CLUB CALL
SLANEY SHARKS
Slaney Sharks swimmers have had a very busy few months of activity.
December saw a number of galas including the Kilkenny winter gala where seven swimmers completed 14 swims, achieving twelve P.B’s.
A special mention to Ava Nolan who completed two third place finishes. The Trojan gala also saw some great swims, including Ava Byrne who achieved P.B’s in all four of her events.
Slaney Sharks also hosted our own round robin gala on December 10. There was a great attendance despite the snowy conditions.
All attending swimmers achieved at least one P.B., and a special mention to our own Lily Hammel for achieving first place in 50 back and third place in her 50 free.
Thanks to all who assisted in our preparation and on the day itself - a great day was had by all.
With the new year came the busiest part of the season, and our swimmers took it in their stride. First came the Leinster development gala where nine swimmers represented the club - all achieving P.B’s. Alexi Gillot achieved P.B’s in all her swims with one improving by over seven seconds.
The Leinster qualifying gala came next with four swimmers attending over three days. A big well done to Ava Byrne who finished first in her age group for 50 back.
Again it was to Dublin for the Leinster distance qualifying gala where seven swimmers represented the club. Some amazing P.B’s were achieved, including three swims and three P.B’s from both Sam Murphy and Conor Dempsey.
Cormorant gala was next where Ava Whelan made the podium twice with two great P.B’s. Most recently Slaney Sharks attended the St. Fiacc’s round robin where eleven swimmers completed 32 swims, making a great representation for the club.
There is no doubt that our Sharks are representing our club very well and will continue to do so in the coming months. In the words of Dory - just keep swimming!
GOREY HOCKEY
Gorey played host to Portrane 1 in the Cup semi-final in Enniscorthy on Sunday.
From the first whistle the match was intensive end-to-end stuff. Gorey took push back and made an attack up the centre.
Portrane won a free out and utilised their wings, but Gorey’s defence of Vicky Hughes, Gillian Bailey, Bridget Kenny and Imogen McGuinness dealt well with the pressure.
Midfielders Robyn Swords, Nicola Ryan and Ruth Evans worked hard, winning possession at half way.
The first penalty corner was awarded to Gorey. Robyn Swords pushed the ball out to the top of the circle where Muireann Deegan switched to Nicola Ryan who struck the ball perfectly, giving Gorey an early lead.
Portrane re-started, working the ball up the right side. Vicky Hughes cleared the ball wide. A long corner sent it across the goal but Gorey’s ’keeper, Fiona Mythen, made a crucial save, flicking the ball out wide. Gorey went into the break with the narrowest of leads (1-0).
The visitors started the second-half applying pressure to Gorey’s defence once more. Portrane took a free inside the ’23 and won a penalty corner when they found a Gorey foot.
Portrane took a direct shot on goal but another short corner was awarded, and they couldn’t capitalise.
Two more corners were given. Another direct shot on goal was saved by ’keeper Fiona Mythen, but Portrane tidied up by knocking the ball into the net (1-1).
Gorey’s re-start found the front line of Olive McGarry, Muireann Deegan and Zoe Kenny but they could not penetrate Portrane’s circle.
Portrane’s long hit out found their winger who attacked the end line. Passing the ball across goal, Gorey’s ’keeper Fiona Mythen was called upon again to save off the line, deflecting the ball wide.
From the long corner Portrane came straight into the circle, taking strike and earning the lead for the first time (1-2).
With ten minutes left, Gorey’s Megan Roark-Shannon was unlucky not to get on the end of Bridget Kenny’s long hit out. Shots by Nicola Ryan and Muireann Deegan both went wide.
With seconds left Gorey won a penalty corner but could not equalise to bring the match to extra-time.
The final whistle came as a welcome relief to Portrane who went home with the win. Portrane will now go on to play in the Cup final to be held in April. Well done to Gorey ladies who put up a great fight.
Team: Fiona Mythen (capt.), Bridget Kenny, Gillian Bailey, Imogen McGuinness, Vicky Hughes, Ruth Evans, Nicola Ryan (1), Robyn Swords, Zoe Kenny, Muireann Deegan, Olive McGarry, Megan Roark-Shannon.
Saturday saw the Gorey Under-16 team host the semi-final against Dublin North in the Interwhite League.
Dublin North started well, taking push back and progressing towards the Gorey circle. A strong Gorey defence of Robyn Swords, Aislinn Buttle, Olive McGarry and Aisling Kirwan, under the direction of goalie Ruth Evans, quickly regained possession.
