WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 14th JANUARY 2024
The senior A team’s recent good run came to an end at Travers Insurance Park on Saturday afternoon when they went down 7-3 to Arklow Town. They got off to the perfect start when Bryan Doyle put them in front with a wonderful strike. Things got better when they were awarded a penalty which was saved but Dylan Orr was quickest to the rebound to fire home to make it 2-0. The home side battled back to score two goals before the interval to send the teams in at the break all square. In the early stages of the second half both sides had chances to hit the front and it was Rovers who eventually took one of those chances with Mark O’Sullivan nabbing his second of the season to make it 3-2. Rovers then totally caved in as the home side picked up the pace to fire home five unanswered goals in the last twenty-five minutes. The lads will rue those last twenty-five minutes as they will feel they should have got something from the game against a very good Arklow side. Leading 2-0 and 3-2 and also missing a spot kick the lads will definitely feel a little upset at the final outcome. Well done Arklow Town and best of luck for the remainder of the season.
The C team are still searching for their second win of the season, they travelled to Bray on Sunday morning to take on Ballywaltrim but unfortunately, they returned home empty handed as the lost 3-0. It’s the same story as the lads had chances but failed to take them. They gave it everything but just needed to be more clinical in front of goal.
The senior ladies entertained Ferns United in the quarter final of the divisional shield on Sunday at Whitegates. The ladies returned to winning ways when they turned in a very impressive team display to win 3-1 and progress to the semi final. The girls totally dominated the first half and were creating plenty of good chances. Molly Sweeney took two of those chances to fire home her 14th and 15th goals of the season to put Rovers in the driving seat going into the half time break. Amy Kavanagh in the Rovers goal impressed when she played like an extra sweeper coming off her line to mop up any long through balls. The second half proved to be a more even affair as the away side went on the front foot to try find a way back into the game and they got it when they were awarded a penalty which they converted to half the deficit. Rovers weren’t to be outdone and they restored their two goal cushion when the impressive Louise Corrigan fired home her 13th goal of the campaign to put them within touching distance of the semi finals. The strong Rovers rearguard was rock solid for the remainder of the game to see out the match without any trouble and book their spot in the semi finals. Well done to Paul, Tom and the girls and the best of luck in the semi finals. Big thanks to Ferns for a very competitive game and the best of luck for the rest of the season.
For the attention of our schoolboys/girls coaches. We hope that everyone enjoyed the break and the Christmas festivities! The Wicklow Schoolboys/girls League has advised that the new schoolboy season will commence on the weekend of 10th February 2024 for teams from U11 to U16 and from the weekend of 17th February 2024 for teams from U8 to U10. The league has also advised that: U8’s (players born 2016) will play 5 v 5 Twin Format as before. U9’s (players born 2015) will play 7v7 format. This is a change from previous years were U9’s played 5 v 5 Twin Format. U10’s (players born 2014) will play 7v7 format. U11’s (players born 2013) will play 9v9 format. This is a change from previous years were U11’s played 7v7 format. U12’s (players born 2012) will play 9v9 format. U13’s to U16’s will play 11v11. So now is the time to organise the squads for the upcoming season. A message has been put on all the existing team communication groups requesting parents to confirm if their child will be participating this season. Can all coaches within the same age groups please liaise with each other to finalise your squads. All coaches have admin access on the communication groups so everyone will be able to see who is participating in the upcoming season. Once the squads have been finalised, the existing communication groups will be archived, and we’ll set up new groups for the 2024 season. Can everyone please have squads finalised by Friday 19th January as we need to upload the players on their designated team on FAI Net. Please contact our club secretary Stephen Clarke at wicklowroverssecretary@gmail.com directly if you have any queries on the above and the very best of luck to all for the season ahead.
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.
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.
