In one of the few matches to survive the weather, Enniscorthy travelled on Saturday to St. Andrew's College in Blackrock to take on Dublin giants Monkstown, and came away with a creditable point in a close encounter between two evenly matched sides.
The Slaneysiders travelled up the N11 with a strong outfit, missing only 'flu victim David Simmons and Greg Hawkins. Graham Hill returned in goal, while Andrew Rothwell, Keith Ogilvie, Clive Rothwell and Martyn Veitch started at the back. In midfield, manager Fraser Rothwell opted for Roy and Glenn Chapman, with Jonathon Rothwell operating on the left wing. Up front Jason Rothwell, Daithí Medcalf and Cathal Ó Suilleabháin provided the attacking threat.
The early exchanges saw Enniscorthy get two quick long corners but were unable to gain any advantage. This proved to be the blueprint for much of the first half as the visitors were the dominant side but unable to seriously threaten the Monkstown goal. The visitors, though, were making life relatively easy for Monkstown as their forays forward lacked width; Jason Rothwell was getting few opportunities to make his trademark runs down the right wing. Daithí Medcalf had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring, receiving a pass from Ó Suilleabháin from the right, to his position close to the Monkstown left post, but he fumbled his shot, and the home side escaped. Despite holding the balance of play, Enniscorthy had to be wary as the blues were dangerous on the counter- attack.
The warnings of Monkstown skill and attacking threat, obvious from their infrequent forays into the Enniscorthy semi- circle in the first half, grew more real after the break. The tables were turned as the hosts turned possession into sustained pressure on the Enniscorthy defence, and Ogilvie and Veitch, in particular, were kept busy. Hill was forced into a string of spectacular saves- the most notable keeping a ferocious drag flick out following a short corner for the hosts- in order to keep the scores level. As the half continued, Enniscorthy began to fight their way back into the game, while tension between both sets of players increased. Indeed, Monkstown were briefly down to ten men as umpire David Medcalf handed out a green card. The disparity in numbers, though, was all too brief, as Enniscorthy were unable to capitalise. Enniscorthy's cause was not helped by injuries to captain Clive Rothwell and Glenn Chapman, but the Wexford men held on. In fact, they had chances of their own to win the match- McAllister and Jowett both going close, while Andrew Rothwell once again proved an attacking threat from the right side of defence- but the game ended on a 0-0 scoreline.
The target had been a point away at a less than happy hunting ground- Pembroke Wanderers had knocked out Enniscorthy last season at St. Andrews in the Leinster Minor Cup- and a point was duly delivered. The Wexford men's high- tempo approach, combined with an unwillingness to allow Monkstown time on the ball, paid dividends. With five of their seven remaining matches at home in the league, Enniscorthy can be confident of another strong finish to the season.
Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Keith Ogilvie; Clive Rothwell (c) ; Martyn Veitch; Roy Chapman; Glenn Chapman; Jonathon Rothwell; Jason Rothwell; Daithí Medcalf; Cathal Ó Suilleabháin; Seamus McAllister; Kieran Costello; Liam Jowett; P.J. Pierce, Robbie Walshe.
The Slaneysiders travelled up the N11 with a strong outfit, missing only 'flu victim David Simmons and Greg Hawkins. Graham Hill returned in goal, while Andrew Rothwell, Keith Ogilvie, Clive Rothwell and Martyn Veitch started at the back. In midfield, manager Fraser Rothwell opted for Roy and Glenn Chapman, with Jonathon Rothwell operating on the left wing. Up front Jason Rothwell, Daithí Medcalf and Cathal Ó Suilleabháin provided the attacking threat.
The early exchanges saw Enniscorthy get two quick long corners but were unable to gain any advantage. This proved to be the blueprint for much of the first half as the visitors were the dominant side but unable to seriously threaten the Monkstown goal. The visitors, though, were making life relatively easy for Monkstown as their forays forward lacked width; Jason Rothwell was getting few opportunities to make his trademark runs down the right wing. Daithí Medcalf had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring, receiving a pass from Ó Suilleabháin from the right, to his position close to the Monkstown left post, but he fumbled his shot, and the home side escaped. Despite holding the balance of play, Enniscorthy had to be wary as the blues were dangerous on the counter- attack.
The warnings of Monkstown skill and attacking threat, obvious from their infrequent forays into the Enniscorthy semi- circle in the first half, grew more real after the break. The tables were turned as the hosts turned possession into sustained pressure on the Enniscorthy defence, and Ogilvie and Veitch, in particular, were kept busy. Hill was forced into a string of spectacular saves- the most notable keeping a ferocious drag flick out following a short corner for the hosts- in order to keep the scores level. As the half continued, Enniscorthy began to fight their way back into the game, while tension between both sets of players increased. Indeed, Monkstown were briefly down to ten men as umpire David Medcalf handed out a green card. The disparity in numbers, though, was all too brief, as Enniscorthy were unable to capitalise. Enniscorthy's cause was not helped by injuries to captain Clive Rothwell and Glenn Chapman, but the Wexford men held on. In fact, they had chances of their own to win the match- McAllister and Jowett both going close, while Andrew Rothwell once again proved an attacking threat from the right side of defence- but the game ended on a 0-0 scoreline.
The target had been a point away at a less than happy hunting ground- Pembroke Wanderers had knocked out Enniscorthy last season at St. Andrews in the Leinster Minor Cup- and a point was duly delivered. The Wexford men's high- tempo approach, combined with an unwillingness to allow Monkstown time on the ball, paid dividends. With five of their seven remaining matches at home in the league, Enniscorthy can be confident of another strong finish to the season.
Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Keith Ogilvie; Clive Rothwell (c) ; Martyn Veitch; Roy Chapman; Glenn Chapman; Jonathon Rothwell; Jason Rothwell; Daithí Medcalf; Cathal Ó Suilleabháin; Seamus McAllister; Kieran Costello; Liam Jowett; P.J. Pierce, Robbie Walshe.
