Spotlight on the Jimmy Hackett Finals
The headline event of the weekend was undoubtedly the Jimmy Hackett Finals, a thrilling competition that gives U11 teams the rare opportunity to battle it out for silverware — with trophies, medals, and memories up for grabs.
Beyond the excitement on the pitch, the tournament also serves an important purpose for the WDSL, helping grade teams ahead of the transition to competitive U12 football in 2026.
The competition proudly carries the name of Jimmy Hackett, a former WDSL and SFAI executive member who passed away in 2021. Jimmy was deeply passionate about youth football, dedicating countless hours to supporting the game at grassroots level. While he held many roles across both organisations, his greatest joy came from seeing children play the sport he loved.
With the full support of his family, the Jimmy Hackett Competition was created to honour his legacy — celebrating his commitment to the game by giving young players a platform to shine.
The finals are held in Finn Park Kilcoole’ , home of St Anthonys and the presentation is done by the Family.
This year we saw a bit of history with two Arklow town teams ending up in the Shield Final. The cup Final was contested by Aughrim Rangers and Ashford Rovers.
Here is a brief report of both finals from the weekend
Aughrim Rangers Clinch Cup Final Glory in 4–1 Thriller
A large and lively crowd gathered to witness an eagerly anticipated Cup Final — and they were treated to a cracking contest. Aughrim Rangers emerged victorious with a 4–1 win over Ashford, though the scoreline hardly reflected just how closely matched these sides were. The real difference on the day was Aughrim’s clinical finishing in front of goal.
Ashford started brightly and could have taken an early lead, only to be denied by a stunning acrobatic save from Rangers goalkeeper Nathan Gannon, who leapt to claw away a powerful strike from Oisín Dunne.
Both teams traded chances in an intense opening spell, but it was Aughrim who broke the deadlock midway through the first half. A loose ball fell kindly to Asher Horan, who made no mistake, rifling home from 10 yards to make it 1–0.
Roves responded with sustained pressure and carved out several opportunities, but a combination of tireless Rangers midfield work and more sharp goalkeeping kept them at bay. The first half closed with the granite city side holding a narrow 1–0 advantage.
Just five minutes into the second half, Aughrim doubled their lead when a mix-up at the back allowed Bobbie O’Brien to tap into an empty net. Ashford, to their credit, refused to fold and battled hard to find a way back into the game, but again found themselves frustrated.
Around the 20-minute mark, Aughrim struck again to make it 3–0, leaving Ashford with a mountain to climb. Moments later, hope flickered when Rona Devlin pulled one back from a corner, assisted by Kyle Conyard — 3–1 and the Ashford supporters roared “Game on!”
But any hopes of a comeback were swiftly dashed as Asher Horan bagged his second of the match, sealing the victory at 4–1.
At full-time, Irene Hackett, wife of the late Jimmy Hackett, presented the medals, while the Man of the Match award deservedly went to Asher Horan, presented by Jimmy Hackett Jnr and Chairperson Peter Porter.
Arklow Town Blue Claim Shield Final Victory in Historic Club Derby
History was made in the Shield Final as two Arklow Town sides faced off for the title — the U11 Blues taking on their clubmates, the U11 Yellows, in a rare and memorable all-club showdown.
Bragging rights were on the line, and while some might say it didn’t matter who won, try telling that to the young players who proudly lined out in their colours.
Before kick-off, both teams and supporters observed a respectful minute’s silence in memory of former player Patric O’Doherty, who sadly passed away.The match began with both sides showing nerves and determination, neither willing to concede an inch. The opening stages were tight and cagey, with neither team eager to make the first mistake.
However, as the half progressed, the Blues began to take control, finding their rhythm and hitting three quick goals to take a commanding 3–0 lead into the break. This cushion allowed them to rotate the squad and ensure every player got valuable time on the pitch.
The Yellows rallied early in the second half, scoring two rapid goals to spark hopes of a comeback. But the Blues remained composed and proved the more clinical side, pulling away once more to secure a convincing 6–2 victory.It was a proud day for Arklow Town as a club — back-to-back Shield titles and celebrations shared across the entire community.
Irene Hackett presented the trophy to captain Cormac Redmond, while Player of the Match honours went to Barra Nolan, presented by Susan Hackett.
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