CLUB CALL
GOREY TENNIS
The second round of Donal’s winter league was played on Sunday, November 4, and 26 players took part in the competition.
Results – Under-10: 1, Senan Power; 2, Frank Breslin; 3, Brian O’Toole; Over-10: 1, Darragh O’Toole; 2, Dearbhail Loughran; 3, Luca Clopin.
We also had a competition for best Halloween costume, and the winners were Aideen Geraghty and Sofia Carey. Both were presented with Donal’s vouchers.
Our next monthly tournament – round three of Donal’s winter league – will be on Sunday, December 2, at 2 p.m. We hope to see you all there.
Thanks to Jamie Stafford for organising the tournament, to Donal’s for continued sponsorship, and to all who helped on the day.
Tennis coaching for November is available, with more details at jsta.ie
SLANEY SHARKS
Slaney Sharks took a bite out of the new swimming season which began with a splash with the Asgard round robin. Excellent times were achieved across all events, with our members completing a total of 57 swims.
This gala was the first for a number of our swimmers, with our club growing in numbers again this year and gaining a total of 13 new members. We would like to welcome all our new members and wish them every success in achieving their swimming goals.
This gala was closely followed by the Wexford Harvest Gala. Twelve swimmers represented Slaney Sharks, undertaking 28 swims and achieving 21 P.B’s. This was a great achievement at a very busy gala, so well done to all.
Asgard was the site for 18 podium finishes by Slaney Sharks over the weekend of October 27 and 28. Seventeen Sharks attended the gala, with the Dempsey brothers posting six P.B’s between them.
Fleur Gillot finished on the podium with a first place in the girls’ 100 I.M., posting a 2.46-second P.B.
Ava Nolan also made it into the medals with a total of six podium finishes over the two-day gala.
To round up the first term of swimming, four qualifying Sharks attended the Leinster short course championships in the National Aquatic Centre on the first weekend in November.
Our four swimmers achieved nine P.B’s, with Holly Furlong placing ninth overall in the 11-15 girls’ 400 I.M., posting an 8.85-second P.B.
Our coaches would like to thank all our swimmers for their dedication and commitment in attending training and galas. All your hard work is paying off and we wish you the best for the rest of the season.
S.B.R. A.C.
We are pleased to announce that Billy Harpur added to his National Marathon Championship bronze with a Leinster silver medal in the same event.
That is a fantastic achievement for Billy in his 29th consecutive Dublin Marathon. Eugene Doherty was awarded a well-deserved Leinster bronze for his race in Dublin two weeks ago as well.
On Sunday, Paul Gibbons was a star man for the Wexford cross-country team in the Leinster championships. Paul was the second Wexford man home behind county champion Ger Forde of Slaney Olympic and helped the Wexford team to a bronze medal. Well done Paul!
Ciara Bowe had a brilliant run at those Leinster cross-country championships, finishing a strong 25th overall in a very good field. Ciara was also the number two Wexford woman overall on a team which placed fifth overall. Well done Ciara!
Special congratulations as well to all the S.B.R. Juveniles who ran really well in wet conditions on Sunday.
On Saturday, Myles Gibbons was at the Carlow Parkrun where in familiar fashion he was first man home in a time of 18:28.
In the Gorey Parkrun, Niall O’Connor was a strong second overall in 18:51, and Claire Gibbons was the ninth female in 26:15.
All club results, fixtures and information available at www.sbrclub.com
GOREY HOCKEY
Saturday saw Gorey travel to Belfield to play their latest league match against U.C.D.
U.C.D. took push back, making some attacks up the wing. Gorey intercepted quickly and entered U.C.D’s circle, winning the first penalty corner.
Gorey failed to convert but quickly won a second corner. Pushing the ball out to the top of the circle to Sarah Merrigan, and then slipping the ball left, Nicola Ryan broke the deadlock with a well-struck shot.
U.C.D. re-started the game and sent the ball up the wing. Gorey’s Vicky Hughes made the tackle, winning a free out, but U.C.D. regained posession at the 25 and subsequently won their first penalty corner on the stroke of half-time.
Gorey’s defence held firm as U.C.D. tried to equalise. Gorey’s ’keeper, Fiona Mythen, made a crucial save, deflecting the ball out wide for a long corner, and it remained 1-0 at half-time.
Gorey started the second-half, working the ball up the wing, and entering U.C.D’s circle once more.
Winning a penalty corner, Gorey set up an excellent goal for Nicola Ryan, doubling the visitors’ lead to 2-0.
U.C.D. reset and retained possession well, winning three consecutive penalty corners. Saves from ’keeper Fiona Mythen and blocks from defenders Bridget Kenny and Gillian Bailey ensured Gorey kept their clean sheet.
A free out gave possession back to Gorey. After working the ball up field with some accurate passing, winger Muireann Deegan tried a direct shot on goal.
U.C.D’s goalie threw herself at the ball desperately trying to prevent another goal. Gorey gained another yet another penalty corner but didn’t convert.
