E’CORTHY HOCKEY

It was another successful weekend for Enniscorthy Hockey Club, with the men’s second XI earning near-certain promotion from Division 7.

It all came down to the last two matches of their season, with a derby win over Wicklow on Wednesday setting the scene for Sunday’s triumph.

Goals from Clive Rothwell and Roy Chapman proved the difference in a closely-fought derby match. For the Astro Active Centre-based side a win was vital to maintain promotion momentum as third-placed Portrane were poised to take advantage of any dropped points.

It was the visiting side, though, which exerted the early opening pressure, earning a penalty corner with 20 minutes on the clock and some tactical changes were required.

Jason Rothwell, Roy Chapman, Daithí Medcalf and Shay O’Leary were all introduced to stem an increasingly dominant Wicklow tide.

Within five minutes of their introductions, the changes had their desired result, with the hosts earning their first penalty corner and Rothwell, receiving the ball on the switch, duly converted.

Encouraged by their half-time lead, O’Leary forced a save from the Wicklow ‘keeper three minutes into the second-half but drilled the second shot wide.

Ken Davis had a chance for Wicklow to take advantage of a muddle at the back by the Enniscorthy defence, and on 48 minutes Luke Doyle in the Enniscorthy goal was forced into a save, leading to a counter-attack which was stopped by the Wicklow goalkeeper’s boot.

With seven minutes left came Wicklow’s most sustained period of pressure, earning a penalty corner which was blocked by Niall Byrne, resulting in a second penalty corner for the visitors. This time the delivery went wide.

Two minutes later came the winner. A trademark cross from the right by Bunclody’s Jason Rothwell rebounded back to Roy Chapman, and he made no mistake.

Wicklow kept fighting despite the two-goal deficit, and earned a further penalty corner soon after Chapman’s strike. Doyle had to be at his best to keep out the well-hit drag flick and secure his eighth clean sheet of the league.

With news later filtering through that Portrane had been held to a 2-2 draw away to Naas, Enniscorthy’s promotion hopes now rested on securing all three points at home to St. James’ Gate II in their last match of the season on Sunday.

Squad: Luke Doyle, David Mulligan, Clive Rothwell, Billy James, Mick Jordan, Alan Smith, Niall Maguire, Robbie Walshe, Eamonn Sweeney, Shay O’Leary, Graeme Chapman, Jack Doran, Aodháin O’Leary, Jason Rothwell, Daithí Medcalf, Roy Chapman.

Enniscorthy’s men’s second XI then continued their excellent form from Wednesday into that season-ending encounter with St. James’ Gate. There was a a simple equation for captain Billy James and his men: win and promotion was guaranteed.

At a wet Astro Active Centre, the home side held the whip hand from the start, with Jason Rothwell forcing a save from the visiting goalkeeper after just three minutes.

Enniscorthy kept knocking on the door, and a devastating two goals in two minutes ten minutes later proved cruciual in breaking the visitors’ resolve.

On 13 minutes Enniscorthy won their first penalty corner, with Roy Chapman opening the scoring in front of a sizeable home support. Pushed in by Clive Rothwell, Chapman received the ball before switching to Clive’s brother, Jason, who passed the ball back to Chapman, and he swept the ball into the net.

Enniscorthy doubled their lead a minute later when good running by Cian Hogan found Chapman, and his reverse-stick shot found the back of the net.

Chapman claimed his hat-trick just before the half-hour mark, firing straight in from yet another home penalty corner.

’Gate struck back on the verge of half-time, with former Enniscorthy player Cathal Ó Súilleabháin finding a way past Glen Rothwell in the Enniscorthy goal.

That was as good as it got for the visitors though, with Jason Rothwell, Corey Cooke and Clive Rothwell all striking in the second-half for an unassailable 6-1 lead, to put Enniscorthy firmly into Division 6 next season.

Squad: Glen Rothwell, David Mulligan, Robin James, Billy James, Clive Rothwell, Niall Maguire, Cian Hogan, Daithí Medcalf, Roy Chapman, Robbie Walshe, Eamon Sweeney, Shay O’Leary, Graeme Chapman, Jack Doran, Jason Rothwell, Corey Cooke.

Enniscorthy’s ladies’ first XI finished their first Leinster campaign in devastating form as they put four goals past Skerries II at the Astro Active Centre on Saturday.

