CLUB CALL
WICKLOW ROVERS
The senior men travelled to Berryfield to take on Enniskerry YC in an all Wicklow tussle in the Leinster Senior League last Friday night.
With both teams only separated by three points in the table with Rovers ahead in the standings this was going to be a very important encounter with both sides harbouring hopes of promotion.
Wicklow came flying out of the traps with two goals in the space of a minute just after the ten minute mark.
On 11 minutes, Tommy Kelly fired Rovers in front with his second of the season, a minute later the scoring machine Gareth Murphy made it 2-0 which now means he has found the back of the net in all of Rovers last ten games.
After 25 minutes the home team got themselves back in the match when they halved the deficit. Rovers went in at the break 2-1 in front.
The next goal in the second period was always going to be crucial and it was Rovers who supplied it with young Ciaran McGettigan nabbing his ninth goal in seven games to put Rovers in the driving seat.
Rovers rounded off a very impressive victory with an injury time penalty from Gareth Murphy for his second of the game to put a dent in the home sides promotion hopes while putting themselves very much in the promotion mix up.
This was a competitive game with the difference been that Wicklow were more clinical in front of goal to run out 4-1 winners.
Next up for Rovers is a fourth round Leinster Junior Cup tussle with Ayrfield United in Whitegates next Friday night.
Both our under-17 teams come into direct opposition to each other in the Wicklow District Youth League.
The As took on the Bs in what turned out to be a very entertaining inter club derby.
The game was played under lights at Whitegates and it was the B side who made the brighter start.
The Bs created the clearer cut chances in the first half as they had the A’s defence in disarray on several occasions.
They rattled the woodwork twice and had a couple of good chances cleared off the line.
Just before the break the Bs took a deserved lead when Nathan Wynne slotted home to send the B’s in at the break 1-0 in front.
If the first half belonged to the B team it was the complete opposite in the second period with the As taking control of the match pushing their club mates back.
The As were well on top in the second half and it was no surprise when Luke Whyte hooked in an effort to level proceedings and then popped up with a second shortly after to make it 2-1 to the As.
The As were reduced to ten men when one of their players harshly received a second yellow card for taking a quick free kick.
This seemed to spur them on and they sealed the points when Jack Colaluca coolly dispatched the ball over the advanced keeper from thirty five yards.
The As ran out 3-1 winners but this was a game that was in the balance for a long time.
Both sets of players were a credit to themselves and the club as the game was played out in great spirit with not one bad challenge through out the whole ninety minutes, well done to both sets of players.
The under-14 girls welcomed Enniskerry to Whitegates on Sunday morning for their first game in six weeks.
The squad were missing several players through illness and a couple that arrived, were only over the same.
This allowed for several positional changes and some squad members to get valuable game time.
Enniskerry arrived in strength and both teams looked forward to a challenging game. Enniskerry scored first on four minutes and followed up with goals on 16 and 20 minutes to leave the half-time score 0-3.
Rovers regrouped at half-time and during the second half produced an excellent defensive performance with goalkeeper Abi Smith and her back four fighting hard to achieve a second half clean sheet.
Some nice football through midfield allowed the Rovers front line create a couple of chances that the visiting keeper did well to save.
To the credit of both sides the game was very keenly contested throughout and the final result of 0-3 undervalues the development lessons the players got today. The girls would like to thank everyone who came to support them.
Our Last Man Standing competition is back, our second competition of the season starts on the weekend of February 10.
If you are interested in taking part and putting your knowledge of the premiership to the test against other players in pursuit of the €500 prize you can contact Charlie Mitchell 086-3838362, Johnny Dunne 087-7802098, Jimmy Nolan 087-9108706, any committee member, any club member or contact us on our Facebook page.
The entry fee to take part in the competition is €10, please if you are taking part get your name in as early as possible, thank you.
BRAY WANDERERS
Lotto draw - There was no jackpot winner on January 28. Numbers drawn were 5, 16, 17, and 27. €30 lucky dip winners were Breda Mulhall c/o Hibo, Richie Purdy c/o Bray Lakers, Treasa Kavanagh c/o V. Walsh, Antoin Delap c/o Hibo, M. Duffy c/o BW on line. Next jackpot is €8,200.
Fixtures - Bray Wanderers will play St. Patrick’s Athletic in the fourth round of the Leinster Senior Cup on Sunday, February 4. Kick off at the Carlisle Grounds is 4.00pm.
Season Tickets – Bray Wanderers 2018 season tickets are now on sale from our online stoe. This season will see the introduction of excellent value family season tickets alongside regular season tickets.
Those under the age of 14 will now come under the child category. Prices for the 2018 season are: Adults €210, student/concession €130, family season tickets are one adult and two children €210, one senior citizen and two children €130, two adults and four children €420.
