Having not had a game for almost three weeks the Enniscorthy Hockey Club 2nd XI men were biting at the bit to get going in their encounter with YMCA last Saturday, and they did not disappoint. However, the Slaney siders left it to the death to score the winning and only goal of the game in the Astro Active Centre, Bellefield.
Revved up and ready to go, the Enniscorthy side started the stronger of the two teams with early attacks down both wings from William Durnan and Ciaran O’ Leary but the experienced defence of YMCA dealt with the pressure. Although it wasn’t all Enniscorthy’s in the early stages as the young attack of the visitors was causing some issues for Enniscorthy but similar to YMCA the home side defenders of David Mulligan, Mick Jordan, PJ Pierce and Ivan Rothwell were capable of dealing with them. Attacks for the Wexford men started right from defence with clearances being well worked up the right had side of the pitch through right back Mulligan who was able to find his right midfield team mate Jonathon Rothwell. Jonathon along with centre midfielder Alan Smith caused the visitors some head aches as they combined extremely well together and forced YMCA to defend deep but still to no avail. Enniscorthy gained a number of short corners in the first half but no matter what they tried the home side couldn’t sneak the ball into the back of the net.
Half time came and coaches Fraser Rothwell and Donal Doyle knew that the game was there for the taking and brought on fresh legs in Andrew Rothwell and Niall Maguire. Once Andrew came on the home sides defensive line included three Rothwells, brothers Jonathon and Ivan and cousin Andrew, a further connection was ‘keeper Luke Doyle as he is a cousin of the Rothwell brothers.
The second half continued similar to the first with both sides getting their chances but strong defence and some quality saves from the YMCA goalkeeper and from Luke Doyle in the Enniscorthy goal keep things all even. For Enniscorthy both Eamon Sweeney, Jacob English and Niall Maguire had some great goal scoring attempts saved by the young shot stopper from Dublin. The southeast men spread the ball well around the pitch throughout the game with Jack Redmond and William Durnan linking well on the left side and helping Enniscorthy to earn a number of short corners in the second half, which were beginning to look like they were going to be the bases of what was going to inevitably separate the teams. Enniscorthy gained a short corner and on the first attempt didn’t score but instead gained another. What made this more interesting was the fact that at this time the clock had gone red and the umpire had blown his final whistle, which meant that this short corner was going to be the final play of the game. With this, the full Enniscorthy squad came up for the corner. Jonathon injected the ball into the YMCA circle to Mick, the YMCA defence was out quick to put pressure on but he passed the ball to Andrew who took the shot, which was meet by Ciaran O’Leary’s who perfectly deflected the ball passed the YMCA goalkeeper and into the back of the net. This goal from Ciaran meant the game finished one nil to the Wexford men to the delight of the home supporters and of course the players.
With spirits high in the Enniscorthy squad they will be looking forward to their next game against Pembroke Wanders this coming Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Luke Doyle; Ivan Rothwell; PJ Pierce; Mick Jordan; David Mulligan; Jonathon Rothwell; Alan Smith; Jack Redmond; Eamon Sweeney; William Durnan; Ciaran O’Leary; Jacob English; David Medcalf; Andrew Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Niall Maguire, Coach: Fraser Rothwell
Revved up and ready to go, the Enniscorthy side started the stronger of the two teams with early attacks down both wings from William Durnan and Ciaran O’ Leary but the experienced defence of YMCA dealt with the pressure. Although it wasn’t all Enniscorthy’s in the early stages as the young attack of the visitors was causing some issues for Enniscorthy but similar to YMCA the home side defenders of David Mulligan, Mick Jordan, PJ Pierce and Ivan Rothwell were capable of dealing with them. Attacks for the Wexford men started right from defence with clearances being well worked up the right had side of the pitch through right back Mulligan who was able to find his right midfield team mate Jonathon Rothwell. Jonathon along with centre midfielder Alan Smith caused the visitors some head aches as they combined extremely well together and forced YMCA to defend deep but still to no avail. Enniscorthy gained a number of short corners in the first half but no matter what they tried the home side couldn’t sneak the ball into the back of the net.
Half time came and coaches Fraser Rothwell and Donal Doyle knew that the game was there for the taking and brought on fresh legs in Andrew Rothwell and Niall Maguire. Once Andrew came on the home sides defensive line included three Rothwells, brothers Jonathon and Ivan and cousin Andrew, a further connection was ‘keeper Luke Doyle as he is a cousin of the Rothwell brothers.
The second half continued similar to the first with both sides getting their chances but strong defence and some quality saves from the YMCA goalkeeper and from Luke Doyle in the Enniscorthy goal keep things all even. For Enniscorthy both Eamon Sweeney, Jacob English and Niall Maguire had some great goal scoring attempts saved by the young shot stopper from Dublin. The southeast men spread the ball well around the pitch throughout the game with Jack Redmond and William Durnan linking well on the left side and helping Enniscorthy to earn a number of short corners in the second half, which were beginning to look like they were going to be the bases of what was going to inevitably separate the teams. Enniscorthy gained a short corner and on the first attempt didn’t score but instead gained another. What made this more interesting was the fact that at this time the clock had gone red and the umpire had blown his final whistle, which meant that this short corner was going to be the final play of the game. With this, the full Enniscorthy squad came up for the corner. Jonathon injected the ball into the YMCA circle to Mick, the YMCA defence was out quick to put pressure on but he passed the ball to Andrew who took the shot, which was meet by Ciaran O’Leary’s who perfectly deflected the ball passed the YMCA goalkeeper and into the back of the net. This goal from Ciaran meant the game finished one nil to the Wexford men to the delight of the home supporters and of course the players.
With spirits high in the Enniscorthy squad they will be looking forward to their next game against Pembroke Wanders this coming Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Luke Doyle; Ivan Rothwell; PJ Pierce; Mick Jordan; David Mulligan; Jonathon Rothwell; Alan Smith; Jack Redmond; Eamon Sweeney; William Durnan; Ciaran O’Leary; Jacob English; David Medcalf; Andrew Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Niall Maguire, Coach: Fraser Rothwell