Their earlier battle at the beginning of the season had finished 2-1 and was one of the Slaneysiders’ toughest games of the campaign.

Enniscorthy were eager to finish on a high note and started the game at a high tempo, attacking the visitors’ goal relentlessly. The defence was in flying form as Skierries attacked down the left wing, with centre back Laura Smith then pressing high into midfield territory on the counter-attack.

After their first short corner was saved, Jessie Flood was ready to fire home from the second, with a play straight from the training ground resulting in a bottom right hand burial. This did not put Skierries off their game however, as they responded with a baseline attack which was ably saved by Norah McGinty, whose athleticism and goalkeeping prowess showed when she made two outstanding saves within a split second, the latter cleared by Katie Owen.

The north county Dublin side were then awarded a penalty corner but this was again dealt with by the strong Enniscorthy defence. Countering, Suzannah Doyle was on hand to make a clearance to Leah Chapman who worked the ball well up the field, with Laura O’Leary on the wing unlucky to get on the end of a perfect May Wickham crossfield pass.

Enniscorthy’s attacking ambitions continued with another play down the right just failing to hit the mark after great work from Hannah Sweeney to get on to a back post cross.

Enniscorthy were working hard to create positive outcomes in the circle, and the awarding of another penalty corner and ensuing strike from the younger Flood sister, Anna, gave them their reward as it ended in the back of the net.

Enniscorthy’s two-goal lead sent them into the second-half a more relaxed side, with passing improving and attacks producing some impressively flowing play.

Each counter-attack from Skierries was shut down by the tireless defence of Suzannah Doyle, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith and Katie Owen.

The Cathedral town side’s midfield of Jessie Flood, captain Leah Chapman, May Wickham and Ciara Kelly led the charge forward, with the latter, a 15-year-old Irish trialist, proving her mettle in the Senior ranks by producing some fantastic play in the middle third of the field.

A third goal was not long coming. Leah Chapman picked out Laura O’Leary on the left wing with a superb reverse pass which O’Leary finished under the outrushing Skerries goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

Eager for more, Ciara Kelly found May Wickham with a similar crossfield pass but this time the Skerries ‘keeper made no mistake, despite a powerful strike from Wickham.

Enniscorthy continued their roving attacks and capitalised on a tiring Skerries side, with Laura O’Leary again finding the net from a cross-circle pass which she finished with a diving reverse shot to finish the scoring at 4-0.

Enniscorthy L1s will take a lot away from their first season in Leinster and will return next year on the hunt for promotion. They have welcomed some new and exciting players to their side and are set to be a side to watch in Division 7 next season.

Squad: Nora McGinty, Susannah Doyle, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith, Katie Owen, Jessie Flood, Leah Chapman, May Wickham, Laura O’Leary, Anna Flood, Hannah Sweeney, Ciara Kelly. Manager: Olive Lett. Coach: Donal Doyle.

Meanwhile, there were two excellent under-age results for Enniscorthy on Sunday, with the Under-14 boys winning the Leinster ‘B’ Cup. Brian Smith equalised after Railway Union took the lead, and penalty shuttles were needed to separate the sides.

Daniel Murphy, Matthew Kelly and Brian Smith all found the net, while goalkeeper Adam Hill kept out all bar one of the Railway attempts in what was a steely team performance in Dublin.

Squad: Adam Hill, Mervyn Rogan, Brian Smith, Daniel Murphy, Matthew Kelly, Evan Williamson, Jack Tully, Wayne Sutton, Billy Walshe, Ben Redmond, Marcus Wallace, Niall Kehoe.

The Under-14 girls are into a cup final after beating Weston 4-1 to book a clash with Malahide Fingal, which takes place next Sunday at East Glendalough School in Wicklow.

Tara Somers once again had an excellent game, scoring a hat-trick, while Leah Kidd also found the net for Enniscorthy.

Squad: Kate Freeman, Emma Louise Doran, Ellie Kehoe, Béibhinn O’Brien, Eva Rothwell, Caoimhe Quigley, Leah Kidd, Rebecca Ogilvie, Katie Hennessy, Rebecca Doyle, Amy Murphy, Tara Somers, Aoife Brown, Laura Sutton.