Sadhbh Corcoran made a fastpaced run, passing the ball precisely to Muireann Deegan at the top of the circle. Muireann skilfully dribbled past two defenders and cleanly swept the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Neither team dominated in the second-half. Play was intense and end-to-end in the last ten minutes.
Dublin North pressed all their team forward but Síobhra Bairéad made numerous tackles, winning the ball each time and preventing all their attempts.
Méadbh Bairead came on as right back and, like her sister, safely cleared the ball out of the Gorey circle.
Gorey had runs from forwards Orlaith Deegan and Rachel McSweeney into the circle, only to be denied by the Dublin North goalie.
Forwards Zoe Kenny and Tegan Veitch both had shots just wide of the post. Gorey are now in the final of the league.
Team: Ruth Evans, Robyn Swords, Aislinn Buttle, Olive McGarry, Aisling Kirwan (person of the match), Sadhbh Corcoran, Muireann Deegan, Síobhra Bairéad (capt.), Zoe Kenny, Tegan Veitch, Rachel McSweeney, Méadbh Bairéad, Orlaith Deegan.
E’CORTHY HOCKEY
After the delays caused by the recent snow, there was almost a full programme of hockey and some historic results for Enniscorthy over the weekend.
Alan Smith’s Under-16 girls proved full value for their performance as they brushed aside Boyne on a 4-0 scoreline at Drogheda Grammar School on Sunday, and won a first-ever appearance for the club in the Junior Jacqui Potter Cup Plate final.
Early pressure from the visitors produced a penalty flick which former Ireland trialist Laura Smith converted. At this stage the signs looked ominous for the Drogheda side as Enniscorthy attacked in waves, winning a succession of penalty corners amidst some dazzling passing play.
However, some stout defending from Boyne’s back line kept Enniscorthy from a second which they badly needed.
Boyne raised their performance levels following the half-time break and Enniscorthy found themselves under pressure. Fourteen minutes into the second-half, though, Niamh Ogilvie found the net after a penalty corner skirmish, and Enniscorthy almost extended their lead again just two minutes later when a penalty corner effort hit the post.
A Laura Smith effort was then disallowed following consultations between the umpires.
Two quickfire goals within six minutes of each other - from Leah Kidd and Emer Doyle - were enough to kill off the Boyne challenge, and Enniscorthy will play either Three Rock Rovers or Y.M.C.A. in the final on St. Patrick’s Day at Grange Road in Rathfarnham.
Squad: Nora McGinty, Hannah Graham, Laura Smith, Aoife Mahon, Béibhin O’Brien, Leah Kidd, Ciara Kelly, Niamh Ogilvie, Rebecca Ogilvie, Eabha Farrell, Caoimhe Larkin, Martha Dunne, Ellen Rogan, Emer Doyle, Amy Murphy.
The Under-16 Intermediate yellow team continued their recent good run of form with a 1-1 draw away to Three Rock Rovers. Tara Somers scored the goal which ensured a fifth-placed finish in the league.
Squad: Alice Medcalf, Ailbhe Harrington, Lettie Hassey, Emer Bowe, Dervle Walsh, Hannah Neville, Ciara Parnell, Agatha Farioli, Muireann Murphy, Tara Somers, Laura Sutton, Alexi Gillot, Kate Freeman.
Enniscorthy ladies’ first XI were away to Botanic II for their third last league match of the season, and came away with a vital 2-0 win.
The visitors had a very slow start but a strong defensive line of Hannah Graham, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith and Katie Owen defended well and were alert to the Glasnevin side’s attempts on goal.
Graham made a number of excep- tional runs up the right line, allowing her defensive colleagues to distribute the ball to her into space. Botanic had two penalty corners in the first-half but were both cleared by the defence.
The midfield line of Laura Bailey, Leah Chapman and Jessie Flood made a number of excellent passes into the forwards, one of which resulted in Olive Lett getting a shot away which was saved by the Botanic goalkeeper.
As the first-half progressed, Enniscorthy finally broke the deadlock. Bailey passed up the wing to Laura O’Leary, who found Anna Flood, and her reverse stick shot hit the net.
As the second-half commenced, Enniscorthy really got into their stride, distributing the ball well throughout the pitch. The second goal came from a series of sharp passes between the two Flood sisters, ending in a powerful shot by Jessie hitting the backboard.
Botanic fought back and goalkeeper Alice Medcalf had to be alert when she spotted a one-on-one approaching and closed it down.
Enniscorthy kept pushing forward in attempt to score another goal - goal difference may yet prove decisive in the promotion battle - and another brilliant pass from Anna Flood into the circle to May Wickham resulted in their first attacking short corner of the game.
Lett pushed the ball to Anna Flood at the top of the circle and she attempted a direct shot on goal, but it was blocked by the Botanic defence.
