CLUB CALL
The senior men kept their winning run going when they claimed all three points in a good 6-3 victory at the weekend.
They made the long journey to take on Portlaoise AFC and turned in an impressive display. Luke Byrne netted a brace with Gareth Murphy, Adam Cox, Ciaran McGettigan and Jim Foley all scoring one a piece.
This win sees them close the gap on the leaders and with games in hand it’s very much in their own hands to have a title tilt.
Our newly formed second team which will be competing in the division one of the Wicklow League kicked of their new season on Sunday.
It’s a very young side with a sprinkle of experienced players and their first game was against a much more experienced Wicklow Town side.
It proved to be an exciting local derby in which the Town won 3-2, the lads will probably feel they should have taken something from the game as they did have several chances.
Luca Rampersaud found the back of net with two goals in a game that was a good introduction to senior football for this young side.
The under-12Bs made it back to back wins when they defeated Greystones United at Whitegates. In what was a tight, evenly contested game a lone Evan Conyard goal ended up the only thing that separated the two sides. The lads have now recorded two wins from three games in group 2.
Our under-15 girls were involved in a six-goal cup thriller when extra time failed to give us a winner. Rovers ladies drew 3-3 with Lakelands in what was a cracking quarter-final cup tie. Aoife Caffrey gave Rovers the lead early in the second half but they were pegged back when the visitors scored a deserved equaliser. This just seem to spur the girls on, and they responded with a goal from Molly Sweeney and a second of the game from Aoife Caffrey to race into a 3-1 lead.
This cup tie served up twists and turns galore and Lakelands came roaring back with two goals of their own with the leveler coming deep into injury time. Extra-time failed to produce a winner and it was on to the dreaded penalty shootout. Abi Smith produced three excellent saves from the spot kicks and Rovers ran out winners 5-4 on penalties to progress to the semi-final.
Congratulations to our under-13As who created a bit of club history recently, the lads added the DDSL Saturday ‘A’ league title to the Gerry Murphy Cup they won earlier in the season to become the first team in the club to win a DDSL double. They also were runners up in the Lions Club sponsored All Ireland Cup going down to Tullamore Town in Dalymount Park recently. All in all, the lads have had a very successful season and their management team of Keith Earls, Stephen Earls and Danny Earls must be over the moon with their first season in the DDSL.
Our Last Man Standing competition is still rumbling on, the weekend saw us complete round 9 and an intriguing head to head battle between Mark O’Neill and Jason Tallant continues. Mark’s selection Crystal Palace obliged for him on Saturday when they beat Burnley 2-0 and he must have been thinking he had one hand on the Last Man Standing title.
Jason went with Chelsea and their 2-0 London derby victory against Fulham ensures we will be moving on to round 10. Everyone at the club would like to wish both Mark and Jason the very best of luck in round ten. Once again, a big thanks to everyone who supported our Last Man Standing competition, your continuous support is very much appreciated.
The club’s weekly junior soccer academy continues every Saturday morning (weather permitting) under the watchful eye of senior club coach Johnny Dunne. The academy takes place on the all-weather pitch on the club grounds at Whitegates and is open to all kids from the age of three years to eight years.
The academy starts at 11am and finishes at 12. There is no need for registration so you can come along to any week that suits.
Come along and learn the skills of football while have fun and enjoyment, it’s a great way of meeting new friends as you learn the skills as you get prepared for the introduction to participate in organised league football in the coming years.
Anyone with anything for our club notes, Facebook page, club website or our weekly online newsletter can contact me by email at jimmy.nolan09@hotmail.com or by text at 087-9108706.
For all news regarding the club, check out our club website at www. wicklowrovers.com or view our club Facebook page.
NEWTOWN JUNIORS
Some of our teams have entered the WDSL Futsal competi- tions which will take place over the weekends of 8th/9th and 15th/16th December. There will also be Futsal days in January and February.
The following are the details on the Futsal we have at present:
Session/slots will take no more than two hours. In the 8s and 9s section last weekend in Aughrim our under-8s started out with a 2-0 win over Enniskerry, followed by a 5-1 reverse against St. Pats of Avoca before ending on the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller against Arklow United. Well done to all the players, Bobby Spillane, Gerry Hoban, Aaron Nolan, Nathan Donohoe, David McCormack and Rory Breslin.
