Arklow United 1
Wicklow Town 2
Credit Union Park
Eoin Horkan
A stunning strike from the sideline by Jack Cornaluca proved decisive as Wicklow Town edged out Arklow United under the Friday night lights in an entertaining and hard-fought encounter.
Played in front of a lively crowd, it was the home side who burst out of the blocks and set the early tempo. Inside the opening three minutes Arklow had an early sight of goal when Shane Connolly stepped up to a free-kick on the edge of the area, but his well-struck effort was comfortably gathered by Wicklow goalkeeper Ian Murphy.
United continued to press and their positive start was rewarded on the quarter hour mark.Jay Rowlands split the Wicklow defence with a perfectly weighted through ball, allowing winger Zack Kilbride to race clear before calmly slotting past the advancing Murphy to give the hosts a deserved lead.
That goal finally sparked Wicklow Town into life and the visitors began to grow into the contest. Much of their attacking threat came through Andy Earls, who found himself in promising positions on several occasions. His first opportunity saw him fire over the bar, while further pressure began to test the Arklow back line.
Wicklow’s front three were increasingly influential, with Jack Crowley’s pace down the flank causing persistent problems. Crowley went close to an equaliser midway through the half when he cut inside and unleashed a shot that forced a fine save from United keeper Dean Flood Hayes, who was in outstanding form throughout the contest.
Just as it looked like Arklow might carry their lead into the break, a defensive mix-up proved costly. On the stroke of half-time the ball broke kindly to Earls inside the box and the Wicklow forward made no mistake, slotting home the equaliser his side’s pressure merited. Wicklow almost went in ahead moments later, but failed to capitalise on a half chance, leaving the sides level at the interval.
The second half was a much tighter and more tactical affair, with neither side creating clear openings in the opening ten minutes. However, the deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion when Wicklow winger Jack Cornaluca surged down the flank and delivered a hopeful-looking cross that caught the home defence and goalkeeper off guard, looping all the way into the far corner of the net to the delight of the visiting supporters.
Wicklow nearly doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Earls again found space, but Flood Hayes came to Arklow’s rescue with another superb save to keep his side firmly in contention.
The final quarter of the match saw Arklow throw everything forward in search of an equaliser. A series of substitutions injected fresh energy and swung momentum back in the home side’s favour. Darren Dempsey went closest initially, rising well to meet a corner only to head wide. Minutes later, Dempsey tried his luck from the edge of the area, forcing Murphy into a fingertip save that pushed the ball onto the post before it was scrambled clear.
United continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages. Aaron Parle-Kinsella fired narrowly wide before centre-back David O’Neill controlled possession on the edge of the box and unleashed a final effort that drifted just past the post as the referee blew for full time.
Despite Arklow’s late onslaught, Wicklow Town held firm to claim a valuable away victory.
Arklow United:Dean Flood Hayes;Shane Connolly,Aidan Cox,Sean Harte,David O’Neill,Darren Dempsey, Zach Kilbride,Oisin Keegan,Jay Rowlands,Mark Nolan,Matt Dempsey
Subs Used: Conor Blaney for Aidan Cox,Aaron Parle for Oisin Matt Dempsey, Stephen Kavanagh for Shane Connolly.
Wicklow Town:Ian Murphy,Luke Messitt,Jack Conaluca ,Rob Keogh,Karl Earls,Ian Brannigan,Ryan Burke,Adam Cox,Andy Earls,Chris French,Jack Crowley
Subs Used:Adam Cuddihy for Ryan Burke, Ryan Corrigan for Ian Brannigan.
Referee Joe Byrne.
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