Enniscorthy Hockey Men's 1st XI faced Monkstown at home in the fourth round of their division 5 Leinster league on Saturday last. The night before the game saw some torrential rain in Enniscorthy, making the pitch and game a fast passed encounter.
Enniscorthy started well with a number of strong attacks, one early attack in particular ended in a goal for the Slaneysiders. With a combination of skill and fast ball movement the home side scored with a break down the right, which ended with a cross into the visitors circle, where Durnan was ready to pounce as he slap hit the ball into the bottom corner. For the remainder of the first half the Wexford men seemed to struggle to settle into the game as they were put under pressure by the Dubliners along with putting pressure on themselves by rushing play unnecessarily. The Dublin side scored their one and only goal of the game as they attacked down the right hand side, a cross into Hill’s circle forced the ‘keeper into diving for the ball, but the ball went narrowly under the outstretched keeper. An unmarked forward slotted the ball into the back of the open goal. Enniscorthy continued to play below their usual standard until half time where Donal Doyle rallied his men to raise their game and that they did.
The second half saw the Enniscorthy men score five goals as they upped their game to their usual high standard. The first goal of the second half came from a pass from Medcalf to Durnan, who slotted his and Enniscorthy’s second goal of the game. The home side passing and composure on the ball was much greater than the first half and that was seen in their next goal when good play on the right led to a ball coming across the circle and although the visiting keeper was out quick, Vietch got to the ball first as he tapped the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Although Enniscorthy had a strong second half, Monkstown were well capable of creating attacks and putting Hill and his defence of Simmons, Pierce and Andrew and Ivan Rothwell under pressure. Hill was called upon on a number of occasions and pulled off some great saves. Ivan Rothwell was also called upon to save a shot as the defender managed to get his stick in front of the ball before it managed to cross the line after Hill had just made a save.
Liam Jowett scored for the South East men from a short corner, that was injected by Medcalf to Roy Chapman who passed the ball to his left for the waiting Jowett to slap hit the ball into the net. Jowett scored yet again as he worked the Monkstown defender hard with some fantastic stick work and got his shot away and scored from a very tight angle. The final goal of the game came from the centre mid Medcalf as he got the ball at the top of the circle and played a one two with Jowett and scored with an upright reverse shot into the bottom corner of the visitors goal. It was a great game with all players involved in scoring goals with assists coming from such as Liukimas, McWey, Glen Chapman and Maguire. The final whistle was blown with Enniscorthy seeing out the game on the right side of a 6-1 victory.
The men will take on St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park when they travel to Abbotstown, Dublin this coming Saturday, where they will hope to pick up from where they left off this Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Martyn Vietch; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; William Durnan; Glenn Chapman; Niall Maguire; John McWey.
Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
Enniscorthy started well with a number of strong attacks, one early attack in particular ended in a goal for the Slaneysiders. With a combination of skill and fast ball movement the home side scored with a break down the right, which ended with a cross into the visitors circle, where Durnan was ready to pounce as he slap hit the ball into the bottom corner. For the remainder of the first half the Wexford men seemed to struggle to settle into the game as they were put under pressure by the Dubliners along with putting pressure on themselves by rushing play unnecessarily. The Dublin side scored their one and only goal of the game as they attacked down the right hand side, a cross into Hill’s circle forced the ‘keeper into diving for the ball, but the ball went narrowly under the outstretched keeper. An unmarked forward slotted the ball into the back of the open goal. Enniscorthy continued to play below their usual standard until half time where Donal Doyle rallied his men to raise their game and that they did.
The second half saw the Enniscorthy men score five goals as they upped their game to their usual high standard. The first goal of the second half came from a pass from Medcalf to Durnan, who slotted his and Enniscorthy’s second goal of the game. The home side passing and composure on the ball was much greater than the first half and that was seen in their next goal when good play on the right led to a ball coming across the circle and although the visiting keeper was out quick, Vietch got to the ball first as he tapped the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Although Enniscorthy had a strong second half, Monkstown were well capable of creating attacks and putting Hill and his defence of Simmons, Pierce and Andrew and Ivan Rothwell under pressure. Hill was called upon on a number of occasions and pulled off some great saves. Ivan Rothwell was also called upon to save a shot as the defender managed to get his stick in front of the ball before it managed to cross the line after Hill had just made a save.
Liam Jowett scored for the South East men from a short corner, that was injected by Medcalf to Roy Chapman who passed the ball to his left for the waiting Jowett to slap hit the ball into the net. Jowett scored yet again as he worked the Monkstown defender hard with some fantastic stick work and got his shot away and scored from a very tight angle. The final goal of the game came from the centre mid Medcalf as he got the ball at the top of the circle and played a one two with Jowett and scored with an upright reverse shot into the bottom corner of the visitors goal. It was a great game with all players involved in scoring goals with assists coming from such as Liukimas, McWey, Glen Chapman and Maguire. The final whistle was blown with Enniscorthy seeing out the game on the right side of a 6-1 victory.
The men will take on St. Brendan’s Phoenix Park when they travel to Abbotstown, Dublin this coming Saturday, where they will hope to pick up from where they left off this Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Martyn Vietch; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; Liam Jowett; Edmundas Liukimas; William Durnan; Glenn Chapman; Niall Maguire; John McWey.
Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
