March 17th 2018 will go down in the annals of Irish rugby as the day the historic third men's Grand Slam was secured, but a small corner of Dublin will also hold a place in the record books for Enniscorthy Hockey Club following a Saint Patrick's Day triumph over Rathfarnham side Three Rock Rovers.

Grange Road hosted Leinster Hockey's final's day, and Enniscorthy's under 16 girls – managed by the quadruple of Alan Smith, Judith Dunne, Elaine Smith and Laura O'Leary – brought the club to the promised land of provincial success in the Junior Jacqui Potter Plate final with a 2-0 win over host side Three Rock Rovers.

After being knocked out by a silver-goal sucker punch against eventual runners-up Railway Union in the Junior Jacqui Potter Cup, the Bellefield Road side entered the plate competition. Clontarf, Wexford, Naas and Boyne all fell to Enniscorthy en route to Saturday's final, which – Naas in 2016 aside – had been won by Dublin clubs since the competition's inception in 2011.

Their focus on attacking had seen 18 goals being scored in previous rounds and the side – captained by Eabha Farrell – opted to replicate this in the final. A penalty corner was won within the first five minutes and a second eight minutes later gave Enniscorthy the lead, Rebecca Ogilvie pouncing from close range.

At the other end of the pitch, Rovers' tactic of playing their forwards high was negated by Enniscorthy's well-drilled defence, which had not conceeded in the Plate competition. Instead it was Enniscorthy who struck next.

The second goal of the afternoon was a team effort right from the training manual. Enniscorthy's midfield pushed the ball forward and wide, stretching the Rovers defence. Working her way in along the end line, Emer Doyle's ball back to the top of the host's circle found centre forward Farrell. The captain, in turn, picked out Hannah Sweeney and her reverse-stick shot doubled Enniscorthy's lead. Two- nil and the Wexford minnows had one hand on the trophy.

Amy Murphy and Caoimhe Larkin both had opportunities to stretch the Slaneysiders lead in the second half, Larkin's shot missing the left post by milimetres while Murphy just missed out a deflection from a Leah Kidd shot. With ten minutes remaining Three Rock earned a penalty corner of their own but to no avail, and Enniscorthy had created their own bit of history.

Squad: Norah McGinty, Laura Smith, Aoife Mahon, Beibhin O'Brien, Hannah Graham, Niamh Ogilvie, Ciara Kelly, Leah Kidd, Caoimhe Larkin, Eabha Farrell, Hannah Sweeney, Eimear Doyle, Rebecca Ogilvie, Amy Murphy, Ellen Rogan, Martha Dunne

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The under 16 intermediate yellow team continued their recent good run of form with a 1-1 draw away to Three Rock Rovers. Tara Somers scored the goal which ensured a fifth-placed finish in the league.
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Squad: Alice Medcalf, Ailbhe Harrington, Lettie Hassey, Emer Bowe, Dervle Walsh, Hannah Neville, Ciara Parnell, Agatha Farioli, Muireann Murphy, Tara Somers, Laura Sutton, Alexi Guillot, Kate Freeman.

Enniscorthy Ladies first XI were away to Botanic II for Enniscorthy’s third last league match of the season, and came away with a vital 2-0 win.​

The visitors had a very slow start but a strong defensive line of Hannah Graham, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith and Katie Owen defended well and were alert to the Glasnevin side's attempts on goal. Graham made a number of exceptional runs up the right line, allowing her defensive colleagues to distribute the ball to her into space. Botanic had two penalty corners in the first half but were both cleared by the defence.

The midfield line of Laura Bailey, Leah Chapman and Jessie Flood made a number of excellent passes into the forwards, one of which resulted in Olive Lett getting a shot on goal which was saved by the Botanic goalkeeper.

As the first half progressed Enniscorthy finally broke the deadlock. Bailey passed up the wing to Laura O’Leary, who found Anna Flood, and her reverse stick shot found the net.

As the second half commenced Enniscorthy really got into their stride, distributing the ball well throughout the pitch. The second goal of the game came from a series of sharp passes between the two Flood sisters, ending in a powerful shot by Jessie hitting the backboard. Botanic with fought back and and goalkeeper Alice Medcalf had to be alert when she spotted a 1v1 approaching and closed it down.

Enniscorthy kept pushing forward in attempt to score another goal – goal difference may yet prove decisive in the promotion battle- and another brilliant pass from Anna Flood into the circle to May Wickham resulted in Enniscorthys first attacking short corner of the game. Lett pushed the ball to Anna Flood at the top of the circle who attempted a direct shot on goal but was blocked by the Botanic defence.

With only two minutes left in the game Botanic pushed forward hoping to get a score, earning themselves a penalty corner. This was saved and cleared up the line by Medcalf, and Enniscorthy's clean sheet was preserved.

Enniscorthy have a break now before their next league encounter as they host Dublin side Genesis IV, provisionally pencilled in for April 7th at the Astro Active Centre.

Squad: Alice Medcalf, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith, Hannah Graham, Katie Owen, Leah Chapman, Jessie Flood, Laura Bailey, May Wickham, Anna Flood, Laura O’Leary, Olive Lett. Coach: Donal Doyle

Meanwhile Enniscorthy's first XI men proved to be second best in their top of the table clash with Dublin 4 outfit Pembroke Wanderers on Saturday. Missing injured top scorer James O'Sullivan, Enniscorthy found chances at a premium in what was on occasion a fractious encounter with their league rivals. Pembroke got the only goal of the game midway through the first half, though Roy Chapman had a gilt-edged opportunity go wide four minutes from the end. Enniscorthy have two matches left in the league, Pembroke one after a 4-0 win over Three Rock Rovers on Sunday. With just two points seperating the teams – Pembroke in the lead – and the Dublin 4 side holding a vastly superior goal difference, this one will go down to the wire. Enniscorthy travel to third from bottom Suttonians on the 24th and know that nothing less than a win is needed.​

Squad: Graham Hill, David Simmons, Clive Rothwell, Andrew Rothwell, Ivan Rothwell, Glenn Chapman, Roy Chapman, Daithi Medcalf, Seb Rynhart, William Durnan, Jake English, Charlie Dunne, Niall Maguire.