WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 24th SEPTEMBER 2023

The new season kicked off for our senior A team on Friday night and after 30 odd years in the Leinster Senior League they will now ply their trade back at their roots in the WDFL Premier division. The team is in a transition period and will take time to settle down and gel together. They welcomed inform Shamrock Celtic fresh from their opening day 5-0 victory over Avonmore to Whitegates. Rovers got off to the perfect start with Adam Cox firing home in the third minute. On thirteen minutes Shamrock Celtic levelled and from that point on they proved ruthless in front of goal or more Luca Rampersaud did. Rampersaud hit four goals and provided an assist for another goal as Celtic ran out 6-2 winners. Two of the Celtic goals came from mistakes in the backline and with Rampersaud buzzing around you can't afford to give him the chances. Saying that Rovers did have chances especially in the early stages of the second half when they created three or four good openings but were just not clinical enough in front of goal. It will take time for the lads to get used to their new surrounds and hopefully then we will see them trouble the top sides. 

Our WDFL B team played Roundwood in the Division 3 today in Vartry Park in tough conditions. It certainly wasn't a day for good football but credit to the two teams they put on a good show despite the conditions. Rovers took the lead after twenty five minutes when a Liam Kavanagh free kick rebounded out off the keeper and Cesar Sullivan was there to put Rovers ahead. Just before half time Roundwood were awarded a soft penalty which they executed nicely. Rovers went into the early stages of the second half on top but Roundwood soon put the pressure on and created chances which lead to a goal from twenty five yards out which Rovers keeper Pat Sammon could do nothing about. Roundwood scored another soft goal to put them 3-1 up to go on to win the game. An honorable mention to Fionn Mattews and Liam Kavanagh for man of the match performances. A few positives can be taken from this game but it’s back to the training ground for the lads. A few games under their belt and the results will start to come.

In the junior section there were two big premier shield semi-finals under the lights at Whitegates during the week. On Tuesday night the 12A’s turned in a five star performance to get the better of a good Aughrim side winning 5-2. Mikey O’Neill was red hot in front of goal firing home a personal haul of four goals, Kevin Yan nabbed the fifth. This was a fantastic all round team performance and just rewards for this little team who work so hard in training. Well done, Stephen, Ross and the team and best of luck in the final. On Thursday night the under 15's entertained Ashford Rovers in their semi-final. It was an exciting tight game and as usual these two teams served up a thrilling game. At the end of normal time and then extra time nothing could separate the teams with the match locked at 1-1 with David Johnston firing in the home goal. It was on to the dreaded penalty shootout, and it was Ashford who proved the more clinical from the spot winning 3-0 on penalties. It was a fantastic effort from the lads in what was another great encounter between the sides. Unlucky lads and well done to Ashford Rovers, we wish you the very best of luck in the final.

On Saturday our 12A's took on Coolboy Rangers at Whitegates and took all three points in an excellent 5-0 win. Hank Murnane and Mikey O’Neill both hit braces with Daniel Clarke nabbing a single. Leading 1-0 at halftime the lads went into overdrive in the second period. In what was a good team performance Will Carey, Jack Collins and James Carroll come in for a special mention for keeping a strong Coolboy forward line at bay. The under 12B's recorded a good 2-1 home win over a good Enniskerry team. The lads were in front as early as the second minute with Daniel Morrissey converting an Eoghan Quinn cross. The away side were level within two minutes. Both sides were awarded a penalty a piece but both keepers pulled off great saves to keep the score at 1-1. With time running out the Rovers management made some changes and it worked with Alex Philippon firing home the winner. There were notable performances from captain Charlie Lawlor, keeper Matthew Gough and man of the match Eoghan Quinn. Well done to Enniskerry for a competitive game. The 12C's were involved in a tight game away to Arklow United and unfortunately they lost out 2-1. Arklow took the lead but Rovers took control and deservingly levelled when Kyrylo Kliuchnyk fired home. Arklow used the strong wind to their advantage and retook the lead. To the lad’s credit they gave it everything to try and level matters but they just didn't have the luck. In what was a good team effort, there were excellent performances from captain Paddy Donnelly, Cayden O'Malley and Lochlainn Matthews. Well done lads and thanks to Arklow United for a great game. Congratulations to our under 14A team who captured the premier league title on Saturday with a hard earned 2-1 away victory against a good Ashford Rovers side. Ashford started strong and took the lead after ten minutes with a great strike from outside the box. Wicklow did not lose focus and started attacking and right before half time Nathan Gough made a great run and scored from a good Giorgio Morgillo-Fidyk assist. The second half was quite even until we got the winner with ten minutes left to play. Sean O'Brien placed a great free kick into the box and Darragh Cullen beat two defenders and finished clinically past the keeper. We then defended well and brought home the win and the league title. Well done lads, a great achievement and a well deserved one. Once again congratulations to Mirko, Sean and the team on their success. Big thanks to Ashford for hosting us and giving us another close tussle. An understrength 14B's came up against a very strong Enniskerry team and even though the lads held Enniskerry at bay for the first twenty minutes, the away side then had a purple patch scoring a few goals before the break. To the lad's credit they gave it a good go in the second half with James Cummins popping up to score. It was a great team performance today, players who stood out on the day were Micheal Kennedy, Jack Barry, Ethan Doyle, Fionn Lang and Conor McVeigh.