With minutes left, U.C.D. took their hit out quickly but Gorey’s Robyn Swords intercepted the ball and ran towards goal.
Passing the ball across the face of the goal, Muireann Deegan was on hand to sweep it into the net, giving Gorey a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
Team: Fiona Mythen (capt.), Vicky Hughes, Bridget Kenny, Gillian Bailey, Corrina Bailey, Robyn Swords, Sarah Merrigan, Ruth Evans, Nicola Ryan (two), Ailbhe Booth, Muireann Deegan (one), Zoe Kenny, Odile Evans.
Gorey take on Trinity 5 in their next league fixture at home in Enniscorthy next weekend.
E’CORTHY HOCKEY
A rainy November Saturday saw the table-topping Enniscorthy ladies’ first XI travel to Rathdown School in Glenageary to take on Leinster Division 7 opponents Monkstown fifths.
After a one-week break, the Slaneysiders were eager to get back out on the pitch and build on their previous season wins, and what a performance they delivered.
With the home side taking first tip-off, the visitors weren’t long about turning over the ball and directing the play towards the goal. Minutes into the game, a clever intercept by right forward May Wickham enabled the visitors to attack the Monkstown circle, and constant attacks on the home goal were to be a feature throughout this one-sided encounter. Indeed, it was Wickham who opened the scoring after just five minutes.
The first penalty corner saw an opportunity for centre back and vice-captain Laura Smith to add to the opening score, and quick thinking from Smith when the attack broke down doubled the visitors’ lead.
Enniscorthy were certainly in better form than their last league performance, and had learned lessons from their narrow 1-0 win against Suttonians, with this game showcasing some superb skill and strong communication across the pitch.
The attack was particularly strong up the right-hand side, from right back Hannah Graham, through midfielder Ciara Kelly, meeting Wickham in the corner to drive down the baseline and in the direction of the opposition’s goal.
Goals followed from Ciara Kelly and Sonja Rynhart, followed by a score for Kilkenny College student Isabelle Walsh, making her adult debut for Enniscorthy.
A pass from Rynhart through two defenders to Walsh enabled her to put the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal. Shortly after, an own goal from Monkstown resulted from a deflection of an excellent crossfield pass from Laura O’Leary, and saw Enniscorthy coast comfortably into the second-half on a score of 6-0.
Forward Nancy Dunphy opened up the scoring in the second-half by sending a powerful shot sailing by the Monkstown ’keeper into the net.
Superb inter-linking play between midfielders and forwards, a hallmark of the first-half, continued into the second, with Niamh Ogilvie, Ciara Kelly and Isabelle Walsh finding O’Leary, Dunphy and Rynhart on numerous occasions.
Leah Chapman in centre midfield also played a pivotal role in transferring ball across the pitch, and changing direction to attack down the opposite channel. One such ball transfer met forward Rynhart, who entered the right side of the circle and capitalised on an opportunity by putting the ball past the ’keeper into the bottom left corner.
A rebound from a high shot by Kelly gave Dunphy another opportunity to add to the rising scoreline.
There was consistent attack from right-back Hannah Graham up the sideline and towards the circle, meeting Wickham, Kelly or Rynhart. The latter was finding plenty of space in the circle and netted another goal in the second-half.
Debutante Walsh showed excellent movement in the centre, out-letting the ball to the right and left, creating space and opportunities to attack down both channels. Rynhart again attacked the right baseline and across the goal. A sly reverse-stick flick left no chance for the home ’keeper.
Despite all the attacking play from the visiting side, the defence of Jessie Flood, Laura Smith, Julie Watchorn and Hannah Graham were active in recycling ball around the back of the pitch, and ’keeper Norah McGinty made an excellent save from a Monkstown counter-attack to keep a clean sheet.
Excellent work by Laura O’Leary attacking the baseline and into the goal resulted in another score on the board. Dunphy and Kelly finished off the game with another score each, totalling a hat-trick for Dunphy, and Enniscorthy headed down the M11 happy after a tremendous performance.
They look forward to their next league encounter against second-placed Muckross IV at home on November 24. Enniscorthy currently hold a seven-point advantage over the Donnybrook outfit, and crucially have a goal advantage of +34 after seven matches, compared to the Dubliners’ +7.
Squad: Norah McGinty, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith, Hannah Graham, Jessie Flood, Leah Chapman, Ciara Kelly, Niamh Ogilvie, May Wickham, Sonja Rynhart, Nancy Dunphy, Laura O’Leary, Isabelle Walsh. Coaches: Donal Doyle and Alan Smith. Manager: Jackie Wickham.
Enniscorthy’s ladies’ second XI took no points from their match against Bray at Temple Carraig School in Greystones as the home team’s centre forward, Rebecca Wall, hit a hat-trick.
The first leg of the three-timer was quickly cancelled out as Tara Somers pounced for an equaliser. However, Bray were back in front before half-time as super striker Wall got the better of Muireann Nic Corcráin and goalkeeper Alice Medcalf.
The hosts added a third shortly after the re-start through Nuala McGann before Mairéad Neville slapped home the ball as Enniscorthy made the most of a penalty corner with a well-worked set-piece routine.
