E’CORTHYHOCKEY
A frosty morning across the country led to some early matches being called off, but Enniscorthy’s ladies’ first eleven encounter with Genesis on Saturday in Leinster Division 6 got the go-ahead from the umpires at the Astro Active Centre.
The conditions clearly suited the Slaneysiders, with the hosts winning 6-0 to remain top of the table.
Quarter one began with Enniscorthy launching some early, fast attacks. Great attacking play up the wings from left- and right-backs Aoife Mahon and Leah Chapman ensured the pressure was put
on the Genesis defence from an early stage.
Four minutes in, their attacking play was rewarded, with Ciara Kelly making no mistake in burying the ball into the net thanks to a well-worked one-two set-piece move between Kelly and Niamh Ogilvie.
The Slaneysiders continued to pour forward, with attacking play up the centre by Laura Smith, linking up well with lively forwards May Wickham and Leah Kidd, creating havoc amongst the Genesis defence.
After 16 minutes Deané Lodewyks took advantage of that confusion, neatly slotting the ball into the goal from a reverse stick sweep.
The second quarter began with a fiery Genesis side fighting hard and applying pressure to the Enniscorthy defence. The visitors’ high press put pressure on the Enniscorthy hit-outs, making it difficult for the home midfielders to get on the ball to create attacks.
As a result of their pressure, they were rewarded with a penalty corner, but Norah McGinty was in the right place to make a vital save; from there a counter-attack was launched by Enniscorthy, with Rebecca Ogilvie receiving the ball and passing out wide to Deané Lodewyks who once again attacked the Genesis circle.
Enniscorthy finally settled down and began dealing with Genesis pressure, creating further attacks and enabling Ciara Kelly to bag her second goal.
The goal came about through excellent out-letting through captain Julie Watchorn and vice-captain Laura Smith, who found Leah Chapman on the left.
She in turn linked up well with Niamh Ogilvie in the middle, and she gave a pinpoint ball out to the right for Ciara Kelly to run on to in the circle, giving the Genesis goalkeeper no chance.
Quarters three and four were where player of the match Leah Kidd really shone, getting herself a hat-trick.
Her first goal came as a result of Niamh Ogilvie receiving a ball in the centre and sending it through
to Kidd, who then beat a defender and coolly and calmly also beat the Genesis ‘keeper.
Her second came as a result of Niamh Rochford and Martha Dunne applying excellent pressure on the Genesis hit-outs, forcing an error.
The ball, along with many players, was roaming around deep in the Genesis circle where Kidd found it and pushed it into the goal.
Her final goal was well-worked further out the pitch by Aine O’Brien passing the ball up the line to Kelly, who found Kidd in the circle where she secured the hat-trick.
Towards the end of the final quarter a spirited Genesis continued to attack, but a solid Enniscorthy performance enabled them to win 6-0 and remain five points clear at the top of the table, thanks to the postponement of Our Lady’s versus Trinity College.
Squad: Norah McGinty, Laura Smith, Julie Watchorn, Aoife Mahon, Leah Chapman, Rebecca Ogilvie, Niamh Ogilvie, Ciara Kelly, Deané Lodewyks, Martha Dunne, Leah Kidd, Niamh Rochford, May Wickham.
There was disappointment for the men’s second eleven as they fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat on Sunday at the hands of Dublin University in the Leinster Minor Cup at Santry.
Squad: Glen Rothwell, Robin Doyle, Mick Jordan, Andrew Rothwell, Seamus McAllister, Jack Doran, Cian Hogan, Jack Tully, Graeme Chapman, Chris St. Clair Johnson, Leo Durnan, William Durnan.
A number of matches fell foul of the weather across Leinster, including the ladies’ seconds encounter away to Portrane in Division 11, and the first/ second class and third/fourth class girls’ blitzes, all due to be held on Saturday. Dates have yet to be re-fixed.
Enniscorthy girls’ D1A (Under-16) side welcomed Dublin’s Loreto 1 to Enniscorthy on Sunday for the quarter-final of the Junior Jacqui Potter Cup.
Enniscorthy started well and had Loreto under pressure several times in the first quarter, but Loreto turned the tables in the second quarter and put a lot of pressure on which was well defended.
The first-half, though, was scoreless.
In the third quarter Enniscorthy scored from play, with Sadhbh Ryan passing to Ava Chamney who finished off the move.
In the final quarter Loreto managed to equalise and sent the match to the dreaded penalty shuttles.
In a dramatic shoot-out, Loreto went first, with Kate Freeman saving. Saturday’s hat-trick heroine Leah Kidd then scored for Enniscorthy.
Freeman then saved Loreto’s second shot, but Abbie Byrne had Enniscorthy’s second shot saved.
Both sides then traded goals, with Rebecca Ogilvie scoring for the hosts. Freeman then saved Loreto’s fourth shot before Ava Chamney’s effort secured the win on a 3-1 scoreline.
Enniscorthy are now in the semi-final to be played on February 2, with the opposition and location to be confirmed later.
Squad: Beibhinn O’Brien, Abbie Byrne, Amy Murphy, Ava Chamney, Kate Freeman, Laura Sutton, Rebecca Ogilvie, Holly Bolger, Jacqui Kehoe, Ríona Mahon, Eva Rothwell, Leah Morris, Sadhbh Ryan.
The Under-16 boys travelled to Ballinteer on Sunday for the quarter-final of the Benny Atkinson Cup against a strong Y.M.C.A. team.
Less than ten minutes in, Y.M.C.A. scored, but three minutes later a penalty corner for the visitors resulted in a goal from the stick of Ross Wallace.
However, that was as good as it got for Enniscorthy as the Y piled on the pressure, with Adam Hill in the visiting goal forced into a number of saves before the hosts regained the lead, this time from a penalty corner.
Worse was to follow for the Wexford lads, with Y.M.C.A. 4-1 up at half-time. After the interval the goals continued to pour in despite some stout defensive work, with the Dubliners qualifying for the semi-finals on an 8-1 scoreline.
Squad: Adam Hill, Ross Wallace, Andrew Stewart, Andrew Graham, Wayne Sutton, Marcus Wallace, Stephen Hendy, Dylan Hendy, Craig Bailey, Jack Tully, Aaron Lett, Evan Williamson, Billy Walshe, Niall Kehoe.
The Under-12 boys were at home to Suttonians on Sunday.
It was a good performance overall, with Ross Warren, Aaron Bailey and Leo James doing well in defence and William Hawkins strong up front.
A goal in the last minute to Sutton made it 3-3 at the finish. Scorers were Colin Hill (two) and Harry Simmons.
Squad: Eoin Power, Dylan Tully, Leo James, Aaron Bailey, Tom Waugh, Oisín Harte, Ross Warren, Harry Simmons, Bruno Kalis, Colin Hill, William Hawkins, Rickardt Lodewyks, Axel Rolston.