WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 4th SEPTEMBER 2022

Football returned at the weekend with four of our junior teams tasting action on the playing field. On Saturday eleven brave Wicklow Rovers soldiers were not put off by the weather on a brutal morning at the Rocky Road. Roundwood were the visitors to play our under 12 Blue team and it was the visitors who cemented their position at the top of the league table with a hard fought win. Rovers did find the net on two occasions. The first goal was a neat finish from Alessio Coppola with the second coming from a Kevin Yan penalty after the same player earned the spot kick. Credit to both teams for producing a very entertaining game of football in atrocious conditions. Our under 14's travelled to kilcashel to take on hosts St Patricks. On a miserable morning both sets of players supplied a thrilling encounter with a lot of entertaining football on show. On the final whistle the points were shared in an exciting 2-2 draw. Ronan Phelan was on fire in front of goal firing home both Rovers goals in an excellent all round team performance. Our under 16's travelled to Roundwood in the under 16 premier league and kept up their one hundred percent record with a hard earned 3-1 win. Mel Earley opened the scoring after pouncing on a mistake in the Roundwood defence. Evan Conyard was next in on the act when he powered home from the edge of the box. Roundwood got back in the game after a mistake in the Rovers defence. Chances were far and few between, but Roundwood did have a great chance to equalise only for a superb goal line clearance from Dillon Vickers. Lorcan Sinnott rattled the crossbar with a thirty yard free kick before Rovers got their third with ten minutes to go. A superb through ball put Brandon Battams through and he was pulled down in the box. Top scorer Lorcan Sinnott made no mistake to wrap up the three points. A battling performance from the full squad today and another three points. On Sunday the 13B’s travelled to take on title chasing Aughrim Rangers. They came up against a very strong home side and found themselves facing an uphill task when they conceded three early goals. Aughrim were very strong and ran out comfortable winners. To Rovers credit they battled right up to the final whistle and showed great spirit to get back into it when Cian Lynch netted and were unlucky not to have a second before the break. The second half saw the home team pull away against a Rovers team that left everything on the pitch.

The WDSL recently held assessment days for the various age groups within the league for academies and emerging talent programs. The club are delighted to hear we had a number of players invited to participate in these. Congratulations and well done to the following players who were invited into Block 1 for the upcoming season within the WDSL League Academy for players born in 2012. Well done to Jamie McGowan, Caden O’Brien and Caleb Robbins. The WDSL League Academy for players born 2011 were selected and we would like to congratulate and say well done to the following players who were invited to participate in this, well done to Isla Hindle [only girl selected in the squad], Kevin Yan, Alessio Coppola, Freddie Kavanagh and Nadal Kingne. Also, congratulations and well done to the following players who were invited into Block 1 for the upcoming season within the WDSL League Emerging Talent Program for players born in 2010. Well done to Rhys Behan, Kale Conyard, Sam Conyard, Ryan Cox, Tiernan Shortall and Richard Carton. Finally, congratulations and well done to the following players who were invited into Block 1 for the upcoming season within the WDSL League Emerging Talent Program for players born in 2009. Well done to NJ Sinnott, Sam Goodbody, Sean O’Brien and Dan Farrell. Once again well done to one and all and the very best of luck in your adventure, keep up the hard work and dedication to your sport and the best of luck going forward.

Our senior teams continue to train every Tuesday and Thursday nights in the Rocky Road kicking off at 7.30pm both nights. The club will be competing in the Leinster Senior League and the Wicklow League. Our training sessions are open to all youth and senior players, to present, past and new players, everybody is welcome to attend. If you are interested in playing for the club this season but can’t attend the open training sessions at the moment, please contact any of the following: BA Franey 086-3631836; James Macklin 086-2662839; Matt Lincoln 087-2791648; Tom Doyle 087-6830486 or David “Doc” O’Connor 087-9935351. Alternatively, you can contact any committee member or pm us on the club facebook page with your details. All committee contact details can be found on the club website at www.wicklowrovers.com