The U16 boys of Enniscorthy Hockey Club travelled to South Dublin for their second Leinster league game to take on Corinthians in St.Columbus grounds on Sunday afternoon. They started very strong controlling the first 5 minutes with two very promising attacks. There was very good movement and passing from all upfront and the outcome looked very promising. But things changed and Corinthians got their rhythm going. They began to pile on the pressure on the Enniscorthy defence and had many shots on goal, including two short corners but the trojan defence of the backs and Glen in goal prevented them from scoring. The first half continued very even with both teams creating opportunities but failing to capitalise.
 
The half time talk from Manager Donal Doyle seemed to have done the trick as Enniscorthy took on the second half at a stronger pace and with better direction. Quick on a counter attack, Jake carried the ball up the wing, feeding the ball across to Charlie who scored a lovely 1v1 against the Corinthian goal keeper. With the tempo and pace continuing Peter connected with Jake down the left wing, crossed to Charlie on the spot who controlled and scored a second for Enniscorthy. With the pressure still on, Gavin and Ronans pace was continuously testing the opposition and getting in behind their defence. From a sideline ball Pearse took a self pass eliminating two players before feeding Charlie who then in turn eliminated another player and scored his hat trick. On a Corinthians counter attack they caught Enniscorthy out of position and scored their only goal. The four backs, John, Harry, Jack and Seb continued to frustrate the Corinthians and with total focus on their job continued to clear their lines. The fourth goal came in the dying moments of the game when Peter netted the ball to make it a 4-1 victory for the Slaneysiders.
 
Enniscorthy 1st Squad: Glen Rothwell; Jack Doran; John Sutton; Harry Somers; Pearse Rogan; Andrew Stuart; Seb Rhynhart; Jacob English; Gavin Cousins; Ronan O'Leary; Peter Yaciuk O'Connor; Charlie Dunne.
Coach: Donal Doyle

Enniscorthy ladies XI were in action again on Sunday morning against Gorey XI and served up a hatful of goals for the large crowd on the terrace despite the cold and wet weather conditions.
 
Enniscorthy from the off had the upper hand and had numerous circle penetrations through their forwards Stephanie Kinsella, Sonja Rynhart and Laura O’Leary. After 10 minutes, Rynhart hit the backboard with a strike from the top of the circle after a short corner was attained. Enniscorthy won a further two short corners but failed to convert them into scores. Gorey at this point started to grow into the game and had a great chance to equalise though unfortunately failed to do so. Shortly afterwards Gorey levelled the score after a goal mouth scramble. Enniscorthy then won short corner number four just before halftime with Áine O’Brien injecting with a fine pace from the baseline. Rynhart struck again bringing the score up to 2-1. At half time, coach Donal Doyle stressed the importance of moving the ball faster and more accurately. Donal also encouraged the Enniscorthy ladies to move the Gorey defence about rather than rushing into crowded areas like they had done in the first half. The improvement was instant in the second half and the fullbacks of Olive Lett and Katie Owen began to receive more ball and started to move it up the line to the wide and ready mids Nancy Dunphy and Leah Chapman. Stephanie Kinsella grabbed her first goal of the game, bringing the score to 3-1. Stephanie repeated her trick shortly afterwards after receiving an accurate and fast paced ball from O’Leary, bringing the score to 4-1. More short corners followed with fantastic passes in from the wingers Rudd and O’Leary but the fifth goal came from play from Kinsella again. Kinsella, grabbing her hat-trick brought the score to 5-1. A short while later Rynhart brought the score up to 6-1 after picking the ball up on the left from Dunphy and running right around the back of Gorey defence where she decided to flick the ball into the net over the diving keeper. Enniscorthy were cruising at this stage with their passing becoming more accurate, controlled and fast-paced. Jessie Flood had great control of the game from centre-mid and the backs of O’Brien, Harrington, Owen and Lett were moving the ball at ease. Goal number seven came just before the final whistle with another strike from Rynhart from a short corner, finalising the score of 7-1.
 
Overall, a great performance from the Enniscorthy XI ladies with coach Donal Doyle particularly pleased with the strong second half performance.
 
Enniscorthy 1st Squad: Fiona Rothwell, Katie Owen, Áine O’Brien, Ruth Harrington, Olive Lett, Jessie Flood, Leah Chapman, Nancy Dunphy, Laura O’Leary, Sonja Rynhart, Stephanie Kinsella, Marti Rudd.
Coach: Donal Doyle, Ivanna Yates. Manager: Irene Doyle

Enniscorthy Ladies’ second team travelled to Loreto Kilkenny on a crisp Sunday morning to face the Carlow Ladies’ Team. Enniscorthy were off to a flying start, gaining 80% of ball possession in the opening half. Aoileann Hourihan and Orlaith Breen pressed high from the outset, putting an experienced Carlow team under fierce pressure. The Buttle sisters were in flying form on the attack, Niamh making light of the defence and tactically working with Avril to get the ball after ball in the circle.
 
Róisín Ó Muirí and Ilsa Flynn were looking strong in defense. Róisín’s strong hit-outs ensured the ball was promptly cleared. Serena Hatton worked with the girls, clearing the ball out and down the pitch. The backline played high as Carlow struggled to keep up with runners Aoileann D’Alton, Niamh Buttle and Amy D’Alton in midfield. Ilsa Flynn supported them as Carlow fought back. Carlow cleverly resorted to the “aim-for-the-feet” tactics to gain a short corner in the first half. Aoife Foran stopped a tough shot on goal but unfortunately Carlow were able to deflect and score.
 
The second half saw the Enniscorthy defence line and goalie defending further short corners from the Carlow side. A fantastic clearance from Ilsa Flynn foiled a further goal on the scoreboard. Enniscorthy continued to play high and attack with Avril Buttle getting a swift shot on goal yet unlucky in conquest of the goal that the seconds deserved. With further short corners, Carlow scored a further 2 goals in the second half leaving the score at 3-0 at the final whistle. This game saw a continually improving seconds’ team, who will need their strength as they face Kilkenny 1sts in their next game.

​Enniscorthy Hockey Men's 1st XI faced Monkstown at home in the fourth round of their division 5 Leinster league on Saturday last. The night before the game saw some torrential rain in Enniscorthy, making the pitch and game a fast passed encounter.
 
Enniscorthy started well with a number of strong attacks, one early attack in particular ended in a goal for the Slaneysiders. With a combination of skill and fast ball movement the home side scored with a break down the right, which ended with a cross into the visitors circle, where Durnan was ready to pounce as he slap hit the ball into the bottom corner. For the remainder of the first half the Wexford men seemed to struggle to settle into the game as they were put under pressure by the Dubliners along with putting pressure on themselves by rushing play unnecessarily. The Dublin side scored their one and only goal of the game as they attacked down the right hand side, a cross into Hill’s circle forced the ‘keeper into diving for the ball, but the ball went narrowly under the outstretched keeper. An unmarked forward slotted the ball into the back of the open goal. Enniscorthy continued to play below their usual standard until half time where Donal Doyle rallied his men to raise their game and that they did.
 
The second half saw the Enniscorthy men score five goals as they upped their game to their usual high standard. The first goal of the second half came from a pass from Medcalf to Durnan, who slotted his and Enniscorthy’s second goal of the game. The home side passing and composure on the ball was much greater than the first half and that was seen in their next goal when good play on the right led to a ball coming across the circle and although the visiting keeper was out quick, Vietch got to the ball first as he tapped the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.
 
Although Enniscorthy had a strong second half, Monkstown were well capable of creating attacks and putting Hill and his defence of Simmons, Pierce and Andrew and Ivan Rothwell under pressure. Hill was called upon on a number of occasions and pulled off some great saves. Ivan Rothwell was also called upon to save a shot as the defender managed to get his stick in front of the ball before it managed to cross the line after Hill had just made a save.
 
Liam Jowett scored for the South East men from a short corner, that was injected by Medcalf to Roy Chapman who passed the ball to his left for the waiting Jowett to slap hit the ball into the net. Jowett scored yet again as he worked the Monkstown defender hard with some fantastic stick work and got his shot away and scored from a very tight angle. The final goal of the game came from the centre mid Medcalf as he got the ball at the top of the circle and played a one two with Jowett and scored with an upright reverse shot into the bottom corner of the visitors goal. It was a great game with all players involved in scoring goals with assists coming from such as Liukimas, McWey, Glen Chapman and Maguire. The final whistle was blown with Enniscorthy seeing out the game on the right side of a 6-1 victory.
 
The men will take on St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park when they travel to Abbotstown, Dublin this coming Saturday, where they will hope to pick up from where they left off this Saturday.
 
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Martyn Vietch; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; William Durnan; Glenn Chapman; Niall Maguire; John McWey.
Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell.

Enniscorthy U16 boys played their first Leinster league game against Atlantic Academy last Sunday in Astro Active Centre, Enniscorthy.  The game finished as a draw, from the start and throughout it was a very tight game, with both sides battling it out for the first goal. Enniscorthy’s, Peter Yaciuk O'Connor broke the deadlock when he found the back of the net just seconds before the whistle was blown for the end of the first half. 

