CLUB CALL
WICKLOW ROVERS
The senior men exited the Leinster Junior cup when they lost 4-2 to Maynooth Town University at Whitegates.
The sides were scoreless after a dull first half. Rovers went in front after 57 minutes when Jim Foley coolly slotted home from the penalty spot. The away team responded with three quick fire goals to give Rovers a mountain to climb.
To their credit even after been reduced to ten men they battled back, and young Ryan Corrigan brought Rovers back into it but it was short lived as the away side broke upfield and hit Rovers with a sucker punch goal to seal the deal. Rovers did have chances, but it wasn’t to be on the day.
Midweek junior action saw the under-11’s defeat local rivals Rathnew in the Under-12 Premier League on Tuesday night. The lads went 2-0 up thanks to goals from James Majewski and Conor Williams. The visitors pulled one back early in the second half before Conor Williams restored Rovers two goal cushion. Finn Dunne capped off an excellent Rovers performance when he got on the end of a Steven Kavanagh cross with the fourth to give the lads a well-deserved 4-1 win.
On Saturday, our under-11s lost 4-0 to a very good Arklow Town A team in the Under-12 Premier League. The lads gave a hundred percent but the Arklow lads were too strong on the day. The 12As lost 3-1 to Arklow Town A in the first round of the SFAI Cup. This was the lads first competitive 11 v 11 game, after trailing 2-0 Harri Armstrong halved the deficit but they couldn’t find a way past a resolute Arklow defence for the equaliser.
In the dying seconds the lads were hit on the break as Arklow nabbed a third to seal the tie.
The 13As were involved in a seven-goal thriller with their closest title rivals Marks Celtic. Unfortunately for the lads they lost out 4-3 in a cracking advertisement for football. Louis Malcolmson, Oscar Malcolmson and Stephen Gormley fired home the Rovers goals. What this result means is both sides are tied at the top with Rovers having played a game more so it’s all to play for.
The 15As suffered a setback in their quest for the league title when they went down to St Mochtas losing 4-1. The lads never really got going in this game, Ryan Hanlon scored the lone Rovers goal.
Sunday’s action saw an understrength 13Bs gain a splendid three points when they won 4-0 away against Arklow Utd A. Goals from Eoin Cleary, Tom Phelan, Ruairi Jenkinson and Ben Bowen laid the foundations for an excellent performance from the lads.
A special mention for Eoin Kennedy and Evan Conyard from the 12Bs who were impressive when they helped the lads out.
Our 14As recorded an excellent 3-1 away win over Glencormac, Callum Gibney set them on their way with a sweet strike. The homes side levelled matters but Rovers took a grip on the game with further goals from Conor Hunter and Jordan Younger. Tom Hodgkinson put in a man of the match performance at the base of the Rovers midfield. A special mention for Brioc Doyle who returned after an injury layoff.
The 14Bs went down to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Newtown Juniors. They had the chances to get something from the game, but the away side were more clinical in front of goal. Ruadhrai Kelly and Alexander Gallet hit the back of the net for Rovers.
Our under-15 girls produced a magnificent performance when they beat St Itas 9-3 away from home. Molly Sweeney slammed home an amazing six goal double hat-trick, Justine Cronin helped herself to a brace with Aoife Caffrey netting a single in a fantastic all-round squad performance from the girls. The 15B’s suffered a heavy defeat to Roundwood. It was certainly a bad day at the office for the lads, they need to confine this to the history books and come back stronger from it.
Our Last Man Standing competition kicked off at the weekend. Going into week one we had 143 players dreaming of capturing the bragging rights of Last Man Standing champion and the €500 prize. Going into week two we are left with 101 players still in the mix. Liverpool (33), Manchester City (31), Leicester (22), Arsenal (7), Tottenham (6) and Burnley (2) all proved successful for their supporters. Unfortunately for the 42 players who made their exit from the competition it was Manchester United (20), Bournemouth (7), Chelsea (6), Crystal Palace (4), Watford (4) and Newcastle (1) who failed to win letting their backers down. The club would like to thank everyone for supporting our Last Man Standing competition and we wish all 101 players remaining the very best of luck in the remainder of the competition.
BRAY BOWLS
There was drama aplenty at the Bray Bowling Club championship finals that took place over the weekend. Two singles matches got underway beneath the Saturday morning drizzle. There was something of an upset in the ladies 2-bowl when Terrie McKeon beat the holder and more experienced bowler, Breeda Keogh. In the men’s handicap, Patrick Brosnan looked like repeating the trick against Brian Walshe, but the veteran gradually imposed himself on the game and eventually cruised to victory.
The day dried up by the afternoon for the mixed triples final featuring John Reynolds, Jean Kane and Gabriel Cahill against John Dunne, Terrie McKeon and Patrick Brosnan. (Several members had reached more than one final.) The appreciative crowd were treated to a tight match with neither team able to build a clear lead over the other.
