WICKLOW ROVERS
Our senior ladies took on Firhouse Carmel in the Whitegates last week in what proved to be a highly entertaining game with both sides playing some attractive football.
Rovers were first to threaten when Rachel Bolger fired narrowly wide after two minutes. A minute later Rovers went in front when Niamh O’Brien raced onto a through ball to coolly slot the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
On the quarter hour mark the away side levelled matters when they fired home in a crowded goalmouth scramble.
It was 1-1 and all to play for, both sides had half chances to go in front but neither side could capitilise. After thirty minutes Niamh O’Brien notched number two with a copy cat finish of the opening goal to make it 2-1.
A minute later it could have been three when Louise Johnson put Rachel Bolger in but she was denied by the keeper.
Five minutes before the break Natasha Fitzgerald put the “goal machine” Bolger in on goal who clinically finished with a neat lob over the keeper for her 13th goal of the season to send the girls in 3-1 up at the break.
The second half saw the away side make the early running putting Rovers under severe pressure. The back four of Anne O’Neill, Saoirse O’Reilly, Louise Johnson and Nicolle Hubbard were excellent and were in no mood to be breached.
When they did find away past the Rovers rearguard they found Charmaine Higgins in the Rovers goal in inspired form topped off by a top class save on 54 minutes to push the ball away at full stretch to preserve a two goal cushion for the girls.
With 15 minutes remaining Hannah Cox out on the right sent Niamh O’Brien away on the right, O’Brien won the race with the last defender and then coolly rounded the keeper to tap home Rovers fourth and complete her hat-trick on the night to bring her tally for the season to nine.
Firhouse scored their second with four minutes left with a fierce shot from the left side of the area. Rovers saw out the remainder of the game to run out 4-2 winners in what was a highly entertaining and sporting encounter. Every player played their part in a very good win, on the night Charmaine Higgins in the Rovers goal was excellent, the rearguard of Anne O’Neill, Saoirse O’Reilly, Louise Johnson and Nicolle Hubbard were rock solid with Natasha Fitzgerald on the left side of midfield been very effective when defending and attacking.
A special mention goes to Anna Doyle who came on and made two very important interceptions. Overall it was a tremendous team display from the girls. Also well done to team manager Mandy O’Neill who is putting in such great work and giving a lot of time to the girl’s team.
Due to popular demand and our highly successful summer football /fun camp the club have decided to hold an extra week before the kids head back to school. The camp will run from Monday, August 15 to Friday, August 19 in the Whitegates, it will run from 10am to 2pm daily. The camp is open to kids from 4 years old to 13 years old. Every participant will receive a ball and medal. The cost of the camp is €45. Each participant should bring a packed lunch, drink, rain jacket, football boots and shin guards. For registration forms or further information please contact Johnny Dunne 087-7802098, Robbie Dover 087-3621049 or any committee member.
The club are currently seeking a manager for our under 15A’s, anyone interested in the position should contact club secretary Rob Free at 085-8153424, alternatively anyone interested in the position can privately message the club on our club Facebook page.
Its back, the club’s Last Man Standing competition is back. With the Premiership season due to kick off on Saturday, August 13, the club have decided to bring back our popular Last Man Standing competition. The competition will start on the weekend of Friday, September 16.
This will give our participants a chance to see how teams are faring in the early weeks of the season before they make their first selection.
Registration forms will be sent out to all club members in the coming weeks, competition is open to everyone, members and non-members.
Anyone interested in entering the competition can do so by contacting any committee member, club member or privately messaging our club Facebook page. Entry fee is €10 with the winner claiming the €500 prize fund. Why not have a go, test your premiership knowledge and if things go your way you could claim the €500 prize fund. A full list of rules can be viewed on our club website at www.wicklowrovers.com.
Anyone with information for the club notes or the club website can contact me at 087 9108706 or e-mail me at jimmy. nolan09@hotmail.com.
For all news regarding the club, check out the club website at www.wicklowrovers.com or the club facebook page.