Jan 30 O'Leary magic sees Town into last 16
A moment of individual brilliance and nothing less encapsulated a thorough performance from a strong Arklow Town Under 16 side as they safely accounted for a game Templemore side who had travelled from Tipperary for this keenly awaited SFAI U16 Barry Cup Round of 32 clash.  The Arklow club reached the last eight of this competition last season, cruelly exiting to a last gasp goal in extra time in Cork and this season's crop of 16 year olds will aspire to going further this time around.  Arklow started like a house on fire with Aidan O'Callaghan linking up well with Mark Hardy to create a number of openings.  It was Hardy himself who put the home side ahead in the twelfth minute with a fine effort low and hard across the keeper from the edge of the area.  Adam Moorehouse, industrious throughout, doubled Town's lead with half time looming and when Moorehouse netted his second and Town's third the tie looked done and dusted.  Credit though the Tipperary side who continued to probe for a route back into the game, a well worked move down their left flank ended with their number nine firing home from fifteen yards.  Substitute keeper Cian Ryan then pulled off an excellent save to deny the visitors tipping around his near post.  Town's response was clinical and if an admission fee had have been charged it would have been well worth it.  Ryan Byrne, another of Arklow's fine emerging talents, swept upfield finding Darragh O'Leary.  O'Leary, who up to that point had always sought to provide creativity on Arklow's left flank, worked a ball past not one but three defenders on the edge of the Templemore area.  Exuding confidence in his own ability he shimmied one way and then the other, the ball glued to his foot, as he left a trail of defenders in his wake before slotting home a goal of pure beauty to seal Town's place in the last sixteen of the National Cup.  The beautiful game at its finest.

What a goal!

Dec 12 Town brush aside Tullamore challenge
Arklow Town Under 16's breezed into the last 32 of this season's SFAI Barry Cup after a comprehensive dismantling of Tullamore Town at their Leah Victoria Park home earlier today.  The travelling Arklow side hit the ground running and in truth should have netted twice inside the opening ten minutes.  On the quarter hour though it was the home side who opened the scoring, against the run of play, breaking through the middle with a Tullamore defender unleashing an unstoppable effort from all of 25 yards out that sailed into the top corner.  Town though remained focused playing some very purposeful football and pounding the home goalmouth.  Five minutes before half time they levelled with defender Alan Sunderland intercepting a through ball and driving directly at Tullamore's defence he unleashed a drive from 30 yards out that was superbly parried by the home keeper.  Mark Hardy was first to react driving low and hard into the net.  Three minutes into the second half Town worked another opening with Ryan Byrne, Ian Reid and Aidan O'Callaghan working well to set up Adam Moorehouse for Arklow's second goal, the Town striker netting from ten yards.  Five minutes later Town's ever lively Darragh O'Leary was felled in the Tullamore area and Sunderland stepped up to increase Town's lead.  On the hour mark Mark Hardy produced the move of the game resulting in a fourth Arklow goal to seal Tullamore's exit from the cup, the intelligent Arklow midfielder picking up a loose ball inside the Arklow half and running almost the length of the pitch he beat four opponents before rounding the keeper and netting in style.  Tullamore flickered into life with a second goal, a cross into Arklow's area was not dealt with and the resulting lapse in Arklow defending afforded the home side a consolation goal.  Five minutes from time the result was put beyond Tullamore with Mark Hardy flicking a cross from Adam Brown beyond the keeper.  However,  a home defender was on the line to handle the ball, resulting in an instant red card being shown by the referee.  Hardy himself stepped up to drive home his third goal of the game and Arklow's fifth to ease the Wicklow side into the latter stages of the National Cup oncemore.  A key win for the Arklow side, once again the scent of national honours fills the nostrils having gone agonisingly close last season in the same competition.  A fantastic team effort with Stephen Kavanagh, Ciarán Byrne, Ian Reid and Aidan O'Callaghan to name but four all rising to the occasion.  Arklow Town will now welcome Templemore to Bridgewater Centre Park with a place in the last sixteen at stake.

Nov 28 Town ease to victory
A James Sheehan hat trick eased Town's 16's to victory at Carnew earlier today.  Other goals from Kevin Russell and Jordan Forde in a 5-2 win for the Town side.  No match report.