With only two minutes left, Botanic pushed forward hoping to get a score, earning themselves a penalty corner. This was saved and cleared up the line by Medcalf, and Enniscorthy’s clean sheet was preserved.
Enniscorthy have a break now before their next league encounter as they host Dublin side Genesis IV, provisionally pencilled in for April 7 at the Astro Active Centre.
Squad: Alice Medcalf, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith, Hannah Graham, Katie Owen, Leah Chapman, Jessie Flood, Laura Bailey, May Wickham, Anna Flood, Laura O’Leary, Olive Lett. Coach: Donal Doyle.
On Saturday, Enniscorthy seconds had a great 5-0 win over Clontarf fifths in a home game, despite the Slaneysiders missing a number of key players. This was the Wexford team’s second time meeting Clontarf this season.
Enniscorthy started strong from the push back, making life tough for the Clontarf defence. The hard-working Áine O’Brien and Avril Buttle up the right-hand side of the pitch were causing all sorts of problems for the Bulls, and a depleted Clontarf quickly crumbled.
A deadly-accurate pass from Avril Buttle straight to Megan Dempsey across the circle resulted in the opening goal for the south-east side.
As they knew from their previous match against the opposition, they didn’t give up easily. Clontarf managed to win a penalty corner but excellent work by a cool and collected Enniscorthy defensive line - with particularly brave play by their first runner - helping to keep them at bay.
The Dublin side proved persistent, taking shots on goal which were well saved by first-time goalkeeper Serena Hatton. Passes from Bridget Gainford, Eleanor Bolger and Elaine Hickey up through the centre of the pitch gave the Slaneysiders plenty of chances to score.
Hard work in the Clontarf circle from both teams led Enniscorthy to two penalty corners which they were unfortunate not to score from.
The Slaneysiders kept their streak going, with goals coming from Áine O’Brien and Elaine Hickey. Yet again their opposition were fighting but were unsuccessful in attempts to break the strong Enniscorthy defensive line.
Some great clearances were made by Muireann Níc Corcráin and Julie Hayes out the wings to create space for Avril Buttle along the right-hand side. Buttle managed to score her goal - Enniscorthy’s fifth - with a direct shot from the top of the circle.
Both sides kept fighting until the final whistl,e with Hatton keeping a clean sheet for the south-east crew.
Squad: Eleanor Bolger, Bridget Gainford, Julie Hayes, Avril Buttle, Elaine Hickey, Megan Dempsey, Murieann Níc Corcráin, Áine O’Brien, Serena Hatton.
There was more good under-age news as the Under-14 boys played two matches over the weekend, recording a draw and a win in three days.
On Friday night the side travelled to Monkstown and had a 1-1 draw, meaning Kai Gahan’s side won the Leinster ‘B’ South league.
On Sunday the team returned to Dublin and defeated Y.M.C.A. in the semi-final of the Leinster ‘B’ Cup, with either Corinthians or Railway Union the opposition in the final. In a dramatic match, the sides were deadlocked at 0-0 following ordinary time and extra-time, and penalty flicks were needed to separate them.
Ahead of the Under-14 ‘C’ semi-finals, Enniscorthy are the only non-Dublin club to reach a cup final this season, while the four leagues are similarly dominated by Dublin clubs, with Bray and Enniscorthy setting the standard for the clubs outside the capital.
Squad: Adam Hill, Jack Tully, Mervyn Rogan, Brian Smith, Daniel Murphy, Marcus Wallace, Billy Walshe, Dylan Hendy, Evan Williamson, Niall Kehoe, Ben Redmond, Matthew Kelly.
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s first XI men proved to be second best in their top of the table clash with Dublin 4 outfit Pembroke Wanderers on Saturday.
Missing injured top scorer James O’Sullivan, Enniscorthy found chances at a premium in what was on occasion a fractious encounter with their league rivals.
Pembroke got the only goal midway through the first-half, though Roy Chapman saw a gilt-edged opportunity go wide four minutes from the end.
Enniscorthy have two matches left in the league, and Pembroke have one after a 4-0 win over Three Rock Rovers on Sunday.
With just two points separating the teams - Pembroke in the lead - and the Dublin 4 side holding a vastly superior goal difference, this one will go down to the wire.
Enniscorthy travel to third from bottom Suttonians on March 24 and know that nothing less than a win is needed.
Squad: Graham Hill, David Simmons, Clive Rothwell, Andrew Rothwell, Ivan Rothwell, Glenn Chapman, Roy Chapman, Daithí Medcalf, Seb Rynhart, William Durnan, Jake English, Charlie Dunne, Niall Maguire.