Enniscorthy hockey men’s 1st team were on the road early last weekend as they made the journey up the M11 to Dublin to take on Tallaght based side, Glenanne Hockey Club on Saturday morning. Saturday was shaping up be a lovely day for a game of hockey as it was a fresh, dry autumn morning. This was the first meeting on these sides in the Enniscorthy men’s short but strong history. The South East men knew the Dublin side was going to be a strong outfit, as Glenanne are and always have been one of the big names in Irish hockey.
A minute silence was held before the game began as a mark of respect for Forbes Vigors, a Wicklow Hockey Club player who tragically passed away a week earlier after playing for his club. Many of the Enniscorthy players had played alongside Forbes with the South East Men’s hockey team that played in Leinster prior to Wicklow and Enniscorthy forming their own men’s teams. Since their formation, the two teams have come head to head on many occasions. Forbes was also involved in Enniscorthy Hockey Club when he was the senior ladies coach.
In true Enniscorthy style the South East men under coach Donal Doyle came out strong but it was evident they were going to be up against a tough opposition Glenanne’s strong marking of Enniscorthy players made it hard for the visitors to gain a hold of the game and found themselves trailing by a goal after Glenanne took the lead. Enniscorthy didn’t panic as they put some strong attacks together and earned themselves a short corner but the home side’s defence dealt well with the pressure. Right back Andrew Rothwell pushed up the pitch and combined well with Roy Chapman in the midfield to put a threatening ball into the circle towards Liam Jowett but again the home side cleared the ball. After 25 minutes Enniscorthy drew even with Jowett making a run up the left wing before passing to Liukimas, Liukimas then popped the ball to Medcalf who took a shot that was saved but the determination in Liukimas was evident when he pounced on the loose ball and slotted it away for the visitor’s first goal. Glenanne came back strong, but Hill in the Enniscorthy goal made a beautiful save to keep them out. Unfortunately for the visitors the strength of the Dublin sides attack lead to them taking the lead once again just three minutes before half time when a ball was put across the circle was met by a free Glenanne stick.
Half time came and despite being behind, the Wexford side knew they were capable of turning the game around. Glenanne earned an early short corner in the second half but the short corner defence on Hill, the Chapman brothers, A. Rothwell and Vietch were up the task and cleared their lines. Glenn Chapman brought things all square when a ball from Liukimas set Chapman who swept the ball passed the on rushing ‘keeper and into the left corner on the goal. Enniscorthy’s defence did their best to keep Glenanne out, but earner themselves a number of short corners and scored two goals in the second half. Enniscorthy were 4-2 down with fifteen minutes left to get something out of the game, they never gave up and with ten minutes to go brought it back to one goal in the difference. Liam Jowett’s great skill was on show for this one when he brought the ball right up to the end line and at this extremely tight angle managed to sqeeze the ball between the upright and the ‘keeper. Its was all to play for with plenty of time for the visitors to get back into the game. Unfortunately, no matter how hard the visitors pressed with forwards, Jowett, Liukimas, Durnan and McWey trying everthing to square things up but the final whistle blew to Glenanne’s delight.
Enniscorthy will take a lot from the game, and will put into play against the Monkstown men, who will be the next opposition for Donal Doyle’s men at home in the Astro Active Centre, Enniscorthy this coming Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Martyn Vietch; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Edmundas Liukimas; Liam Jowett; William Durnan. Coach: Donal Doyle, Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
A minute silence was held before the game began as a mark of respect for Forbes Vigors, a Wicklow Hockey Club player who tragically passed away a week earlier after playing for his club. Many of the Enniscorthy players had played alongside Forbes with the South East Men’s hockey team that played in Leinster prior to Wicklow and Enniscorthy forming their own men’s teams. Since their formation, the two teams have come head to head on many occasions. Forbes was also involved in Enniscorthy Hockey Club when he was the senior ladies coach.
In true Enniscorthy style the South East men under coach Donal Doyle came out strong but it was evident they were going to be up against a tough opposition Glenanne’s strong marking of Enniscorthy players made it hard for the visitors to gain a hold of the game and found themselves trailing by a goal after Glenanne took the lead. Enniscorthy didn’t panic as they put some strong attacks together and earned themselves a short corner but the home side’s defence dealt well with the pressure. Right back Andrew Rothwell pushed up the pitch and combined well with Roy Chapman in the midfield to put a threatening ball into the circle towards Liam Jowett but again the home side cleared the ball. After 25 minutes Enniscorthy drew even with Jowett making a run up the left wing before passing to Liukimas, Liukimas then popped the ball to Medcalf who took a shot that was saved but the determination in Liukimas was evident when he pounced on the loose ball and slotted it away for the visitor’s first goal. Glenanne came back strong, but Hill in the Enniscorthy goal made a beautiful save to keep them out. Unfortunately for the visitors the strength of the Dublin sides attack lead to them taking the lead once again just three minutes before half time when a ball was put across the circle was met by a free Glenanne stick.
Half time came and despite being behind, the Wexford side knew they were capable of turning the game around. Glenanne earned an early short corner in the second half but the short corner defence on Hill, the Chapman brothers, A. Rothwell and Vietch were up the task and cleared their lines. Glenn Chapman brought things all square when a ball from Liukimas set Chapman who swept the ball passed the on rushing ‘keeper and into the left corner on the goal. Enniscorthy’s defence did their best to keep Glenanne out, but earner themselves a number of short corners and scored two goals in the second half. Enniscorthy were 4-2 down with fifteen minutes left to get something out of the game, they never gave up and with ten minutes to go brought it back to one goal in the difference. Liam Jowett’s great skill was on show for this one when he brought the ball right up to the end line and at this extremely tight angle managed to sqeeze the ball between the upright and the ‘keeper. Its was all to play for with plenty of time for the visitors to get back into the game. Unfortunately, no matter how hard the visitors pressed with forwards, Jowett, Liukimas, Durnan and McWey trying everthing to square things up but the final whistle blew to Glenanne’s delight.
Enniscorthy will take a lot from the game, and will put into play against the Monkstown men, who will be the next opposition for Donal Doyle’s men at home in the Astro Active Centre, Enniscorthy this coming Saturday.
Enniscorthy Squad: Graham Hill; Andrew Rothwell; Martyn Vietch; PJ Pierce; Ivan Rothwell; Daithi Medcalf; Glenn Chapman; Roy Chapman; John McWey; Edmundas Liukimas; Liam Jowett; William Durnan. Coach: Donal Doyle, Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