Nov 7 Dowling heads Town into fourth round of National Cup
Arklow Town, who reached the last eight in last season's SFAI Barry Cup are on the scent for glory oncemore, with this year's crop of sixteens overcoming a game and well organised Longford Town side at Bridgewater Centre Park earlier today, to advance to the fourth round of this year's competition.  Having reached the last eight and last sixteen in the previous two seasons, in Goodson and Evans Cup competitions respectively, the Arklow side were determined to advance to the fourth regional round, aware that Longford possessed similar aspirations.  Both sides could not be faulted for endeavouring to play the game in the right manner.  Longford were lively from the off and three times inside the opening quarter saw long balls played over the top, with Town's Ryan Werder alive to the danger on each occasion.  Town struck in the 18th minute when Adam Moorehouse drove home from an angle on the left edge of Longford's area.  The home side created a few more chances before half time with Liam Carroll closest to doubling their lead.  Into the second half, a second goal failed to arrive for the home side despite dominating for long spells, and Longford sensed a lifeline.  That chance arrived late in the day, with just two minutes remaining, a defensive lapse in the Arklow penalty area being severely punished by a Longford attacker.  Into extra time and the home side found second wind, causing Longford a few problems down either flank.  A crucial second goal came courtesy of Kyle Dowling's head, powered home from close range.  It was Dowling again, in the second half of extra time, who secured victory for the home side, rising highest to head home Town's third after a cross from John Kearon.  Late in the game substitute Kofi Poku slotted home with aplomb after a wonderful Town move cut open a now beaten Longford defence to seal an eventual 4-1 win for the home team and passage into the crucial fourth round of this year's Barry Cup.  Town have been afforded a home draw in the next round, due to face either Tullamore Town or Dalkey United.

Images from today's game:

Nov 3 Town shine under the lights even in defeat
Town made the relatively short trek up the N11 earlier this evening to face Rathnew U16 under the lights at Shamrock Park.  Amazingly, in this the first week of November, Town were facing their first league action since October 10, and better still this was the home side's first league fixture of the season.  Having reached the latter stages in last year's National Cup the home side were always going to provide a stern examination of Town's eager side, treble winners from last season when playing at U14 level.  The home side were physically a bigger side than Town and that was to prove the difference.  However, Town played very well and the scoreline somewhat masks a very good team performance.  The back four, busy and solid all game, with Ciaran Burke, Ryan Byrne, Anthony Furlong and Philip Nolan all excellent throughout.  Keeper Cian Ryan had a very good game also, pulling off some fabulous saves and always commanding in his area.  Midfielders Aidan O'Callaghan and Jonathan Delahunt were made to work hard in the battle for control in the middle of the park while wingers Jordan Forde and Kevin Russell were always willing and worked tirelessly all game.  Up front, the duo of James Sheehan and Aaron Ward worked hard against a very strong home defence.  Conor Cleary came on for Philip Nolan and Gavin Forde for his namesake, Jordan, both doing well on a night when it was hard to fault any player.  Rathnew's opening goal came from a corner when Philip Murphy was afforded a free header.  The second goal came after a fine save from Cian Ryan, with Rathnew first to react to the rebound.  David Jameson sealed the win for the home side with a stunning 20 yard effort that hit the underside of the crossbar before nestling in Town's net.  Even in defeat, Town can dwell on a number of positives in advance of this weekend's National Cup test against Portlaoise.

Oct 10 Defeat for Town at 'Stones
Arklow Town were beaten at Woodlands earlier today, losing 1-0 to the hosts Greystones United.  No match report.

Sep 27 Town kick off new season with away win
A brace from Philip Nolan and one each from substitutes Paddy Power and Cian Ryan saw Town pick up were they left off from their treble winning run of last year (at U14 level).  Town started slowly and despite enjoying greater possession they fell behind to an early Roundwood goal as a result of some sloppy defensive work.  Resilient as ever, Town quickly got over the early setback and began to enforce themselves on the game through controlled football with the game being played predominantly in the Roundwood half.  The aerial strength of centre half and captain Ciaran Burke, driving his team forward ably, surrounded by the superb work of his defensive partners Padraic Kelleher, Anthony Nolan and Aaron Ward.  Town finally got their just rewards with two superb individual efforts by Philip Nolan in the final ten minutes of the first half, the lethal striker calmly finishing twice in one on one's against the Roundwood netminder.  Town continued in a similar vein throughout the second half with keeper JJ Maghery a spectator for much of proceedings.  With twenty mintues to go, Paddy Power and Town's other keeper, Cian Ryan came on as replacements up front.  Both duly chipped in with goals to round off a workmanlike first game of the season for last years U14 champions.  Special note for the team's new pairing of Aaron Ward and Conor Cleary, up from last year's U14B's.  Both had superb games showing the strength in depth now at the club.

Aug 10 Squad listings for season 2009/10
The following are the team selections for the new season, 2009/10.  The team selections listed below have been based on the recent club trials, Mini World Cup tournament (where applicable), club summer camp and other tournaments involving Town sides.  Manager assessments from season 2008/09 have also been taken into consideration, with the squad selections being made in an open and honest manner.

Squad Details - Season 2009/10

U16A
Ciaran Burke, Cian Ryan, JJ Maghery, Kevin Russell, James Sheehan, Gavin Forde, Jordan Forde, Ryan Byrne, Jonathan Delahunt, Aidan O'Callaghan, Anthony Furlong, Padraig Kelleher, Philip Nolan, Paddy Power, Aaron Ward, Conor Cleary.
Managers:  Brendan Burke, Victor Ryan.