The under-9s drew 1-1 with Coolboy Rangers, lost 2-0 to Arklow United and won 3-0 over an All-Star team. Well done to the players, Ryan McDonald, John Turley, Alex Ryan, JV Kelly, Sean Miranda, Oisin Duffy and Leon O’Connor.
Upcoming Futsal fixtures are as follows:
Under-8s/Under-9s (players born in 2009/2010) - Under-8 team on Saturday, December 15 from 2-4pm in Newtown; Under-9 team on Saturday, December 15 from 12-2pm in Newtown.
Under-10s (players born in 2008) - Under-10 Black team on Saturday, December 8 from 10am12pm in Aughrim and Sunday, December 16 in Aughrim from 122pm; Under-10 Red team on Saturday, December 8 from 12-2pm in Newtown and Sunday, December 16 from 2-4pm in Aughrim.
Under-11s (players born in 2007) - Under-11 team on Saturday, December 8 from 2-4pm in Newtown and Sunday, December 16 from 2-4pm in Newtown.
(Dates and KO times are subject to change).
Our ever-popular Development Squad has started back and will continue every weekend from 10am until 11am (indoors) and new players are always welcome. The cost is €3 per head. Due to the lack of space in the surrounds of the sports hall it may not be possible for all parents to view training inside the playing area.
Also, due to the large numbers attending, any players failing to attend for a number of weeks without communicating with the coaches may have to wait until spaces in the squad become available again.
At the moment we have a large number of boys and girls attending each week and thankfully at the moment we have the required coaches needed but we wouldn’t say no to a few more volunteer coaches. If you think you can give an hour or two each week, please contact our secretary at the contact details below.
Three players from the club will celebrate a birthday around this time and they are Finn Heffernan from the Academy team, Max Synnott from the under-12s and Reece Gaynor from the under-14s. Happy birthday to all three from everyone at Newtown Juniors F.C.
By the time you read this section we may have a winner of our Last Man Standing competition.
Our Last Man Standing competition will go into a ninth week after both our remaining players Marie McGuirk and Peter Heffernan had selected Crystal Palace in Week 8 and they duly obliged with a 2-0 home win over Burnley.
Fixtures for Week 9 will be for the midweek fixtures of Tuesday, December 4, and Wednesday, December 5. The Prize Pot for the competition is €550. The very best of luck to our remaining two players. All selections must be in on or before 7pm on Tuesday, December 4. Thank you everyone for your continued support. You can keep updated with the progress of our competition and the rules on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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.
AVONMORE FC
Another huge performance by our under-12A team today as they travelled to Greystones in the last of their shield matches.
Unbeaten in this competition the lads were determined to keep their winning streak alive.
Gavin in goals had a busy afternoon as Greystones pressed time and time again, but man of the match Oscar Dowling settled his back line and the lads soon found their feet.
Constant pressure saw us hit the crossbar and some great keeping from the Greystones shotstopper ensured it was nil all at the break.
Paddy Harper and Kian Fluskey in midfield were immense while Ethan Tarmey supplied some excellent crosses from the wing.
It was from one of these crosses that Kian Fluskey finally broke the deadlock and put one past the Greystones goalie.
Leighton Doran worked tirelessly in defence and we held on for a well deserved win.
Nail-biting game, lads, well done to all.
BRAY WANDERERS
Lotto draw - There was no jackpot winner on December 2. Numbers drawn were 2, 8, 14 and 16.
€30 lucky dip winners were Olivia Hartney c/o Charlie Kavanagh, Michael Caulfield c/o M. Caulfield, Patrick O’Brien c/o St. Joseph’s Boys FC.
Next jackpot is €10,775. You can play the Bray Wanderers Lotto online through our website.
Club shop – The club shop will be open in the Carlisle Grounds from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Many price reductions on Nike gear.
2019 Season - The 2019 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division will begin on Friday, February 15, while Bray Wanderers will kick off their First Division campaign a week later on Friday, February 22. The mid-season break will take place from Saturday, June 15 through to Thursday, June 27.
The EA SPORTS Cup Final will be played on Saturday, September 14 with the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final on Sunday, November 3.
The official fixture list for the 2019 season will be released on Wednesday, December 19.
For the latest club news visit our website at www.braywanderersfc.ie.