The hockey men of Enniscorthy 1st team were on the road yet again this week as they made the journey up the M11 to The High School, Rathgar to take on Rathgar 3rd on a glorious spring afternoon. On the teams previous meeting in Enniscorthy last November it ended with a 2-0 win for Enniscorthy.
Like their last trip, Donal Doyle’s men were forced into trialling a new line out as the southeast men were missing a number of their usual players. Thanks to the exceptional depth in the squad the players that push the missing men were more than happy to take their chance. The four players that made up Enniscorthy defence was some what different than its usual line up with just one 1st team regular in Clive Rothwell that remained. Mick Jordan, Ivan Rothwell and PJ Pierce filled the other defensive positions.
The southeast men started strong with early forays of attacking play down both wings, with David Simmons and John McWey combining well together on the left hand side Similarly, Andrew Rothwell and Niall Maguire combined well on the right hand side. The visitors came close to opening their goal count for the day on a number of occasions such as shots from Daithi Medcalf and from Andrew Rothwell who took a reverse stick shot that narrowly went wide of the top corner of the goal. A strong Rathgar defence and narrow misses by Enniscorthy prevented any change in the score at this point. Midway through the first half Rathgar won a short corner from which they succeed in slotting the ball by ‘keeper Graham Hill and his defence. After this, Rathgar were awarded a number of short corners but the Slaney siders were awake to the threat that the attackers possessed and were able to deal with their attempts. Shortly after, Enniscorthy, who had been awarded a number of short corners themselves, took their chance to attack the Rathgar goal. A ball struck by Roy Chapman was deflected in the direction of the goal by David Simmons, and upon rebound after being saved by the home side’s keeper, Simmons struck again and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Chapman came close himself when a shot from the top of the circle went within millimetres of the Rathgar goal.
At half time Doyle’s men knew that while they had some strong attacks in the half, they had not taking full advantage of them. Rathgar knew the game was still up for the taking and started the second half strong, but thanks to a solid defence, Hill wasn’t called upon on many occasions. However, fatigue seemed to seep through both teams as neither side could open up their oppositions defence and the game went on to finish as a one all draw.
Enniscorthy have their final home game of the league this coming Saturday when they take on Avoca at one o’clock in the Astro Active Centre Bellefield.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Clive Rothwell; Mick Jordan; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Niall Maguire; Eamon Sweeney. Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell
Like their last trip, Donal Doyle’s men were forced into trialling a new line out as the southeast men were missing a number of their usual players. Thanks to the exceptional depth in the squad the players that push the missing men were more than happy to take their chance. The four players that made up Enniscorthy defence was some what different than its usual line up with just one 1st team regular in Clive Rothwell that remained. Mick Jordan, Ivan Rothwell and PJ Pierce filled the other defensive positions.
The southeast men started strong with early forays of attacking play down both wings, with David Simmons and John McWey combining well together on the left hand side Similarly, Andrew Rothwell and Niall Maguire combined well on the right hand side. The visitors came close to opening their goal count for the day on a number of occasions such as shots from Daithi Medcalf and from Andrew Rothwell who took a reverse stick shot that narrowly went wide of the top corner of the goal. A strong Rathgar defence and narrow misses by Enniscorthy prevented any change in the score at this point. Midway through the first half Rathgar won a short corner from which they succeed in slotting the ball by ‘keeper Graham Hill and his defence. After this, Rathgar were awarded a number of short corners but the Slaney siders were awake to the threat that the attackers possessed and were able to deal with their attempts. Shortly after, Enniscorthy, who had been awarded a number of short corners themselves, took their chance to attack the Rathgar goal. A ball struck by Roy Chapman was deflected in the direction of the goal by David Simmons, and upon rebound after being saved by the home side’s keeper, Simmons struck again and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Chapman came close himself when a shot from the top of the circle went within millimetres of the Rathgar goal.
At half time Doyle’s men knew that while they had some strong attacks in the half, they had not taking full advantage of them. Rathgar knew the game was still up for the taking and started the second half strong, but thanks to a solid defence, Hill wasn’t called upon on many occasions. However, fatigue seemed to seep through both teams as neither side could open up their oppositions defence and the game went on to finish as a one all draw.
Enniscorthy have their final home game of the league this coming Saturday when they take on Avoca at one o’clock in the Astro Active Centre Bellefield.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Clive Rothwell; Mick Jordan; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Andrew Rothwell; David Simmons; Daithi Medcalf; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Niall Maguire; Eamon Sweeney. Coach: Donal Doyle; Manager: Fraser Rothwell
