Enniscorthy hockey men’s 1st team had their first Leinster Division 5 game of the 2016/17 season as they made the trip up the M11 to Serpentine Avenue, Dublin to take on Pembroke Wanderer’s 5th team last Saturday on what was a wet and windy morning in the capital. In the tight encounter between the two sides, Enniscorthy took all three points with them home to Wexford, giving them a strong start to the season.
The South East team travelled with a strong, experienced team but were missing their young gun Liam Jowett. As the game tipped off it was clear to see this was going to be a tight game as both sides started strong, putting attacks together and putting their opposition’s defenders under pressure. Although the Dublin side asked questions of the Enniscorthy defence of Andrew Rothwell, Simmons, Pierce; Ivan Rothwell, they were all up the task. Simmons was key in keeping play away from the danger zone of Hill’s goal. With strong breaks up both wings from the Chapman brothers in midfield to forwards Maguire and McWey Enniscorthy were working hard in breaking down the defence of the D4 side.
Enniscorthy manufactured some clinical passes between defenders and midfields throughout the game. Half way through the first half, the visitors scored the first and only goal of the game. The Slaneysiders manoeuvred the ball around the back and from the right of the pitch. Andrew Rothwell connected with Medcalf in the centre, who slotted the ball into the Pembroke circle to Roy Chapman who was ready and waiting to deflect it passed the Dublin keeper.
At half time coach Donal Doyle was happy with his men and how they were performing and urged the side to stay strong and too bring all three points home to the South East County. In the second half Enniscorthy’s forwards Jordan, Luikimas, McWey and Maguire created some great chances to steal a second goal. To the home sides credit, they kept their chances of getting something from the game alive by keeping their goal line clear and continued to push forward but similar to Pembroke, Enniscorthy stayed strong and saw out the game with a well deserved victory.
Next up for the men is YMCA who will travel to the Astro Centre in Bellefield this coming Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Niall Maguire; Edmundas Luikimas; Mick Jordan. Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
The South East team travelled with a strong, experienced team but were missing their young gun Liam Jowett. As the game tipped off it was clear to see this was going to be a tight game as both sides started strong, putting attacks together and putting their opposition’s defenders under pressure. Although the Dublin side asked questions of the Enniscorthy defence of Andrew Rothwell, Simmons, Pierce; Ivan Rothwell, they were all up the task. Simmons was key in keeping play away from the danger zone of Hill’s goal. With strong breaks up both wings from the Chapman brothers in midfield to forwards Maguire and McWey Enniscorthy were working hard in breaking down the defence of the D4 side.
Enniscorthy manufactured some clinical passes between defenders and midfields throughout the game. Half way through the first half, the visitors scored the first and only goal of the game. The Slaneysiders manoeuvred the ball around the back and from the right of the pitch. Andrew Rothwell connected with Medcalf in the centre, who slotted the ball into the Pembroke circle to Roy Chapman who was ready and waiting to deflect it passed the Dublin keeper.
At half time coach Donal Doyle was happy with his men and how they were performing and urged the side to stay strong and too bring all three points home to the South East County. In the second half Enniscorthy’s forwards Jordan, Luikimas, McWey and Maguire created some great chances to steal a second goal. To the home sides credit, they kept their chances of getting something from the game alive by keeping their goal line clear and continued to push forward but similar to Pembroke, Enniscorthy stayed strong and saw out the game with a well deserved victory.
Next up for the men is YMCA who will travel to the Astro Centre in Bellefield this coming Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Niall Maguire; Edmundas Luikimas; Mick Jordan. Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
