 6. Shane Connolly, 7. Conor McLoughlin, 8. Cian Lai, 9. Harry Newsome, 10. Zach Kilbride,
11. Luke Walker.
David Jameson.
CARNEW: ARKLOW REFEREE: