Two goals from Edmundas Luikimas and a single from Robbie Walshe secured victory for Enniscorthy Hockey Club and a historic first men's trophy as the Slaneysiders defeated YMCA V at Claremont Road on Saturday.
The Wexford men entered their last scheduled fixture of the season on the back of a disappointing 3-1 away defeat at the hands of North Kildare II a fortnight before and were bolstered by the return of Glenn Chapman, Cathal Ó Suilleabháin and Jason Rothwell. Enniscorthy lined out with a familiar back four of Costello, Andrew Rothwell, Clive Rothwell and Ó Suilleabháin, and together with Glenn and Roy Chapman operating in central midfield, the league newcomers possessed a solid platform from which to take on their hosts. YMCA opted to use the occasion to give debuts to a number of talented youngsters from their underage ranks, and this allowed Enniscorthy to take a solid hold of proceedings in the initial stages of the game. Some smart goalkeeping, though, kept the Wexford side at bay.
After fifteen minutes, though, Enniscorthy took the lead, Robbie Walshe pressurising the home defence and profiting from the resulting panic to open the scoring. Instead of the floodgates opening, though, Enniscorthy relaxed, allowing the Dublin 4 side back into the game. A rapid series of switches left the visitors vulnerable, and Graham Hill and his defence found themselves under increasing pressure. Eventually the equaliser arrived, a sharply- hit shot squeezing past the onrushing Costello and Andrew Rothwell at YM's first short corner of the game. At this stage the game looked to be slipping away from Enniscorthy, and the half- time break was a welcome relief.
From the restart Enniscorthy committed themselves with a renewed sense of purpose, and both YM matched the Wexford men, both sides threatening their opponents goal. Jason Rothwell was coming more into the game after a frustrating first half, and with Niall Maguire operating dangerously on the left, Enniscorthy looked the more likely to score. It was Liukimas, though, who grabbed the lead back for the league pace-setters, and fired home his third of the season shortly after. Both came from frantic goalmouth scrambles, the big Lithuanian using his physical presence to good effect. Enniscorthy ran out deserving 3-1 winners, and can now look forward to life in division seven when the new season begins in the autumn.
Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Clive Rothwell; Kieran Costello; Cathal Ó Suilleabháin; Jason Rothwell; Roy Chapman; Glenn Chapman; Jonathon Rothwell; Edmundas Liukimas; Niall Maguire; Robbie Walshe; John Casey; Rory Maguire; P. J. Pierce
The Wexford men entered their last scheduled fixture of the season on the back of a disappointing 3-1 away defeat at the hands of North Kildare II a fortnight before and were bolstered by the return of Glenn Chapman, Cathal Ó Suilleabháin and Jason Rothwell. Enniscorthy lined out with a familiar back four of Costello, Andrew Rothwell, Clive Rothwell and Ó Suilleabháin, and together with Glenn and Roy Chapman operating in central midfield, the league newcomers possessed a solid platform from which to take on their hosts. YMCA opted to use the occasion to give debuts to a number of talented youngsters from their underage ranks, and this allowed Enniscorthy to take a solid hold of proceedings in the initial stages of the game. Some smart goalkeeping, though, kept the Wexford side at bay.
After fifteen minutes, though, Enniscorthy took the lead, Robbie Walshe pressurising the home defence and profiting from the resulting panic to open the scoring. Instead of the floodgates opening, though, Enniscorthy relaxed, allowing the Dublin 4 side back into the game. A rapid series of switches left the visitors vulnerable, and Graham Hill and his defence found themselves under increasing pressure. Eventually the equaliser arrived, a sharply- hit shot squeezing past the onrushing Costello and Andrew Rothwell at YM's first short corner of the game. At this stage the game looked to be slipping away from Enniscorthy, and the half- time break was a welcome relief.
From the restart Enniscorthy committed themselves with a renewed sense of purpose, and both YM matched the Wexford men, both sides threatening their opponents goal. Jason Rothwell was coming more into the game after a frustrating first half, and with Niall Maguire operating dangerously on the left, Enniscorthy looked the more likely to score. It was Liukimas, though, who grabbed the lead back for the league pace-setters, and fired home his third of the season shortly after. Both came from frantic goalmouth scrambles, the big Lithuanian using his physical presence to good effect. Enniscorthy ran out deserving 3-1 winners, and can now look forward to life in division seven when the new season begins in the autumn.
Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Clive Rothwell; Kieran Costello; Cathal Ó Suilleabháin; Jason Rothwell; Roy Chapman; Glenn Chapman; Jonathon Rothwell; Edmundas Liukimas; Niall Maguire; Robbie Walshe; John Casey; Rory Maguire; P. J. Pierce
