The 1st XI men of Enniscorthy Hockey Club made the trip up to Grange Road in Rathfarmham where they took on Three Rock Rovers on Saturday. With Christmas dinner a distant memory the Wexford visitors were back fit and ready to go to battle with one of the country's largest hockey clubs.
The game was the proverbial game of two halves, with the points being split between the two sides. Both sides started well with chances at both ends. For Enniscorthy, O’Leary came close to opening the scoring in the early moments of the game when a ball was passed across from Durnan, the ball agonisingly escaping the formers reach. O’Sullivan also came close to scoring, but the home sides goal stopper was in tremendous form, making a great save. It was the hosts, though, who opened the scoring, Rovers hitting the backboard after 11 minutes of play from a penalty corner. The Slaneysiders came close with O’Sullivan and Medcalf having chances, but found the home sides keeper in top form. Hill in the Enniscorthy goal was being called upon more and more as the first half progressed, his defenders finding the Rovers attack to be quite the handful. It was to get worse before it was going to get better for Doyle’s men when a mistake by Enniscorthy gave the Dublin side another chance, which they took with both hands, the shot passing high into the net, out of the reach Hill in the Enniscorthy goal. The visitors- although down by two- were still creating some great scoring chances when the half time whistle blew.
The end-to-end action was to continue for the second half with Rovers hitting the post just minutes into the first half. Doyle’s men were not giving in and just 7 minutes into the second half O’Sullivan netted the visitor's first goal. The league leaders were on the rampage and 3 minutes later the game was level when O’Leary somehow managed to get on the end of a pass across the home side's goalmouth. Although rocked by the equaliser,the tide turned again as Rovers were now the ones putting pressure on their opponents.
There was drama when the home side were awarded a penalty corner, a beautifully struck drag flick shot came very close to making it into the visitor's net. The ball took a deflection off an attacking stick and spun up, striking defender Andrew Rothwell in the face. Fortunately the Clonroche man was wearing a protective facemask at the time of the penalty corner. However, as a result the Dubliners were awarded a penalty flick as Rothwell had stopped a goal using an illegal part of his body. The home side got the lead for the last time in the match.
Enniscorthy knew they were well capable of getting it back level again and just three minutes after conceding they did just that. Durnan once again made one of his dangerous runs as he used his speed and skill to beat his opponents. His through ball found Jordan, who passed on to O’Leary to grab his second goal of the game. It was all level at three goals a piece with 20 minutes left. The action packed game kept the spectators entertained right to the end, with both sides deserving of the shared points. Enniscorthy made a tremendous comeback, not once but twice and showed they have the determination required to compete with the best. Enniscorthy's lead at the summit of Division 4 now stands at four points, with a game in hand over second-placed Pembroke Wanderers 4th XI.
The focus for Donal Doyle's side now switches to cup action as they take on Weston in the Leinster Intermediate Cup second round on Saturday in Lucan.
Squad: Graham Hill, Andrew Rothwell, David Simmons, Ivan Rothwell, Cory Cooke, Glen Chapman, Roy Chapman, Daithi Medcalf, William Durnan, James O'Sullivan, Ciaran O’Leary, Jacob English & Mick Jordan. Coach: Donal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell
The game was the proverbial game of two halves, with the points being split between the two sides. Both sides started well with chances at both ends. For Enniscorthy, O’Leary came close to opening the scoring in the early moments of the game when a ball was passed across from Durnan, the ball agonisingly escaping the formers reach. O’Sullivan also came close to scoring, but the home sides goal stopper was in tremendous form, making a great save. It was the hosts, though, who opened the scoring, Rovers hitting the backboard after 11 minutes of play from a penalty corner. The Slaneysiders came close with O’Sullivan and Medcalf having chances, but found the home sides keeper in top form. Hill in the Enniscorthy goal was being called upon more and more as the first half progressed, his defenders finding the Rovers attack to be quite the handful. It was to get worse before it was going to get better for Doyle’s men when a mistake by Enniscorthy gave the Dublin side another chance, which they took with both hands, the shot passing high into the net, out of the reach Hill in the Enniscorthy goal. The visitors- although down by two- were still creating some great scoring chances when the half time whistle blew.
The end-to-end action was to continue for the second half with Rovers hitting the post just minutes into the first half. Doyle’s men were not giving in and just 7 minutes into the second half O’Sullivan netted the visitor's first goal. The league leaders were on the rampage and 3 minutes later the game was level when O’Leary somehow managed to get on the end of a pass across the home side's goalmouth. Although rocked by the equaliser,the tide turned again as Rovers were now the ones putting pressure on their opponents.
There was drama when the home side were awarded a penalty corner, a beautifully struck drag flick shot came very close to making it into the visitor's net. The ball took a deflection off an attacking stick and spun up, striking defender Andrew Rothwell in the face. Fortunately the Clonroche man was wearing a protective facemask at the time of the penalty corner. However, as a result the Dubliners were awarded a penalty flick as Rothwell had stopped a goal using an illegal part of his body. The home side got the lead for the last time in the match.
Enniscorthy knew they were well capable of getting it back level again and just three minutes after conceding they did just that. Durnan once again made one of his dangerous runs as he used his speed and skill to beat his opponents. His through ball found Jordan, who passed on to O’Leary to grab his second goal of the game. It was all level at three goals a piece with 20 minutes left. The action packed game kept the spectators entertained right to the end, with both sides deserving of the shared points. Enniscorthy made a tremendous comeback, not once but twice and showed they have the determination required to compete with the best. Enniscorthy's lead at the summit of Division 4 now stands at four points, with a game in hand over second-placed Pembroke Wanderers 4th XI.
The focus for Donal Doyle's side now switches to cup action as they take on Weston in the Leinster Intermediate Cup second round on Saturday in Lucan.
Squad: Graham Hill, Andrew Rothwell, David Simmons, Ivan Rothwell, Cory Cooke, Glen Chapman, Roy Chapman, Daithi Medcalf, William Durnan, James O'Sullivan, Ciaran O’Leary, Jacob English & Mick Jordan. Coach: Donal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell
