The hockey men of Enniscorthy 1st team were on the road yet again this week as they made the journey up the M11 to Wesley College to take on 2nd from the top, YMCA 4th team. On the teams previous meeting in Enniscorthy last November it ended stalemate at 0-0.
Donal Doyle’s men were forced into trialling a new line out as the southeast men were missing the experience of Keith Ogilvie, David Simmons and Jason Rothwell. However, Enniscorthy have great depth in their squad and the young guns and experienced players called up were more than capable of filling the missing men’s shoes. Enniscorthy defence was some what different than its usual line up with just two 1st team regulars in Clive Rothwell and Martyn Vietch remained, while Keith Ogilvie was missing and Andrew Rothwell moved to midfield to replace the missing David Simmons. Ivan Rothwell and PJ Pierce filled the two remaining defensive positions.
YMCA started strong with early forays into the visitors half but ‘keeper Graham Hill who pull of a great save early on in the game along with his defence line were up to the challenge. The Cathedral town gained to shorts in quick succession inside the opening ten minutes. While they were well worked the visitors were unable to split the posts just yet. However fifteen minutes into the game that changed when Enniscorthy were awarded a short corner that they took full advantage of. Roy Chapman scored the first goal of his tally of three for the day. With that though the Dubliners were kicked into action as six minutes later they scored their first goal of the day from play. They were quick to add a second when a matter of minutes later they were awarded a short corner from which they scored with a shot high into the net out of Hills reach. Enniscorthy didn’t panic with the strong response from YMCA, they refocused and set out in search of their second which say Roy Chapman gain his second goal of the game and again the goal came from a short corner. Half time came and it was all even, with each team having two goals a piece.
Doyle Doyles men were happy with where they were at this stage of the game as with a team that was missing a number of regulars was performing exptreemely well together. PJ Pierce and Ivan Rothwell were determined to give it everything and were two of the stand out players for ‘Scorthy. A third goal came for Enniscorthy early in the second half and on a day that saw Enniscorthy making great use of their short conrers, their third goal also came from one. Daithí Medcalf was the scorer on this occasion, he controlled did extremely well to control a unsettled ball and made no mistake in giving the Slaney siders the advantage. Roy came close to scoring his third of the game from play moments later but his shot went narrowly wide. YMCA squared it all up again shortly after when they scored from a short corner and came close to taking the lead minutes later but on separate occasions both Andrew Rothwell and Graham Hill did well to clear the danger and keep it three goals a piece. With time running out and both teams in search of a winner everything from both sides was thrown at it. On a hit out for the Wexford men, Cive Rothwell enquired how long was left, the umpire gave the signal that there was just thirty seconds left. With this, Clive did one of his trade mark aerial passes that sailed over the half way and deep into the YMCA defence who were caught unaware, but one man that was ready was Roy Chapman, who controlled the ball perfectly and stuck the ball was a ferocious strike that gave the YMCA goalkeeper no chance. With that the final whistle blew and the cheers amoungst the visitiors was of sheer delight and releaf, three points were going home to the sunny southeast.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Clive Rothwell; Martyn Veitch; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Andrew Rothwell; Glenn Chapman; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; John McWey; Niall Maguire; Mick Jordan. Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell
Donal Doyle’s men were forced into trialling a new line out as the southeast men were missing the experience of Keith Ogilvie, David Simmons and Jason Rothwell. However, Enniscorthy have great depth in their squad and the young guns and experienced players called up were more than capable of filling the missing men’s shoes. Enniscorthy defence was some what different than its usual line up with just two 1st team regulars in Clive Rothwell and Martyn Vietch remained, while Keith Ogilvie was missing and Andrew Rothwell moved to midfield to replace the missing David Simmons. Ivan Rothwell and PJ Pierce filled the two remaining defensive positions.
YMCA started strong with early forays into the visitors half but ‘keeper Graham Hill who pull of a great save early on in the game along with his defence line were up to the challenge. The Cathedral town gained to shorts in quick succession inside the opening ten minutes. While they were well worked the visitors were unable to split the posts just yet. However fifteen minutes into the game that changed when Enniscorthy were awarded a short corner that they took full advantage of. Roy Chapman scored the first goal of his tally of three for the day. With that though the Dubliners were kicked into action as six minutes later they scored their first goal of the day from play. They were quick to add a second when a matter of minutes later they were awarded a short corner from which they scored with a shot high into the net out of Hills reach. Enniscorthy didn’t panic with the strong response from YMCA, they refocused and set out in search of their second which say Roy Chapman gain his second goal of the game and again the goal came from a short corner. Half time came and it was all even, with each team having two goals a piece.
Doyle Doyles men were happy with where they were at this stage of the game as with a team that was missing a number of regulars was performing exptreemely well together. PJ Pierce and Ivan Rothwell were determined to give it everything and were two of the stand out players for ‘Scorthy. A third goal came for Enniscorthy early in the second half and on a day that saw Enniscorthy making great use of their short conrers, their third goal also came from one. Daithí Medcalf was the scorer on this occasion, he controlled did extremely well to control a unsettled ball and made no mistake in giving the Slaney siders the advantage. Roy came close to scoring his third of the game from play moments later but his shot went narrowly wide. YMCA squared it all up again shortly after when they scored from a short corner and came close to taking the lead minutes later but on separate occasions both Andrew Rothwell and Graham Hill did well to clear the danger and keep it three goals a piece. With time running out and both teams in search of a winner everything from both sides was thrown at it. On a hit out for the Wexford men, Cive Rothwell enquired how long was left, the umpire gave the signal that there was just thirty seconds left. With this, Clive did one of his trade mark aerial passes that sailed over the half way and deep into the YMCA defence who were caught unaware, but one man that was ready was Roy Chapman, who controlled the ball perfectly and stuck the ball was a ferocious strike that gave the YMCA goalkeeper no chance. With that the final whistle blew and the cheers amoungst the visitiors was of sheer delight and releaf, three points were going home to the sunny southeast.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Clive Rothwell; Martyn Veitch; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Andrew Rothwell; Glenn Chapman; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; John McWey; Niall Maguire; Mick Jordan. Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell
