Feb 28 Hardy hat trick keeps the points at home
Town opened the scoring in just the second minute when striker Alan Sunderland, beating two defenders in the area, spotted Mark Hardy making a strong run for the far post and he slid a telling ball across the area for Hardy to slot home from six yards out. Hardy doubled Town's lead in the 18th minute after left full back Gary Tyrrell had made a surging run down the left wing and then crossing for Hardy to hammer home. Despite the healthy glow on the scoreline the game itself was an even enough affair with the vistors denied two or three times by some excellent goalkeeping from Town's Nathan Condell. Five minutes into the second half, the home side added a third goal after a fine set piece move involving both Sunderland and Hardy resulted in Darragh O'Leary firing home. With just ten minutes remaining an Adam Moorehouse corner kick was powerfully headed home by Town's man of the match, Dean McCormack. Five minutes from time Arklow made it five. Clive Crammond, attacking down the left wing, whipped in a dangerous cross and Mark Hardy rose highest to complete his hat trick, and Town's fifth. Indeed, it was a fitting reward for the Arklow striker for his work rate throughout the game. However it was the performance of Dean McCormack at the back that was most pleasing, a powerful performance in central defence. Alongside McCormack Stephen Kavanagh impressed, growing in confidence as the game progressed.
Feb 14 Town make it six from six
A sixth win from six outings for Town's U17's, winning 5-1 away at SDFL side Beechwood. Goals coming from Des Bermingham (2), Alan Sunderland, Patrick Doyle and Mati Blanchina securing another three points to move Town into seventh place in the League, a mere 15 points behind leaders Greystones United. Granted, Town have the small matter of having seven games in hand!
Jan 31 Town pay the penalty with exit from cup
Arklow Town 17's travelled to Dublin earlier today to face Home Farm FC in their FAI Umbro U17 Challenge Cup third round clash. Both teams started brightly but it was the home side who had the first effort on goal. After some good build up play, Town keeper Cormac O'Brien was put to the test with a finger tip save keeping out a wonderful volley from the edge of the area. Arklow were finding it hard to break down Home Farm's defence but after receiving a wonderful delivery from Aaron Barry left winger Jack Tim Murphy was perfectly placed to convert a back post header, giving Town the lead. Home Farm came close to equalising shortly after when their striker found himself in a one on one situation with Arklow keeper, O'Brien. However, he couldn’t compose himself and blazed his opportunity to level over the bar. Minutes later, the home side equalised, a contentious decision in their favour, the Dublin side levelling from a penalty spot kick. Cormac O'Brien kept the penalty out with a great save but the Town defence were caught napping and allowed Home Farm to slot home the rebound. The second half was slow to spring into life, both sides appearing sluggish. Poor efforts from both sides kept the score level. Halfway through the second half, a good cross from the left fell to the Home Farm right winger’s feet and his trickery allowed him to get in a telling effort on goal with O'Brien in Town's goal unable to keep it out. Town rallied and soon capitalised on a scoring opportunity. Just sixty seconds later, a good cross from the right allowed Dara Verney to draw Town level, his first of the afternoon. Town were almost in arrears again soon after but for a fine save from keeper O'Brien. With just 10 minutes remaining, Town failed to close down a Home Farm midfielder and his 20 yard strike sailed into the roof of the net. At this stage that looked likely to be a winner but Town showed their mettle with a late drive. With only two minutes remaining, Domhnall Minogue bravely got his head on the end of a Ciarán Byrne deadball situation and he planted his header firmly home, to send the game into extra time. Not for the first time did Domhnall pop up with a timely goal to save the day. Home Farm began extra time on top but failed to convert a great scoring chance early on. Town then stepped it up and Aaron Barry's free kick was superbly blocked after it looked destined for goal. With no further goals to decide the tie the lottery of penalties was required, always a cruel end for those who lose. Jack Tim Murphy, Adam Hanlon and Clive Crammond failed to convert from the spot and not for the first time Town were left to lick their wounds, with on this occasion Home Farm going through to the next round on a penalty shoot out success 3-1 in their favour. A great game with a heart breaking ending for Town. - Match report by Danny Ledwith
Dec 13 Sunderland hits cup winner!
Arklow Town substitute Alan Sunderland proved to be the matchwinner as the Town advanced to the FAI Umbro U17 Challenge Cup Third Round with a 2-1 victory over Drogheda United at St. Oliver's Community College earlier today. Having beaten DDSL side St. Joseph's Boys convincingly in the last round the visitors opened brightly, creating a number of half chances in the first ten minutes. Jack Tim Murphy saw a diving header go narrowly over the Drogheda bar after fine work from winger Craig Comiskey. Drogheda however took the lead in the 15th minute, a free kick just inside the Arklow half floated into the area was flicked on and planted home by an in-rushing Drogheda forward. Clive Crammond and Adam Hanlon continued to drive the visitors but their hopes suffered a blow with injury to front man Keith Armstrong in the 35th minute. His replacement Alan Sunderland served almost immediate notice with an effort on goal just two minutes later that fizzed over the Drogheda bar. The second half continued as the first had finished with Arklow on the attack. Five minutes into the second half the sides were level, with sub Sunderland offering a contender for goal of the season. Jack Tim Murphy found Sunderland on the edge of the Drogheda area and the Arklow striker showed a deft touch before turning and chipping the home keeper. It was Sunderland again, on the hour mark, narrowly wide with a shot as Arklow began to increase the pressure, with Aaron Barry increasingly influential. The Murphy-Sunderland combination was worked to great effect with sixteen minutes remaining with Sunderland twisting and turning his marker before firing low and hard across the keeper into the bottom corner of the net, giving Arklow a deserved lead. With ten minutes remaining Darragh O'Leary replaced Murphy who had played brilliantly through the pain barrier all game, having been a major doubt pre-match. Dara Verney almost sealed the victory with nine minutes left, a fine effort superbly saved by the Drogheda keeper, pushed beyond the post for a corner. In defence Town's Domhnall Minogue and Paul Rice were commanding against the obvious aerial threat from the home side. Drama late in added time with Arklow keeper Cormac O'Brien making a superb save to deny the Louth side. O'Brien was badly injured in the challenge and had to be carried from the pitch with just seconds remaining. However, thanks to Sunderland's brace it is Arklow Town who advance to Round 3 and a trip to Home Farm.
