WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 20th SEPTEMBER 2020
Well with the senior end of things on a short break at the moment the action on the playing field was all down to the junior section and the under 18 girls end of the club. On Friday night our 12A’s went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Ashford Rovers in a tightly contested encounter. Both teams produced some good football to entertain the watching crowd. This was a keenly contested game between two good sides with a kick of a ball between them.
On Saturday the under 12B team had an excellent 2-0 away win over Greystones United A, this was a fantastic result for this little team and well deserved. Oisin Conlon and a second of the season for Naoise O’Dubhslaine were the Rovers goalscorers on the day. The under 14’s produced a stunning performance away to Aughrim Rangers winning 6-2. That man Daniel Kavanagh was at it again, he followed up last week’s haul of four goals against Enniskerry with another four in this game to bring his tally to twelve for the season. Lorcan Sinnott and Cian Byrne fired home one a piece to complete the Rovers six goal haul. It was an excellent all round team performance with every player playing his part. The 14’s team, management and everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to wish Charlie Czwalina a speedy recovery from a fractured ankle he sustained last week. Also we would like to wish a speedy recovery to Aughrim player Jack Byrne who sustained a nasty knee injury during the game, we wish Charlie and Jack a speedy recovery and we hope to see you both back on the playing field very soon. Our under 15’s recorded a comprehensive 5-0 win over Arklow Town at Whitegates. Unfortunately, a head injury to the Arklow keeper saw him taken away to hospital by ambulance. Both sets of players have to take a lot of credit for continuing the game after watching one of their fellow players stretchered off. Rovers marksmen on the day were Ruairi Jenkinson, Charlie Phelan, Alex Sinnott and a superb brace from Cormac Waldron. The under 15 team, their management and everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to wish Arklow keeper Joel Kennedy a speedy recovery and we hope to see you back playing very soon. If it was goals you were looking for Whitegates at lunchtime Saturday was the place to be as our under 16’s took on local neighbours Rathnew. Both teams played their part in an eleven goal thriller as Rathnew ran out 7-4 winners. It was a great advert for schoolboy football with goals a plenty. The game saw first goals of the season for Ruadhrai Kelly, Alec Richardson, Tadhg Lord and a second of the campaign for Tomas Kennedy in a good all round team performance.
On Sunday the under 18 girls produced a thrilling game with Enniskerry at Whitegates. It was Rovers who made the early running creating several chances, but they found the Enniskerry keeper in inspired form. Twice against the run of play Rovers were undone with two clinical finishes for the away side to go in at the break 2-0 up. Shortly after the resumption Enniskerry went three up and left Rovers with an impossible task or so we thought. The Rovers girls came roaring back with a brace of goals from Sophie Fogarty and a single from Molly Sweeney for an amazing comeback. Rovers then rattled the woodwork from a free kick before been cruelly denied a share of the spoils their overall play deserved when the away side fired home what proved to be the winner five minutes from time. Rovers produced an amazing fightback and really deserved to get something from the game but there were lots of positives to take from the match. The 13A’s gained their first point of the season with a hard earned 1-1 draw away to Roundwood. In a game with plenty of chances the result could have went either way. Senan O’Donovan fired in the Rovers goal which gained them their first point and gives them something to build on.
The club are holding an EGM combined with a managers meeting on Tuesday 29th of September in the Pastoral Centre in the old De La Salle. The meeting is to discuss changes to the club constitution and ratify as required. It has also been decided to combine the EGM with our managers meeting. The meeting will start at 7.45pm sharp so please arrive early.
Membership fees have been halved due to the shortened season caused by Covid 19. Any member who paid their fees in full prior to the Covid 19 lockdown can utilise this overpayment towards their 2021 membership or request a reimbursement. One night has already been held and a further three are planned as follows: Friday 25th September, Friday 2nd October and Friday 9th October. Fees can also be paid by bank transfer. The final option is to pay via Club Zap our new club app. We request that all fees are paid by 9th October 2020. Please email wicklowroverssecretary@gmail.com in confidence should you need to arrange an alternative payment plan.
Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Paul Davis and James Malone who sadly passed away recently. Paul’s grandson Cameron plays on our 13B team, James’s grandson Milo plays for our under 10 green team while his grandsons Louis and Oscar are past members of the club. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time, may they rest in peace.
