CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING
4th FEBRUARY 2024
Our under 14A's were in SFAI cup round of 32 action on Saturday. The lads made the long journey to Headford in Galway to take on Moyne Villa FC and Saturday's game proved how cruel the game can be. In a nervous opening few minutes both sides were working their way into the game. It was the home side who drew first blood when they took advantage of hesitation in the Rovers rearguard to fire home after five minutes. The Rovers reply was instant, and they were level within a minute. Rovers won a corner out on the left, which David McCormack got on the end off to tuck the ball away for the equaliser. In the tenth minute, Sam Conyard saw his shot just drift past the far post. On twenty-one minutes Sam Conyard and Mikie O’Neill combined to set McCormack away, but his effort from a tight angle went wide of the right hand post. Rovers were carving out the better chances and on thirty-seven minutes Mikie O’Neill broke through the home defence but was denied by the keeper. In the forty third minute it was the turn of the Rovers keeper Sam Czwalina to come to his team's rescue with a fantastic save. From this Rovers made a quick counterattack and at the end of it Ryan Cox forced the home keeper into a good save. Up front for Rovers Zach Kavanagh was causing the home team all sorts of problems, at stages Zach found himself been doubled marked and sometimes three players were crowding him out. In the fifty fifth minute Kavanagh wriggled away from his markers, but his well struck effort was just off target. Two minutes later it was Richard Carton's turn to try his luck and he could only watch as his effort was agonisingly just wide. On sixty-five minutes Moyne rattled the woodwork. In the dying seconds Rovers were very unlucky not to score, Sam Conyard let fly with a thunderbolt of an effort which seemed destined for the top right hand corner of the net but the Moyne keeper pulled off an unbelievable save which no one could believe how he even got to it. It now meant we were heading to extra time and in the third minute of extra time the home side hit the front with a neat finish. Rovers were unlucky not to level straight away when they were denied by the woodwork. The home side tagged on two more goals in the second period of extra time to run out 4-1 winners, a result that flattered them a bit. Throughout the game Rovers controlled it for large periods and created the better chances only to find a keeper on top of his game. The lads put in an excellent all round team performance and can hold their heads up high doing themselves, their club and their league proud. Well done to Mo, Swazy, Lenny and the lads, you deserved more from the game. The lads will start their domestic campaign next week and still have the matter of a South Leinster semi-final to look forward to. Also, a big thanks to all the supporters who travelled down yesterday to cheer the lads on, your support was very much appreciated.
With both the senior A and B team not playing at the weekend it was down to the C team to provide the action on the playing field. They took on St Patricks in the first round of the Wicklow cup and they put it up to their higher ranked opponents before going down 2-0. The lads gave it everything in a good team performance. If they can reproduce this performance on a regular basis they wouldn’t be long climbing up the league standings.
The senior ladies progressed to round two of the Women’s Wexford Cup without kicking a ball, their scheduled away game against Kilmore United didn’t take place as Kilmore couldn’t field a team therefore Rovers received a walkover.
For the attention of our schoolboys/girl’s 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.
Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Maurice Maxwell of Crinion Park, Wicklow Town who sadly passed away recently. Maurice’s sons Ryan and Kieran played for the club at schoolboy and youth level. Our thoughts and prayers are with his partner Steph, sons Ryan and Kieran, stepson Andrew, stepdaughter Nicole, grandchildren and all his extended family and friends. May he rest in peace.
