E’CORTHY HOCKEY
It was another busy weekend for the club, with three adult teams and a number of the under-age sides in action.
Enniscorthy’s ladies’ first XI travelled to Terenure on Saturday for their Division 6 clash against third-placed Our Lady’s.
The hosts started strongly, winning a penalty corner in the first few minutes but to no avail. Soon after, the visitors countered, winning a penalty corner, but the defence worked well to not concede.
The early penalty corner for Enniscorthy was a harbinger for what was to follow.
Shortly after, May Wickham and Isabelle Walsh combined to win a second penalty corner, and a well-rehearsed move resulted in Jessie Flood putting away the opening goal.
Only two minutes later, Niamh Ogilvie doubled the lead, showing off her 3D skills and scoring with a strike from the top of the circle.
In the second quarter the centre back pairing of Laura Smith and Julie Watchorn were solid as ever, making it hard for the opposition forwards to get any shots away.
Jessie Flood attacked up the left wing, taking quick frees and passing to the midfielders. Isabelle Walsh made multiple attacks down the baseline.
Hannah Graham linked passes with Niamh Rochford who took on the Our Lady’s defence. Captain Julie Watchorn scored the third goal for Enniscorthy from a well-executed penalty corner.
In the second-half Enniscorthy’s front three put the opposition’s goalie under pressure, forcing her to make a number of saves. Attacking with width, the midfielders were causing problems for the home defence.
At the start of the third quarter, a penalty was awarded to Enniscorthy for a backstick foul. Unfortunately, Jessie’s goal was disallowed due to first strike on goal being above backboard height.
Solid defence from Hannah led to a quick break to the forwards, and Deané Lodewyks’ shot went wide. Debutant Rebecca Ogilvie got her name on the scoresheet with a rocket of a goal following a long corner to make it 4-0 to Enniscorthy.
Another short was won and calmly finished off by Leah Kidd. Backs Hannah Graham and Laura Smith made it look easy with accurate passing up the right-hand side of the pitch getting around multiple defenders.
In the final quarter Amy Murphy and Caoimhe Larkin worked together, creating several goalscoring chances and winning long corners.
The linking passes between the backs, midfields to forwards showed off Enniscorthy’s teamwork. May Wickham won a penalty corner following a quick sideline but the Our Lady’s goalkeeper did very well to keep the ball out.
After sustained pressure from the Enniscorthy forwards, their eighth and final penalty corner was won.
Anna Flood injected it to her sister, Jessie, who swept it across the circle to Laura Smith on the spot, deflecting it into the goal.
The game ended 6-0 to Enniscorthy. The dedication and hard work from all 15 players resulted in Enniscorthy being joint top of the table for the first time this season.
Squad: Norah McGinty, Anna Flood, Jessie Flood, Laura Smith, May Wickham, Caoimhe Larkin, Amy Murphy, Hannah Graham, Leah Kidd, Rebecca Ogilvie, Deané Lodewyks, Niamh Rochford, Isabelle Walsh.
Enniscorthy’s ladies’ second eleven were in action on Saturday with a home Division 11 clash against Avoca.
Both teams were evenly matched in the first-half, with both defences standing strong. Enniscorthy’s defensive duo of Ailbhe Harrington and Kelly Robinson were particularly solid.
Avoca opted for eleven outfield players with an extra defender and no goalkeeper. This strengthened their defence, and the extra outfield player was significant.
In the third quarter, Avoca scored two quick goals despite good defensive work from Aine O’Brien and Eleanor Bolger.
Enniscorthy fought back hard with several attacking opportunities worked by Ciara Parnell, Lisa Frayne and Ciara Murphy.
Midway through the third quarter, Enniscorthy won a penalty corner and Lisa Frayne scored a great goal to put them back in the game.
In the final quarter, Enniscorthy attached strongly with great play from Alice Kelly, Hannah Neville and Laura Redmond in the midfield. Despite getting another penalty corner, Enniscorthy missed an equaliser by inches.
It ended in a 2-1 loss to Enniscorthy, despite a very hard-fought and strong performance overall.
Squad: Alice Kelly, Hannah Neville, Laura Redmond, Lisa Frayne, Aine O’Brien, Eleanor Bolger, Kelly Robinson, Ailbhe Harrington, Ciara Parnell, Ciara Murphy, Saoirse Power, Hayley Squire, Martha Dunne, Laura Sutton.
Enniscorthy’s men’s second eleven bounced back from the previous weekend’s loss to Y.M.C.A. to record a confident 1-0 win over Monkstown on Saturday.
Enniscorthy started well, applying early pressure to the ‘Town goal, with Cian Hogan’s shot after four minutes bring tipped wide.
The Camolin man, though, made no mistake seven minutes later when receiving a pass from William Durnan, slotting the ball into the net.
The second quarter saw more promising play from the Wexford men, with Chapman and Ivan Rothwell both forcing saves from a busy Monkstown goalkeeper.
At the other end Nigel Bailey was forced off through injury but it didn’t seem to affect Enniscorthy’s rhythm, with Hogan and Chapman both shooting wide as the quarter ticked down.
The third quarter saw Enniscorthy creating a series of set-piece opportunities through a flurry of penalty and long corners, but they were unable to take advantage.
It was much of the same in the fourth quarter, with Monkstown earning a penalty corner but their shot fizzled wide.
Enniscorthy’s defensive line appeared well capable of dealing with the Monkstown threat throughout, but what will worry captain Chapman will be the slender goal haul as they face into their first derby of the season on November 9, a visit to Wicklow.
Squad: Glen Rothwell, Seamus McAlister, Jack Doran, Nigel Bailey, Andrew Rothwell, Ivan Rothwell, Fraser Rothwell, Jack Tully, Niall Maguire,
William Durnan, Cian Hogan, Graeme Chapman, Earl Smith.
A strong and determined Enniscorthy Intermediate D9 side had an impressive 7-0 win against a physical Loreto team on Sunday morning at the Astro Active Centre
The score was 6-0 at half-time, and in the second period an easing up Enniscorthy scored a seventh goal.
Sadhbh Ryan, Ailbhe Tierney, Leah Morris, and Emer Kervick scored one goal each, with Aoife Browne getting a hat-trick.
Squad: Sadhbh Ryan, Ailbhe Tierney, Leah Morris, Emer Kervick, Aoife Browne, Holly Bolger, Holly Rothwell, Sara Williamson, Róisín Dillon, Alexi Gillot, Cora O’Donnell, Darcy McCarthy-Power, Ríona Mahon.
The Under-16 boys beat Three Rock Rovers 1-0 at the Astro Active Centre on Sunday thanks to a Ross Wallace goal. This was their second league game of the season and their first at home.
Squad: Adam Hill, Andrew Stewart, Aaron Lett, Ross Wallace, Andrew Graham, Marcus Wallace, Jack Tully, Wayne Sutton, Billy Walsh, Dylan Hendy, Stephen Hendy, Evan Williamson, Craig Bailey.
The first year girls played Weston on Sunday and won 1-0, with the goal scored by Eabha Doyle after a well-timed pass from Ciana Webster.
Enniscorthy were unlucky not to have registered another score or two as goals by Naoise Roche and Mia Whelan were disallowed.
The team played really well, with the midfield and backs working tirelessly all day. A special mention to Orlaith Hill in goal. It was her first day between the posts but she played like a natural.
The Under-8 boys took part in a blitz in Monkstown on Sunday.