CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING

7th JANUARY 2024

With the return of senior action in the club at the weekend, three of the scheduled games beat the frosty weather. The A team's scheduled away fixture with Ashford Rovers A fell foul of the cold weather. Our senior men’s B team welcomed Arklow Celtic to Whitegates Saturday afternoon in a division 1 league clash. Unfortunately, our lads came out the wrong end of a 4-1 score line. Tadgh Lord scored the Rovers goal in what was a disappointing performance from the Rovers side. Missing a number of players on the day didn’t help, but silly mistakes cost the team badly. Jordan Sinnott, Cormac, and Ben Doyle gave their all for Rovers in what was a tough match back after the Christmas break. Our WDFL C team played Roundwood on Sunday afternoon in Whitegates in their first game back after Christmas. Roundwood took the lead after a well taken shot from outside the box that Pat Sammon could do nothing about. Rovers went into halftime, one goal down. Rovers started the second half well with Euan Snell levelling the two sides. The lads then lost concentration and conceded 3 quick goals in a five-minute period. Rovers then finished out the game well when Fionn Matthews finished off the match by bursting through the Roundwood defence to make it 4-2. A disappointing score line for lads after another good performance. The senior ladies are in a bit of a bad spell at the moment. After dropping two points at home to Bunclody prior to the Christmas break, they dropped all three points at home to Camolin Celtic in a 6-4 defeat on Sunday morning. The girls will be hoping to change things around in their next game. Highlight of the game was a superb hat-trick from Louise Corrigan to bring her tally for the season to twelve. Sophie Byrne nabbed her third of the campaign to complete the Rovers tally.

Our under 13A’s from last season have been given another long journey in the open draw of the SFAI Cup. Last season, they were drawn away to Killarney Celtic, which they narrowly lost 1-0, this time they have been giving another tough assignment as they hit the road to Galway to take on Moyne Villa FC. Let’s hope they can come out with a positive result on this occasion. They had better news in the South Leinster Regional area when they were drawn at home to Kilcock Celtic FC as they try to go one better in the regional competition after being defeated in the final last year.

On Saturday the 13th of January, the club is running an open training session for under 8’s [Born 2016]. This is open to all kids, girls and boys and will be held at Whitegates between 11 and 12. Anyone who has a child interested in playing organized league football at under 8’s should email our club secretary at wicklowroverssecretary@gmail.com with child’s name, date of birth and a contact name and number. New members welcomed. Please arrive ten minutes beforehand, thank you.

Our junior academy is back up and running after the Christmas break and continues all year round, it takes place at Whitegates every Saturday morning, weather permitting under the guidance of Johnny Dunne and Jimmy Nolan. It runs from 11 to 12 and is for girls and boys from 3 years old to 8 years old. The cost for the hour is €2 and no registration is required, so you can come to whatever Saturdays suit you. The academy prepares the kids for the step up to organised league football while having fun and making friends. All kids are welcome to attend.

The executive committee of Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to wish all our members and their families, managers, coaches, sub-committee members, junior 11 a side fixtures secretary Franny Copeland, Child Liaison Officer Maria Lewins, parents of our junior players, supporters, WDFL committee, WDSL committee, WWSL committee and all our friends in sport a very a Happy and Healthy New Year.

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.wicklowroversafc.com or the club Facebook page.