Season tickets are valid for all home league games and pre-season friendlies.
Tickets can be ordered on line at www.braywanderersfc.ie/ tickets. Bray Wanderers begin their league season with an away game against Dundalk on Friday, February 16.
The first home league game of the season is on Friday, February 23, against St. Patrick’s Athletic.
For all the latest club news visit our web site www.braywanderersfc.ie.
NEWTOWN JUNIORS
Five of our teams were again in Futsal action last weekend and all five team played very well.
Our under-9 Black team played on Saturday morning and did very well in their three games, getting wins against St. Anthony’s and Greystones before losing narrowly to Shillelagh.
Their squad was Leighton Byrne, Albie Chance, Oisin Duffy, Ryan McDonald, JV Kelly, John Turley, Alex Ryan and Lucas Dowdall.
The under-9 Red team were next up and they played two games, a narrow defeat to St. Anthony’s and a fine win over Coolboy Rangers.
On the day, six players who participated got on the scoresheet and they were David McCormack (7), Gerry Hoban (2), Kayla Hamilton, Tyler Doyle, Aaron Nolan and Bobby Spillane.
Our under-11 Red team were playing in Arklow and while they suffered defeat to Ashford Rovers they bounced back to secure a narrow win over Shillelagh.
The squad on the day and goals in brackets were Aidan Heffernan (3), Sebastian Anton (1), Ryan Collins (1), William Valentine, Frank Lang and Luke Turley.
Our under-11 Black team got the better of Coolboy Rangers before going down to Enniskerry in their games in Aughrim.
Cormac Chance and Jake Robertson shared the Newtown goals while the rest of the squad were Cillian Coffey, Dylan Dunleavy, PJ Duffy and for the day they were also helped out by Oisin Duffy and Albie Chance.
Finally, our under-13s were in Aughrim last Sunday where they won and lost two of their three games.
Their squad and goals in brackets were Jack Coughlan (3), Aaron Cawley (3), Padraig Gammell (1), Keira Farrelly (1) and Aaron Hackett. Well done to all the players who played the Futsal but it was disappointing to have a lot of players pulling out of playing at the last minute and some did so without even contacting their respective coaches.
Please remember that the coaches are volunteers and give up their time free, time others wouldn’t even dream of giving but at the end of the day all the teams got their games played.
The following are next week’s WDSL Futsal fixtures for Saturday and Sunday, February 3 and 4:
Under-9 Black team in Arklow on Sunday - 12-2pm.
Under-9 Red team in Aughrim on Sunday - 10am-12pm.
Under-11 Red team in Newtown on Saturday - 12-2pm.
Under-11 Black team in Arklow on Sunday - 2-4pm.
Under-13 team in Newtown on Saturday - 2-4pm.
For any information regards the Futsal please contact our secretary, Hughie, at 087 6987653/ hughienolan@gmail.com.
No outdoor action now until mid-February when the season will recommence with our 12s and 14s playing their two legged finals as a curtain raiser to the official calendar season.
The finals will be two-legged with the first leg being played the weekend of February 10 and 11, while the second leg will take place the weekend of February 17 and 18.
The under-12s will be up against Sporting Greystones with the first leg away while the 14s will be up against Glencormac United and their first leg will also be away.
Our teams will be back in training very soon. All respective team coaches will inform all players in due course, so don’t forget please communicate.
There are a couple of slots on all our teams at the moment. If there are any girls or boys who would like to join the club, please contact our secretary Hughie at 087 6987653.
Also in a new venture by the WDSL they have started a girls academy for all girls playing in the league or girls who are not a member of a club or team.
Our club has a number of girls involved at the moment and last weekend Kacey Kelly (under-10) and Keira Farrelly (under-13) donned the county jersey last weekend.
Well done girls and no doubt the other girls in the club will do likewise in the weeks ahead.
For further information please contact our secretary Hughie at 087 6987653/hughienolan@ gmail.com.
Our latest Last Man Standing competition kicked off last weekend and we had for the very first time a total of 100 players at the starting line, but after Swansea caused a shock in the Monday night football by beating Liverpool 1-nil we now have 70 players left standing going into Week 2.
Fixtures for Week 2 will be for the weekend of Saturday to Monday, February 3 to 5. Many thanks everyone.
We have no players celebrating a birthday this week but our development squad/under-10s coach Lauren Nolan celebrated her birthday last weekend. Happy birthday, Lauren, from everyone at Newtown Juniors F.C.
On a sadder note, everyone in the club would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Eileen Quinn McDonald (nee Clare) of Season Park who sadly passed away last weekend.
For further information on all matters Newtown Juniors F.C. please contact the secretary at 087 6987653 or by email to hughienolan@gmail.com and you can also follow the club on our Facebook and Twitter pages.