However, Bray had the last laugh after Medcalf did well to deflect a fine shot on to her left-hand post, only for Wall to slot home the rebound.
Squad: Alice Medcalf, Amy Dalton, Bridget Gainford, Ciara Parnell, Ciara Yates, Ellen Rogan, Hannah Sweeney, Laura Redmond, Mairéad Neville, Muireann Nic Corcráin, Tara Somers, Áine O’Brien, Ellen Creed.
The ladies’ third XI find themselves second in the Sunday League as a brace from Lisa Frayne and a goal from Amy Murphy secured all three points at Loreto Kilkenny as Carlow II were beaten.
Frayne’s two crucial goals came in the second-half, Carlow having scored early on past kicking back Irene Doyle.
A second came on the brink of half-time to give the hosts the lead after Enniscorthy had scored from a penalty corner. Frayne received the push out, then crossed to Melanie Ní Dhuinn, who found Murphy for the vital equaliser.
The reverse fixture takes place at the Astro Active Centre next Sunday and the side will be keenly aware of the need to produce a result, as reigning champions Carlow I have a game in hand over the Slaneysiders.
Squad: Irene Doyle, Linda Durnan, Muireann Nic Corcráin, Nicola Jacob, Tara Somers, Melanie Ní Dhuinn, Mairéad Neville, Mairéad Murphy, Lisa Frayne, Amy Murphy, Emily Waldron, Serena Hatton.
The Under-8 boys travelled to East Glendalough School on Sunday for a blitz.
Squad: Luke Tully, Noel Aspel James, Glenn Warren, Cian Allen, Ben Allen, Andrew Jones, Adam Jones, Scott Flynn, Noah Power, Eoin Deegan, Darragh Gethings, Mark Ashmore.
The Under-14 boys played their Killowen Cup first round match against Pembroke Wanderers on Sunday and emerged with a 7-0 win at Serpentine Avenue. The Slaneysiders were two goals up at half-time, and ensured victory with a dominant second-half performance.
Jack Tully bagged a hat-trick, while there was a brace for Brian Smith and one apiece for Aaron Lett and Dylan Hendy.
Fellow ‘A’ division side Monkstown await in the next round, which is pencilled in for November 25 at the Astro Active Centre.
Squad: Adam Hill, Marcus Wallace, Andrew Graham, Mervyn Rogan, Brian Smith, Daniel Murphy, Jack Tully, Aaron Lett, Rhys Jones, Dylan Hendy, Craig Bailey.
The Minor B girls drew 1-1 on Sunday with Drogheda side Boyne at a rain-lashed Astro Active Centre. Dara O’Leary scored for the Slaneysiders, who were unlucky not to earn all three points as an Emer Kervick effort was ruled out for having touched a foot en route to goal.
Terenure outfit Our Lady’s travel to the Astro Active Centre on Sunday week in their next league encounter.
Squad: Sadhbh Ryan, Ailbhe Tierney, Riona Mahon, Muireann Murphy, Róisín Dillon, Holly Bolger, Niamh O’Leary, Kathleen Kenny, Jacqui Kehoe, Dara O’Leary, Emer Kervick, Leah Canavan.
An early goal for the visitors proved a bad omen as Enniscorthy’s men’s second XI went down 3-1 at the Astro Active Centre on Saturday, in what was an open, but sometimes tempestuous, encounter.
A Cian Hogan effort from a penalty corner after five minutes showed that the hosts were not lying down quietly, but just three minutes later Glen Rothwell in the Enniscorthy goal was forced into two saves in quick succession as the Division 6 basement side showed their teeth.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Eamonn Sweeney was proving to be a tricky customer for the Monkstown defence. However, the Dublin side got the next score.
Nerves on the Enniscorthy penalty corner defensive line led to the Slaneysiders going a man down as the goalline was broken before Monkstown had an opportunity to push the ball out, and the attackers took full advantage.
Leo Durnan and Sweeney were combining well, but then disaster struck nine minutes before the break as Monkstown struck a third.
Following the re-start, Enniscorthy drove hard at the visitors’ defence, earning three circle penetrations in the six minutes after the break. Both sides then lost a man to a green card, and 20 minutes later Monkstown lost two more to green cards.
Sweeney finally got Enniscorthy off the mark with Monkstown down to nine men, but the home side were unable to breach again, and the Dubliners held on for a 3-1 win. Fourth-placed Pembroke Wanderers are next up for seventh-ranked Enniscorthy II on Saturday.
Squad: Glen Rothwell, Clive Rothwell, Mick Jordan, Jack Redmond, Robin James, Niall Maguire, Cian Hogan, Billy James, Graeme Chapman, Eamonn Sweeney, Robbie Walsh, Shay O’Leary, Jason Rothwell, Leo Durnan.
A club fundraiser was held on Thursday at the Riverside Park Hotel in association with Enniscorthy Lions Club. There were record-breaking crowds in attendance and a most enjoyable time was had by all.