WDSL Arklow vs Rathnew

 

Rathnew 1 T Curran (49)

 

Arklow United 2 M Nolan (43) A Cox (86)

A goal in the final five minutes  from substitute Aidan Cox saw the Arklow side come away with all three points in the opening game of the season.

 It was the home side who against the run of play  created the opening chance of the game when Toby Curran’s solo run was well defended in the opposition box. The momentum and control of the opening fifteen minutes belonged to the Arklow side as a cross from Zach Kilbride was just too far ahead of his striker to take the lead. The momentum in this game was wrestled back by the home team with Curran and Gary Byrne controlling the middle of the park. The chances were becoming more prominent for the home side as Jack Healy and Ross Quinn both had attempts but neither seemed to trouble the net. As the half grew on, both sides had half volley efforts that flew over the bar, before Quinn’s goal bound effort was well blocked by the United defense.

Just on the stroke of half time and against the run of play a ball broke in the Rathnew box and an ill-fated attempt to gather the ball from the goalie led to a penalty., which was converted by Mark Nolan to give his side the lead at the break.

 

Within minutes of the resumption the tie was level as Quinn mis controlled the ball in the box which landed at the feet of Curran who coolly slotted into the net. It looked like the village had taken the lead as Jordan Graham hit the top of the net, but it was called offside.  The chances that United were creating all seemed to be coming from the pace of Kilbride down the wing as he broke away but pulled his effort wide. As the half went  on both sides were starting to show the start of the season fitness as chances became fewer as legs began to get tired. With subs being introduced it was the south Wicklow side who made the most of this. In the final five minutes of the game Kilbride broke away again before feeding Matthew Dempsey, whose effort was well saved but Aidan Cox’s header from the rebound looped over the defenders on the line to win the game for his side.

 

 

 

Rathnew AFC:Dylan Keogh,Ethan Snell,Kyle Devlin,Sam Healy,John Lester,Jack Healy,Toby Curran,Gary Byrne,Jordan Graham,Adam Byrne,Ross Quinn.

Subs Used:James Stafford for Jack Healy,Cian Furlong for Jordan Graham,Evan O’Connor for Adam Byrne.

 

Arklow United; Dean Flood Hayes,Stephen Kavanagh,Conor Blainey,David O’Neill,Sean Harte,Darren Dempsey,Zach Kilbride,Oisin Keegan,Mark Nolan,Cian LP,Graham Watts.

Subs Used:Aidan Cox for Oisin Keegan, Niall Delahunt for Graham Watts, Shane Connolly for Darren Dempsey,Matthew Dempsey for Mark Nolan.