Niall Maguire scored two and Jonathon Rothwell one as the men of Enniscorthy Hockey Club got their league campaign off to a winning start on October 12th.
The Astro Active Centre at Bellefield hosted Enniscorthy Hockey Club's first ever men's Leinster league match, and the vocal home support was rewarded with an impressive debut performance. From tip-off, the Enniscorthy midfield quartet of Jonathon Rothwell, Cathal Ó Suilleabháin, Glenn Chapman and Niall Maguire kept their Bray opponents firmly under control. Ó Suilleabháin in particular provided valuable cover for the Enniscorthy defence while Chapman and Niall Maguire proved a constant threat moving forward. Diagonal passes to Jason Rothwell, operating on the right side of attack were causing all sorts of problems for Bray and the visitors eventually conceded a penalty flick. Greg Hawkins sent the goalkeeper the wrong way but the ball flashed narrowly wide. Niall Maguire broke the dead- lock to leave the hosts one up at the break; the gap would have been greater but for a goal by Jason Rothwell being disallowed.
Fraser Rothwell's half-time team talk seemed to do the trick as Enniscorthy emerged a much more composed team for the second half. Hawkins made way for Robbie Walshe and this added a different dimension to the home attack. Maguire's performance steadily improved and his work was rewarded with a second. Walshe and Jason Rothwell were keeping the Bray net minder Tony Cooper busy and he was forced into a number of spectacular saves. Long aerials from Clive Rothwell were put- ting Bray under pressure and increasingly effective interplay made a third inevitable.
Jonathon Rothwell eventually made it 3-0 after a feverish goalmouth scramble. This was the final score in a game which Enniscorthy had dominated- goalkeeper Graham Hill scarcely had a save to make and no short corners were conceded. For the younger members of the squad it was a valuable experience; all will be encouraged by the result.
Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Clive Rothwell; John Casey; Kieran Costello; Jonathon Rothwell; Cathal Ó Suilleabháin; Glenn Chapman; Niall Maguire; Jason Rothwell; Greg Hawkins; Seamus McAllister; Chris St. Clair-Johnson; Rory Maguire; Robbie Walshe.
The Astro Active Centre at Bellefield hosted Enniscorthy Hockey Club's first ever men's Leinster league match, and the vocal home support was rewarded with an impressive debut performance. From tip-off, the Enniscorthy midfield quartet of Jonathon Rothwell, Cathal Ó Suilleabháin, Glenn Chapman and Niall Maguire kept their Bray opponents firmly under control. Ó Suilleabháin in particular provided valuable cover for the Enniscorthy defence while Chapman and Niall Maguire proved a constant threat moving forward. Diagonal passes to Jason Rothwell, operating on the right side of attack were causing all sorts of problems for Bray and the visitors eventually conceded a penalty flick. Greg Hawkins sent the goalkeeper the wrong way but the ball flashed narrowly wide. Niall Maguire broke the dead- lock to leave the hosts one up at the break; the gap would have been greater but for a goal by Jason Rothwell being disallowed.
Fraser Rothwell's half-time team talk seemed to do the trick as Enniscorthy emerged a much more composed team for the second half. Hawkins made way for Robbie Walshe and this added a different dimension to the home attack. Maguire's performance steadily improved and his work was rewarded with a second. Walshe and Jason Rothwell were keeping the Bray net minder Tony Cooper busy and he was forced into a number of spectacular saves. Long aerials from Clive Rothwell were put- ting Bray under pressure and increasingly effective interplay made a third inevitable.
Jonathon Rothwell eventually made it 3-0 after a feverish goalmouth scramble. This was the final score in a game which Enniscorthy had dominated- goalkeeper Graham Hill scarcely had a save to make and no short corners were conceded. For the younger members of the squad it was a valuable experience; all will be encouraged by the result.
Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Clive Rothwell; John Casey; Kieran Costello; Jonathon Rothwell; Cathal Ó Suilleabháin; Glenn Chapman; Niall Maguire; Jason Rothwell; Greg Hawkins; Seamus McAllister; Chris St. Clair-Johnson; Rory Maguire; Robbie Walshe.