That all changed in the penultimate end when international bowler, Jean Kane, played a super shot to dislodge her opponents’ bowl, leaving only her own team’s bowls in the head. There was now a 6-shot gap between the teams, too much for John Dunne’s side to come back from.
A cold, sunny Sunday morning was the backdrop for the men’s 4-bowl pairs final with John Dunne and Aidan Galvin playing the club’s longest-serving player, Tommy Cahill, and one of its newest, Niall Shelley. Niall had just got off a plane from Portugal in the wee hours of the morning, but those Bohemians lads are made of stern stuff and he was ready for the fight from the off. However, it was the pairing of Dunne/Galvin that was to prevail in a good match.
The final afternoon was a busy one with three matches kicking off at 2.30pm. In the men’s two bowl singles, Niall Shelley had to overcome any tiredness he might have felt to face the new handicap champion, Brian Walshe. In a close match the new man-made Brian work hard but by the end the veteran had claimed his second title of the weekend.
Still it is a fantastic achievement by Niall to reach two club finals despite having less than a year’s bowling experience. The ladies two bowl pairs pitted Terrie McKeon and Liz McCarthy against the more experienced pairing of Betty Keogh and Marge O’Leary. Experience won out in this case with Keogh/O’Leary winning by a comfortable margin.
Credit to Terrie who had reached three club finals (and won one) whilst still a relative newcomer. The men’s 2-bowl pairs saw Colm Heaslip and Aidan Galvin take on rising star, Peter Gough, and Nick Howlett. On paper this was a hard one to call but in the event Gough and Howlett won it comfortably. Peter is also quite new to the game but has made rapid progress this year.
The final two matches were the most prestigious: the men’s and women’s (singles) championship finals. Current trophy holders, Breeda Keogh and Christy McEvoy, would take on Peg O’Toole and John Dunne respectively. In her match Peg went on a ferocious tear from the off.
Using short jacks, she got to within a single shot of victory before Breeda even got on the scoreboard. Then Breeda used long jacks to claw her way back into the game.
However, she had left herself too much work to do and it took only one good end from Peg to clinch victory 21-9. In the men’s match, Christy and John shadowed one another’s scores for a long time until Christy gradually pulled away with his clinical draw shots. He retained his crown with a 21-11 score.
At the awards ceremony, club president, Aidan Galvin, thanked Roddy O’ Leary and Owen Byrne for organising the competitions. He praised the Ladies’ section for their work in providing meals and refreshments. The umpires were also appreciated for their officiating of the singles matches. Now the club looks forward to next Sunday, the 30th, our Summer Closing Day.
Finally, this week’s club lotto champion is Colm Heaslip.
BRAY WANDERERS
Lotto draw - There was no jackpot winner on September 23. Numbers drawn were 1, 4, 10 and 29. €30 lucky dip winners were Stephen McGuire c/o Bray Wanderers, Mary Marmion c/o Charlie Kavanagh, Sam O’Sullivan c/o Charlie Kavanagh.
Next jackpot is €10,275. Lotto tickets are on sale in the club shop at all home games and you can also play the Bray Wanderers lotto online through our website.
Fixtures - Bray Wanderers next game is away to Sligo Rovers on Saturday, October 6, in the Premier division. Kick off at the Showgrounds is 7.45pm.
Match Tickets - To beat the queue’s on match night supporters can be purchase Bray Wanderers match tickets in advance online at http://braywanderersfc. ie/tickets-info/.
Underage teams - The under-19s had no game this weekend. Their next game is away to Cabinteely on Saturday, September 29, in Kilternan pitches. Kick-off is 2.00pm.
The under-17s were defeated 2-1 away to Cabinteely in Kilernan on Saturday. Cabinteely went ahead after just seven minutes when Jem Camion scored. Cian Maher equalized on 33 minutes. Villus Labutis scored the winner on 78 minutes for Cabinteely.
The under-17s are in third place in the Elite Southern division with one game remaining and have qualified for the league play offs.
Their next game is at home to UCD on Saturday, September 29. Kick-off is 2.00pm at the Academy Grounds in Carrickmines.
The under-15s defeated Galway United 4-0 in phase 2 of the under-15 league at the Carlisle grounds on Sunday.
Darragh Lynch opened the scoring in the 43th minute when his strike went in off the post. Lynch added a second on 63 minutes from the penalty spot. Billy Vance added the third from close range in the 67th minute. Darragh Lynch completed his hat trick on 73 minutes when he ran clear and lifted the ball over Curtis in the Galway goal.
Their next game is away to Cork City on Sunday, September 30. Kick-off is 2.00pm in Bishopstown..
Please note that fixtures and dates are subject to change.
Supporters bus to Sligo - The next away game is on Saturday, October 6, to Sligo Rovers. The Supporters Club bus will depart from the Carlisle Grounds at 2.30pm. Prices are €20 for adults, €15 for students. To book a seat please call or text 087 9968969.
Golden Goal - The golden goal in the game against Limerick FC was scored in the 18th minute. The winner was Alin Muntean who won €60.
For the latest club news visit our web site at http://braywanderersfc.ie.