The rain held off for Enniscorthy Ladies’ 3rd XI on Sunday afternoon (30th September) as they faced off against the Wexford Ladies in the Sunday League. The ‘Scorthy women were eager for a win against their Slaneyside rivals, and from the first whistle, the Enniscorthy team attacked the Wexford goal in numbers. Melanie Ní Dhuinn and Laura O’Leary moved the ball up the field with speed and accuracy, while forward Elaine Higgins provided the mai n attacking threat with several shots on goal.
The back line was made up of Enniscorthy’s trusted trio; Aoife Foran, Ilsa Flynn and Róisín Bridges, who were letting nothing through on Sunday. Flynn, in particular, proved particularly adept in making pinpoint passes down the to her midfield team mates. One such pass – midway through the first half- created the only goal of the game. Flynn's ball was quickly picked up by Ní Dhuinn and then on to O'Leary who sent it to Enniscorthy newcomer Mairead Brophy. Brophy reacted skilfully to dodge the Wexford defence, passing the ball to Megan Dempsey who delivered a powerful shot into the back of the Wexford net. The forward position is new to the 5th year student from Castlebridge, and joint managers Irene Doyle and Roy Chapman must surely be resigned to losing Dempsey to the first or second Xi if her career continues on this upward trajectory.
Enniscorthy continued to dominate throughout the remainder of the first half and the whole of the second half. Linda Durnan proved a difficult opponent for the women in green when Wexford tried to break through, while Suzanne Redmond dealt confidently with Wexford's best chance of the game, making a strong save sending the ball back towards the halfway line much to the delight of the vocal Enniscorthy support.
Squad: Aoife Foran, Mairead Neville, Joy Byrne, Ilsa Flynn, Linda Durnan, Suzanne Redmond, Elaine Hickey, Melanie Ní Dhuinn, Róisín Bridges, Laura O'Leary, Megan Dempsey, Mairead Brophy