Oct 10 Town dismantle Joey's
Undoubtedly one of the eye catching fixtures in the opening round of this year's FAI U17 Challenge Cup saw Arklow Town hosting St. Josephs Boys in Bridgewater Centre Park earlier today. The home team were sharp from the off with Keith Armstrong close to opening the scoring as early as the fifth minute. Town did edge ahead in the 13th minute though. Clive Crammond, operating on the left flank, broke into the Joseph Boys' area and he found Armstrong to side foot home past two defenders. The Dublin side had no answer to an Arklow team attacking at will and were two down in the 18th minute with Armstrong again netting. The home team then suffered a setback with defender Paul Rice retiring hurt, necessitating a reshuffle at the back. A further indicator of the Town's growing reputation came with the inclusion of four under 16 players in the squad to face Joey's, with Rice's replacement Mark Hardy having an immediate impact on the game, instrumental in Arklow's third goal of the half when his shot was deflected into the path of Clive Crammond and the midfielder slotted home the rebound. On the hour mark, Hardy put the result beyond the Dublin side with a fabulous strike. Dispossessing Joey's right full back Hardy cut into the area before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top left corner. Jack Tim Murphy added to the Dubliners' woes with twenty minutes remaining, causing havoc in the Joey's defence before firing across the area for Crammond to net Arklow's fifth, sealing their supremacy over the fancied Dublin side.
Images from the game:
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Sep 26 10-4 Over and out...
A second successive win for Town's 17's in the WDSL / SDFL Alliance League, a comfortable 10-4 win at Enniskerry. No scorer details. No match report.
Sep 13 Town ease to victory
Arklow Town U17's opened their account in the new WDL U17 League with a thorough 7-2 win away at Kildare club, Kill Celtic. Liam Carroll and Mark Hardy both netted twice with further goals coming from Kofi Poku, Alan Sunderland and Ryan Werder. Town will now face Esker Celtic next weekend at Bridgewater Centre Park.
Aug 19 Town win GAP tournament
Arklow Town Football Club picked up their first piece of silverware for the season in winning the GAP (Global Academy Programme) Tournament, hosted by Sheffield United. The team departed Arklow at 4.45am, headinf ro Dublin airport, with East Midlands the destination and then onwards to Sheffield, arriving at the Academy in Shirecliffe at 11am.
Town's first game was against the Leeds Academy, at 11.15am, in which the team recorded a scoreless draw. That was followed with not one but two convincing wins, against Scarborough Town and the Manchester Academy respectively. This set up Town, for the decider with the hosts Sheffield United, needing to avoid defeat in order to secure victory in the tournament. Town achieved this, drawing 0-0 with Sheffield United and Adam Hanlon, Town's captain, was delighted to receive the GAP Trophy from Gordon Armstrong, the ex-Sunderland player now heavily involved within the GAP programme. The team then caught a late evening flight back to Ireland, to conclude a memorable day.
Images from the one-day GAP Tournament
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Aug 17 Town set for GAP Tournament challenge
Fresh from their recent success at the Foyle Cup in Northern Ireland, Town's U17 team travels this week to Sheffield, to participate in the GAP Tournament, which takes place on Wednesday, August 19. The GAP Tournament is an initiative central to host club Sheffield United's expansion. Under their Global Academy Programme, the English club signed a co-operative agreement with Town which now sees Arklow Town FC officially recognised as the Sheffield United Academy of Ireland. Through this association, Town are striving to nurture existing talent within the club and also to attract new talent, with the player pathway programme providing emerging talent with an opportunity to engage a career in professional football. Town will compete against hosts Sheffield United as well as Scarborough Town and the highly rated Pro Vision Academy sides from both Manchester and Leeds. A number of Town players have already travelled across to Sheffield for trials with the Yorkshire club. Last month, winger Jack Tim Murphy and defender Aaron Barry spent three weeks with the Blades, including a week at the RAF training camp at Cranwell in Lincolnshire. Barry has since earned international recognition, playing with the Irish U18 squad who finished second at the Rijnpoort International Tournament in Holland last week.
Town, in preparation for the GAP Tournament, travelled to Dublin yesterday to face DDSL Super League champions Crumlin United. A good performance by the team was rewarded with Dara Verney firing home from close range the only goal of the game, to give Town a 1-0 win.