WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 20th SEPTEMBER 2020

Our Leinster Senior team went into the last week with games on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. They went into the three games with the destiny of the title in their own hands. Unfortunately, the Monday night game against Newbridge Town didn't go ahead as the Kildare side couldn't field a team which meant the three points were awarded to Rovers. Next up on Thursday night was title rivals Fairview CY, the Dublin side knew nothing less than a win would keep their title ambitions alive. In what was a nervy encounter with so much at stake the game finished scoreless. Both defences were on top throughout with neither keeper having to make anything rather than routine saves in the game. Rossa Marron in the Rovers goal was commanding under the high ball when called upon. The centre of defence partnership of David Rowan and Rikki Quinn were immense all night winning the majority of their heading duels while also putting in some important tackles. In truth a draw was probably a fair outcome. It was on to Saturday and the visit of Corduff FC, the lads got off to a dream start when Ciaran McGettigan got on the end of a David O’Connor cross to fire home. The away side to their credit came with the intentions of spoiling the party and they levelled matters after twenty one minutes. Parity didn’t last long as Rovers restored their lead straight from the resumption when David O’Connor netted from an Aidan Small through ball. Three minutes later it was 3-1, Ciaran McGettigan bore down on goal only to be sent tumbling. David O’Connor stepped up and powerfully drilled the spot kick high into the top left hand corner. Right on the stroke of half time Corduff reduced the deficit with an unlucky deflection off a Rovers defender. On fifty four minutes Rovers won a corner, Ian Brannigan’s pin point strike found Ciaran McGettigan who headed neatly past the keeper to make it 4-2. On the hour mark the Dublin side pulled it back to 4-3 and Rovers knew this side were up for it and were looking to dampen the celebrations. But in fairness to the lads they had only one intention and that was to win the game and it was that man again Ciaran McGettigan who sewed the points up with his third of the game to complete an excellent hat-trick, Ciaran split the away defence and even though fouled he stayed on his feet to round the keeper and fired home from an acute angle to complete the scoring. On the day no player can be singled out as over the course of the season every player played his part. A big congratulations to manager BA Franey, coach James Macklin, kit man Richie Fitzpatrick and the whole Leinster Senior squad on securing their second league title in succession. All your hard work has paid off.

On Wednesday our under 16's had an excellent 4-0 win over Arklow Town at Whitegates, Luke Dunne, Josh Kelly, Tom Farrelly and Tomas Kennedy found the net for Rovers in a very impressive performance.  On Saturday the under 12A’s went down to a 3-2 defeat to St Patricks at Whitegates, it was a closely fought encounter with the Avoca side just coming out on top. David Johnson and Aaron Fitzsimons nabbed their goals. The 14’s went goal crazy against Enniskerry at Whitegates winning 9-1. Daniel Kavanagh led the way with four goals followed closely by Lorcan Sinnott who hit three goals. Charlie Czwalina and Evan Conyard weighed in with one a piece in an excellent all round team performance. On Sunday the under 13B's drew 1-1 away to Arklow Town B in what was a an evenly contested game, Oscar Finn O'Brien fired home their goal. The under 15’s were defeated 3-2 away to Ashford Rovers, the lads led 2-0 deep into the second half thanks to an eighth goal of the season from Alex Sinnott and Adam Byrne’s second of the campaign but with five minutes to go the Rovers of Ashford had drawn level. Then the lads were cruelly denied a share of the spoils when the home side scored a spectacular winner deep into injury time. The lads put in an excellent display and deserved something from the game.

Anyone with anything for our club notes, Facebook page or our club website can contact me by email at jimmy.nolan09@hotmail.com or by text to 087-9108706. For all news regarding the club, check out our club website at www.wicklowrovers.com or the club facebook page.