With the Leinster Hockey League entering it's second half of the year, Enniscorthy 2nds' Div 7 League had been split into two new upper and lower leagues.
Enniscorthy narrowly missed out (on goal difference) on being in the top half of the league. Not a bad first half performance considering the many team changes experienced this year.
The first game of the split League was against St Brendan's Dublin, who had beaten Enniscorthy 2nds just a few weeks earlier. With that last loss, and the prospect of a new league in mind, this home game gave a new impetus to the Slaneysiders.
Under the guidance of coach Doyle and manager Rothwell, a new, more attacking, team formation was employed. From the off, Enniscorthy brought a different game to St Brendan's, penetrating into their half with more frequency and urgency than a few weeks earlier. Short corners ensued and it is from one of these that the ever creative Alan Smith drilled a low shot past the opposition's oncoming defence & net minder to make it 1-0. It wasn't all one way traffic, with St Brendan's keeping Luke Doyle busy in the 'Scorthy goal. An excellent high shot to the top corner was brilliantly pushed wide by Doyle keeping the all-important lead intact.
The game ebbed and flowed with Enniscorthy's dominance waning slightly and, in a moment of defensive lapse, St Brendan's equalised. In the past, this may have stifled the Slaneysider's response, but not on this occasion. A reinvigorated home team once again started to test the away defence and more short corners ensued.
The return of Clive Rothwell from injury has given Enniscorthy 2nds an added level of experience in defence and short corners that proved invaluable in this game. Rothwell did something rare in this game, he both started and finished Enniscorthy's second & winning goal.
On a short corner, his injection into the top of the D ricocheted around, to finally end up on his stick which he swept, with delight, into the back of St Brendan's goal.
This much deserved win, with strong performances across Enniscorthy’s entire panel, now sets the Slaneysiders up for an eagerly awaited second half of the season.
Enniscorthy Squad: Luke Doyle, PJ Pierce, David Mulligan, Mick Jordan, Clive Rothwell, Alan Smith, Jack Redmond, Cian Hogan, Ciaran O'Leary, Eamonn Sweeney, Billy James, John McWey, Robbie Walsh. Manager: Fraser Rothwell Coach: Donal Doyle
Enniscorthy narrowly missed out (on goal difference) on being in the top half of the league. Not a bad first half performance considering the many team changes experienced this year.
The first game of the split League was against St Brendan's Dublin, who had beaten Enniscorthy 2nds just a few weeks earlier. With that last loss, and the prospect of a new league in mind, this home game gave a new impetus to the Slaneysiders.
Under the guidance of coach Doyle and manager Rothwell, a new, more attacking, team formation was employed. From the off, Enniscorthy brought a different game to St Brendan's, penetrating into their half with more frequency and urgency than a few weeks earlier. Short corners ensued and it is from one of these that the ever creative Alan Smith drilled a low shot past the opposition's oncoming defence & net minder to make it 1-0. It wasn't all one way traffic, with St Brendan's keeping Luke Doyle busy in the 'Scorthy goal. An excellent high shot to the top corner was brilliantly pushed wide by Doyle keeping the all-important lead intact.
The game ebbed and flowed with Enniscorthy's dominance waning slightly and, in a moment of defensive lapse, St Brendan's equalised. In the past, this may have stifled the Slaneysider's response, but not on this occasion. A reinvigorated home team once again started to test the away defence and more short corners ensued.
The return of Clive Rothwell from injury has given Enniscorthy 2nds an added level of experience in defence and short corners that proved invaluable in this game. Rothwell did something rare in this game, he both started and finished Enniscorthy's second & winning goal.
On a short corner, his injection into the top of the D ricocheted around, to finally end up on his stick which he swept, with delight, into the back of St Brendan's goal.
This much deserved win, with strong performances across Enniscorthy’s entire panel, now sets the Slaneysiders up for an eagerly awaited second half of the season.
Enniscorthy Squad: Luke Doyle, PJ Pierce, David Mulligan, Mick Jordan, Clive Rothwell, Alan Smith, Jack Redmond, Cian Hogan, Ciaran O'Leary, Eamonn Sweeney, Billy James, John McWey, Robbie Walsh. Manager: Fraser Rothwell Coach: Donal Doyle