In the early stages of the second half there was some great play from Enniscorthy both in defence and attack. The Westerners had two short corners awarded but were unable to convert, thanks to Andrew Stewart and Jack Doran, as they made some goal saving clearances. The Slaneysiders cleared the ball up the pitch towards midfielder Charlie Dunne, who combined with Pearse Rogan to feed Seb Rynhart, who was unfortunate not to score for the South East side. Enniscorthy had ample scoring opportunities only to be saved by the visitors excellent ‘keeper. Atlantic Academy seized a great opportunity in the dying seconds of the game when they scored their first goal of the game, drawing things all square just before the final whistle.

Next up for the U16 boys of Enniscorthy Hockey Club is an away fixture against Corinthians of Dublin. 
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Enniscorthy Squad: Pearse Rogan (C); Seb Rynhart; Charlie Dunne; Gavin Cousins; Aodan O'Leary; Peter Yaciuk O'Connor; Jack Doran; John Sutton; Glen Rothwell; Harry Somers; Jacob English; Andrew Stewart; Ross Wallace. 

Enniscorthy hockey men’s 1st team were on the road early last weekend as they made the journey up the M11 to Dublin to take on Tallaght based side, Glenanne Hockey Club on Saturday morning. Saturday was shaping up be a lovely day for a game of hockey as it was a fresh, dry autumn morning. This was the first meeting on these sides in the Enniscorthy men’s short but strong history. The South East men knew the Dublin side was going to be a strong outfit, as Glenanne are and always have been one of the big names in Irish hockey. 

A minute silence was held before the game began as a mark of respect for Forbes Vigors, a Wicklow Hockey Club player who tragically passed away a week earlier after playing for his club. Many of the Enniscorthy players had played alongside Forbes with the South East Men’s hockey team that played in Leinster prior to Wicklow and Enniscorthy forming their own men’s teams. Since their formation, the two teams have come head to head on many occasions. Forbes was also involved in Enniscorthy Hockey Club when he was the senior ladies coach.

In true Enniscorthy style the South East men under coach Donal Doyle came out strong but it was evident they were going to be up against a tough opposition Glenanne’s strong marking of Enniscorthy players made it hard for the visitors to gain a hold of the game and found themselves trailing by a goal after Glenanne took the lead. Enniscorthy didn’t panic as they put some strong attacks together and earned themselves a short corner but the home side’s defence dealt well with the pressure. Right back Andrew Rothwell pushed up the pitch and combined well with Roy Chapman in the midfield to put a threatening ball into the circle towards Liam Jowett but again the home side cleared the ball. After 25 minutes Enniscorthy drew even with Jowett making a run up the left wing before passing to Liukimas, Liukimas then popped the ball to Medcalf who took a shot that was saved but the determination in Liukimas was evident when he pounced on the loose ball and slotted it away for the visitor’s first goal. Glenanne came back strong, but Hill in the Enniscorthy goal made a beautiful save to keep them out. Unfortunately for the visitors the strength of the Dublin sides attack lead to them taking the lead once again just three minutes before half time when a ball was put across the circle was met by a free Glenanne stick.

Half time came and despite being behind, the Wexford side knew they were capable of turning the game around. Glenanne earned an early short corner in the second half but the short corner defence on Hill, the Chapman brothers, A. Rothwell and Vietch were up the task and cleared their lines. Glenn Chapman brought things all square when a ball from Liukimas set Chapman who swept the ball passed the on rushing ‘keeper and into the left corner on the goal. Enniscorthy’s defence did their best to keep Glenanne out, but earner themselves a number of short corners and scored two goals in the second half. Enniscorthy were 4-2 down with fifteen minutes left to get something out of the game, they never gave up and with ten minutes to go brought it back to one goal in the difference. Liam Jowett’s great skill was on show for this one when he brought the ball right up to the end line and at this extremely tight angle managed to sqeeze the ball between the upright and the ‘keeper. Its was all to play for with plenty of time for the visitors to get back into the game. Unfortunately, no matter how hard the visitors pressed with forwards, Jowett, Liukimas, Durnan and McWey trying everthing to square things up but the final whistle blew to Glenanne’s delight.

Enniscorthy will take a lot from the game, and will put into play against the Monkstown men, who will be the next opposition for Donal Doyle’s men at home in the Astro Active Centre, Enniscorthy this coming Saturday.

Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Martyn Vietch; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Edmundas Liukimas; Liam Jowett; William Durnan. Coach: Donal Doyle, Manager: Fraser Rothwell.