WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 21st APRIL 2024
The senior A team recorded another impressive performance when they defeated title chasing Shamrock Celtic in Shamrock Park winning 3-2. The home side went in front after eight minutes but from this point onwards Rovers controlled the game. It was no surprise when they equalised on thirty-five minutes when Lorcan Sinnott got on the end of a long free kick to level matters. The sides went in at the break all square. The early stages of the second period saw Rovers denied by the keeper on two occasions, first from Oussama Kenouche and then Lorcan Sinnott. In the fifty sixth minute Davy O'Sullivan got on the end of a Bryan Doyle corner to head Rovers in front. Five minutes later Lorcan Sinnott hit a sweet strike to make it 3-1. Rovers had other chances most notably a fierce strike from Davy O'Sullivan which was well saved. The home side nabbed their second with the last kick of the game. In a good all round team performance there were impressive performances from Ben Algera, Lorcan Sinnott, Oussama Kenouche, Daniel Tarcevskis, Bryan Doyle, and man of the match Tommy Smullen.
Our WDFL B played away to Newtown United B on Friday night. Rovers raced into a two-goal lead with Sam Brown and Mubarak Ogbeye firing home the goals. Rovers were playing well and in total control but then Newtown who never gave up pulled one back before firing home an equaliser for the teams to share the spoils for the second time this season.
The C team took on league leaders and unbeaten Rathnew B at Shamrock Park. The home side proved way too strong for the lads on the day and ran out comfortable 6-0 winners. We would like to wish Rathnew all the best in their pursuit of the title which at this stage seems to be a certain conclusion. Best of luck Rathnew.
The senior ladies completed their league programme with a 4-0 home victory over Gorey Rangers. Molly Sweeney brought her tally to 24 for the campaign with an excellent brace, Louise Corrigan moved on to 19 in the goalscoring charts with a single and Aisling McDonald nabbed her second of the season to complete the scoring. What this means is Rovers sit at the top seven points clear of Oylegate United who have three games left. Oylegate need to win all three games to pip Rovers, any slip up would let Rovers in, all the girls can do is sit and wait.
On the junior scene the 13A's suffered a second narrow 1-0 defeat in succession to Rathnew A on Thursday night in Shamrock Park. Yet again there was only a kick of a ball between these two evenly matched sides. Rovers were denied a share of the spoils when Hank Murnane's strike came back off the woodwork. Big thanks again to Rathnew for another highly competitive game.
On Saturday the 12A's travelled to Ballard Pard to take on Shillelagh. Rovers came up against a physically bigger team and lost out 3-0. To their credit they matched Shillelagh all over the pitch but just didn't take their chances, hitting the woodwork on several occasions. There were notable performances from centre back pairing MJ Costello and Darren Hennessey who was excellent playing his first game for Rovers this season. The 12C's were involved in a highly competitive tussle with Arklow United and were so unlucky to go down 2-1. Rovers went one up in the third minute after an excellent finish from Billy Nolan. Rovers had other chances to double their lead but found the Arklow keeper in good form. Arklow equalised before the break and at the midway point of the second half they nabbed a second and what proved to be the winner. It was an excellent team performance from Rovers against a good Arklow United side and we look forward to the return game. The 14B's made their exit from the cup on Saturday when they went down 4-0 to Aughrim Rangers in Allen Park. They found Aughrim in good form in front of goal, but Rovers did have their chances to make it a closer game. Still, they battled right up to the final whistle and its back to the bread and butter of league football during the week.
On Sunday the 13B's earned an excellent point away to a strong Carnew team. After losing 4-3 to the same opposition last week a 2-2 draw was a positive result. Casey Brennan was the goalscoring hero on the day with a brace in what was a good all round team performance. Thanks to Carnew for another competitive game. The 13C's were another team to earn a point in a 1-1 draw with a good Newtown Juniors B team. Rovers made the early running, but it was Newtown who went in front. Rovers were denied an equaliser on a few occasions by an excellent Newtown keeper. The second half saw Newtown start the brightest, but Rovers got a deserved leveller when Cayden O'Malley unleashed a thunderbolt to make it 1-1. Big thanks to Newtown Juniors for a great game. Congratulations to the 14A’s who have made it to the final of the South Leinster Regional Final for the second successive year after an excellent 6-1 home win over Kilcock Celtic. Zach Kavanagh got Rovers off to a dream start with two goals in the first eight minutes to put Rovers in the driving seat and after this they never looked back. Rovers dominated from start to finish overpowering their Kildare opponents. Sam Conyard hit the third with Ryan Cox hitting a vicious shot into the roof of the net for the fourth. David McCormack netted the fifth and sixth goals to see Rovers comfortably progress to the final. In between Kilcock nabbed a consolation goal but Rovers were far too strong. Congratulations to Mo, Swazy and the team, two years running is a great achievement. Rovers will now meet Kilcullen AFC in the final. The 15A’s defeated Arklow United B 5-0, in a very impressive performance Abdul Alhamad, Nathan Gough, Wolsey Sloan Kelly, Cillian Czwalina and James Cummins all registered a goal apiece. The 15B’s who are playing against A teams this season which doesn’t seem fair had no answers for the power of Ashford Rovers. Ashford ran out comfortable winners with Simon Volk scoring a consolation for the lads.
