After a disappointing last match against Wicklow, Enniscorthy hockey’s 1st men were out to make amends when they travelled to Mount Temple School last Saturday to take on Clontarf 3rds. The men travelled with the same squad of players as the previous outing but this time with greater focus.
The Slaneysiders, under the command of coach Donal Doyle and his captain pairing of Graham Hill and vice captain Roy Chapman, hit the ground running as they knew a strong performance was needed to be able to break down a strong Clontarf side. Both sides came with a great mix of youth and experience. Enniscorthy’s passing game was sharp and accurate, giving them more time on the ball picking out safe, smart balls down the right and left flanks to forward players Jowett, Durnan and Liukimas along with their substitutes Jason Rothwell and Maguire. Enniscorthy had a solid structure in the midfield, with Medcalf and the Chapman brothers controlling the game from the centre of the park and cutting out any threatening breaks by the home side. In the first half the visitors gained two short corners but were unable to break the deadlock as the Dublin side’s defence kept them at bay. Jowett came very close to grabbing a goal when he stretched out high above his head after a ball came into the circle but unfortunately his deflection went narrowly over the cross bar. It seemed likely that a goal would come for Enniscorthy eventually but patience was going to be required. Tensions were high in the Clontarf side as Enniscorthy held on to the ball for long periods, with Maguire and Jowett being targeted on a number of occasions with heavy tackles. A Clontarf player found himself sent to the corner for two minutes as he was given a green card. The same player later found himself back in the corner when he was given a yellow card for a similar offence. Half time came and it was still all-square but the visitors were the more comfortable of the two sides.
Donal Doyle pulled his men in at half time and reiterated his side’s game plan, to make sure they continued with the strong performance of the first half. The Enniscorthy defence of Simmons, Vietch, and the Rothwell cousins, Ivan and Andrew, were in possession of the ball for large periods of the game keeping the ball moving, wearing down the home side. Strong attacks were becoming more common for the visitors as Medcalf and the Chapman brothers continued to put pressure on the Dubliners. Enniscorthy again was awarded two short corners in the final half and on the latter of these with 6 minutes to go they scored the goal they had so patiently being building up to. Medcalf injected the ball to Roy Chapman who passed the ball back to Medcalf, who then swept the ball between the ‘keepers legs and into the back of the net. The Slaneysiders stayed strong and held out for a well-deserved win, with keeper Hill only being called upon on one occasion to make a save.
A great game between two very strong sides, with the Wexford men coming out on top and heading home, down the M11 with all three points and most importantly, a strong performance from the entire squad under the watchful eye of coach Donal Doyle and manager Fraser Rothwell. Next up for the men is another tough encounter when UCD men travel to the Astro Active in Enniscorthy this Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; Martyn Vietch; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; William Durnan; Niall Maguire; Jason Rothwell. Coach: Donal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
The Slaneysiders, under the command of coach Donal Doyle and his captain pairing of Graham Hill and vice captain Roy Chapman, hit the ground running as they knew a strong performance was needed to be able to break down a strong Clontarf side. Both sides came with a great mix of youth and experience. Enniscorthy’s passing game was sharp and accurate, giving them more time on the ball picking out safe, smart balls down the right and left flanks to forward players Jowett, Durnan and Liukimas along with their substitutes Jason Rothwell and Maguire. Enniscorthy had a solid structure in the midfield, with Medcalf and the Chapman brothers controlling the game from the centre of the park and cutting out any threatening breaks by the home side. In the first half the visitors gained two short corners but were unable to break the deadlock as the Dublin side’s defence kept them at bay. Jowett came very close to grabbing a goal when he stretched out high above his head after a ball came into the circle but unfortunately his deflection went narrowly over the cross bar. It seemed likely that a goal would come for Enniscorthy eventually but patience was going to be required. Tensions were high in the Clontarf side as Enniscorthy held on to the ball for long periods, with Maguire and Jowett being targeted on a number of occasions with heavy tackles. A Clontarf player found himself sent to the corner for two minutes as he was given a green card. The same player later found himself back in the corner when he was given a yellow card for a similar offence. Half time came and it was still all-square but the visitors were the more comfortable of the two sides.
Donal Doyle pulled his men in at half time and reiterated his side’s game plan, to make sure they continued with the strong performance of the first half. The Enniscorthy defence of Simmons, Vietch, and the Rothwell cousins, Ivan and Andrew, were in possession of the ball for large periods of the game keeping the ball moving, wearing down the home side. Strong attacks were becoming more common for the visitors as Medcalf and the Chapman brothers continued to put pressure on the Dubliners. Enniscorthy again was awarded two short corners in the final half and on the latter of these with 6 minutes to go they scored the goal they had so patiently being building up to. Medcalf injected the ball to Roy Chapman who passed the ball back to Medcalf, who then swept the ball between the ‘keepers legs and into the back of the net. The Slaneysiders stayed strong and held out for a well-deserved win, with keeper Hill only being called upon on one occasion to make a save.
A great game between two very strong sides, with the Wexford men coming out on top and heading home, down the M11 with all three points and most importantly, a strong performance from the entire squad under the watchful eye of coach Donal Doyle and manager Fraser Rothwell. Next up for the men is another tough encounter when UCD men travel to the Astro Active in Enniscorthy this Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; Martyn Vietch; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; William Durnan; Niall Maguire; Jason Rothwell. Coach: Donal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
