E’CORTHYHOCKEY
Enniscorthy Hockey Club’s ladies’ first eleven’s drive for league honours will have to wait a little longer as a frozen pitch in Clontarf forced a postponement on Saturday.
Despite a great start for Donal Doyle’s first men’s side, Enniscorthy were beaten by a resilient visiting Rathgar team.
An early blitz with goals from Charlie Dunne and Jason Rothwell caught the Dubliners off guard. The visitors worked their way back into contention, as they themselves put pressure on the Wexford side’s defence.
They earned themselves a brace of penalty flicks to draw it level coming towards half-time. Just before half-time the ever-present Simmons in defence was forced off as a raised ball struck the defender’s face from a deflection off a Rathgar stick. Thankfully, he was able to return to aid his side early in the second-half.
Fifteen minutes into the second-half, after some end-to-end action with both sides producing some beau- tiful hockey, Rathgar took the lead but just momentarily as the Slaneysiders drew it all square, through Dunne, with his second of the game.
With ten minutes to go Rathgar took the lead once again. Despite Enniscorthy’s best efforts, with huge performances from the Durnan brothers, they were unable to draw it back level before the final whistle.
Enniscorthy’s first team can draw great positives from this game as they look forward to a busy weekend, as they take on local rivals Wicklow on Saturday and Dublin side Railway Union on Sunday.
Squad: Graham Hill, Ivan Rothwell, David Simmons, Glenn Chapman, Andrew Rothwell, Roy Chapman, Seb Rynhart, William Durnan, Aodán O’Leary, Charlie Dunne, Cian Hogan, Jason Rothwell, Leo Durnan. Coach: Dónal Doyle. Manager: Fraser Rothwell.
There was better news for the ladies’ second eleven on Saturday as an Olive Lett goal helped beat Skerries 1-0 at the Astro Active Centre, a result that sees the side climb up to second in Division 12.
Squad: Alice Medcalf, Aine O’Brien, Eleanor Bolger, Amy D’Alton, Muireann Nic Corcráin, Megan Dempsey, Ciara Parnell, Ciara Yates, Hannah Neville, Mairéad Neville, Eimear Doyle, Olive Lett.
In men’s Division 6, Enniscorthy’s second team are leading the pack chasing table-toppers Railway Union after a 2-1 home win over Weston.
James O’Sullivan opened the scoring before a Weston reply, and then a Graeme Chapman effort with eleven minutes remaining secured the win, with the result dropping Weston to third.
Squad: Glen Rothwell, Jack Doran, Mick Jordan, Robin Doyle, David Mulligan, Jason Rothwell, Cian Hogan, Eamonn Sweeney, Shay O’Leary, Robbie Walshe, James O’Sullivan, Graeme Chapman, Mark Ennett, Roy Chapman, William Durnan, Leo Durnan.
Meanwhile, it was a local derby at the Astro Active Centre on Sunday as Enniscorthy’s ladies’ thirds took on Wexford’s second eleven in the Sunday League Cup.
Melanie Ní Dhuinn opened the scoring on 16 minutes for Enniscorthy, and Lisa Frayne’s goal seven minutes from time saw the thirds advance to the next round.
Squad: Alice Medcalf, Irene Doyle, Hayley Squire, Catherine Oakes, Brigid Kehoe, Serena Hatton, Mairéad Neville, Linda Durnan, Melanie Ní Dhuinn, Jane Peppard, Keira Warren, Lisa Frayne.