With the end of summer, a new season begins: the hockey season. Enniscorthy Hockey Club has an exciting year ahead, particularly in the adult section, as its women’s team makes a welcome return to the South East League after a year’s absence, while the men will be entering a second team into the Leinster League.
The women’s team, coached by Carmel Maguire and Ivanna Yeats, returns to league action with a home encounter against Carlow on September 20th. Familiar foes Gorey, Wexford and Kilkenny make up the rest of the opposition. Like the rest of the club, all home matches will take place at Enniscorthy's Astro Active Centre.
Over in the men’s section, new coach and Ferns resident Donal Doyle has been putting his charges through their paces with a thorough pre-season programme that features upcoming friendlies against Waterford, St. James’ Gate and local rivals Wicklow. Like Enniscorthy, Wicklow have maintained a sustained charge through the leagues, capturing division 7 and 8 honours in successive seasons. With the leagues having been reorganised to create an elite, all-island division with the provincial leagues acting as feeders, the clubs – an hour apart up the N11- meet in the league for the first time, in division 5.
There are a few other familiar names who will rub shoulders with the Enniscorthy men: North Kildare (who narrowly defeated the Wexford side in the 2014-5 Walters Cup final), St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park, St. James’ Gate, along with Rathgar, Clontarf, Avoca, and Suttonians. For the first time, Enniscorthy will be taking on other club first- choice selections in what should prove to be a challenging season. After their Walters Cup win, North Kildare will surely be aiming to capture additional silverware, while Suttonians (having dropped from division two to five early last season) will also pose a stern test.
The newly-formed men’s second team will ply their trade for the 2015-16 season in division seven. The presence of Wicklow’s second team means there will be at least four N11 derbies this season, while Bray (further along the route), St James’ Gate, St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park, YMCA, Dublin University, Pembroke Wanderers, Navan, Three Rock Rovers and North Kildare make up the rest of the league.
Opening fixtures:
- Women Carlow (H) 20 September; Gorey (A) 27 September; Kilkenny (H) 4 October; Wexford (A) 11 October
- Men I Clontarf (H) 26 September; North Kildare (A) 3 October; St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park (H) 17 October; Suttonians (A) 31 October
- Men II Three Rock Rovers (H) 26 September; Navan (A) 3 October; Wicklow (H) 17 October; Dublin University (A) 24 October
The women’s team, coached by Carmel Maguire and Ivanna Yeats, returns to league action with a home encounter against Carlow on September 20th. Familiar foes Gorey, Wexford and Kilkenny make up the rest of the opposition. Like the rest of the club, all home matches will take place at Enniscorthy's Astro Active Centre.
Over in the men’s section, new coach and Ferns resident Donal Doyle has been putting his charges through their paces with a thorough pre-season programme that features upcoming friendlies against Waterford, St. James’ Gate and local rivals Wicklow. Like Enniscorthy, Wicklow have maintained a sustained charge through the leagues, capturing division 7 and 8 honours in successive seasons. With the leagues having been reorganised to create an elite, all-island division with the provincial leagues acting as feeders, the clubs – an hour apart up the N11- meet in the league for the first time, in division 5.
There are a few other familiar names who will rub shoulders with the Enniscorthy men: North Kildare (who narrowly defeated the Wexford side in the 2014-5 Walters Cup final), St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park, St. James’ Gate, along with Rathgar, Clontarf, Avoca, and Suttonians. For the first time, Enniscorthy will be taking on other club first- choice selections in what should prove to be a challenging season. After their Walters Cup win, North Kildare will surely be aiming to capture additional silverware, while Suttonians (having dropped from division two to five early last season) will also pose a stern test.
The newly-formed men’s second team will ply their trade for the 2015-16 season in division seven. The presence of Wicklow’s second team means there will be at least four N11 derbies this season, while Bray (further along the route), St James’ Gate, St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park, YMCA, Dublin University, Pembroke Wanderers, Navan, Three Rock Rovers and North Kildare make up the rest of the league.
Opening fixtures:
- Women Carlow (H) 20 September; Gorey (A) 27 September; Kilkenny (H) 4 October; Wexford (A) 11 October
- Men I Clontarf (H) 26 September; North Kildare (A) 3 October; St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park (H) 17 October; Suttonians (A) 31 October
- Men II Three Rock Rovers (H) 26 September; Navan (A) 3 October; Wicklow (H) 17 October; Dublin University (A) 24 October
