WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 11th SEPTEMBER 2022

Congratulations to Jimmy Butler who was the winner of our September 50/50 draw picking up a cheque for €237.50c, Jimmy was very unlucky as he missed out on the bonus ball jackpot of €2,700 to top up his winnings when his bonus ball number 16 came out in the lotto draw but was in the first six numbers drawn not as the bonus ball. It means our bonus ball jackpot now increases to €2,800 for the October draw. Tickets are on sale for our 50/50 draw on a continuous basis. The draw will have a guaranteed monthly winner, who will also have the chance to win a Jackpot prize by predicting the Bonus Ball Number in the main Irish Lottery draw that will take place the day after the winner is announced. The cost of a ticket is only €5, you can also subscribe to a monthly payment option, so that you won’t forgot to enter into the draw each month!!.  The next draw will take place on Tuesday 4th of October. It will be streamed live at 8pm on the club facebook page. The more people that play each month, the more money you can win. Tickets will be available to purchase online via our club shop website www.wicklowroversclubshop.com on an ongoing basis, you can also purchase your tickets by contacting any committee member or any club member. Any questions, please contact us at wrafcshop@gmail.com Many thanks from the Wicklow Rovers fundraising committee.

In midweek junior action It was top versus second in the under 13 Premier league, when our 13A’s travelled to Finn Park to take on league leaders St Anthonys on Tuesday night. It was a keenly contested game with the Kilcoole based side coming out on top winning 2-0. Rovers gave it their all but just couldn’t breach a strong Anthonys rear guard. On the same night our under 14's entertained near neighbours Rathnew in the Rocky Road. It proved to be a tight tense local derby with Rovers narrowly coming out on top in a 2-1 victory. David Johnston and Naoise O'Dubhslaine were the Rovers marksmen on the night in a good all round team performance. Well done to both sides on providing an entertaining local derby.

Saturday's junior action saw the under 11 green team kick off life in the development league with a 2-0 away win over a strong Arklow Town side, the first goal was a wicked deflection off one of the home players with Freddie Kavanagh securing the win in the last minute. This was an excellent game between two evenly matched teams. The under 11 white team recorded a good win over St Anthonys at the Rocky Road. The goals came from Mikie O’Neill, Nadal Kingne, Seb O'Rourke, Simon Lynch and Charlie Lawlor in what was the team's most impressive display of the season. An understrength under 11 blue team went down 5-3 away to Carnew, the team had only the bare nine players and in the first period they more than matched their opponents with goals from Callum O'Flaherty and Cian Foley. The heat and no subs told on the team in the second half with Carnew pulling away. Saturday was a day of celebration for our 12A team, they stormed to the under 12 Premier league title with two games to spare after a very impressive 5-1 away win over Coolboy Rangers. Sam Conyard set them on their way and soon after Richard Carton added the second. The second half saw Daniel Connolly blast home a brace and Ryan Cox net a single in a dominant performance from the whole team. The full panel of players is as follows: Sam Czwalina, Harry Bowen, Ben O’Leary, Harry Kavanagh, Kale Conyard, Milo Malcolmson, Luke Connolly, Ryan Cox, Richard Carton, Tiernan Shortall, Sam Conyard, Daniel Connolly and Tommy Morrissey. The team is managed and coached by Maurice Dunne and Kevin Czwalina. Congratulations and well done again Mo, Swazy and the team. The 12B team travelled to Arklow Credit Union Park to take on Arklow United A. They gave it everything, but the home side ran out 4-1 winners on the day. Rovers played their part in a highly entertaining match. Jack Madden nabbed the Rovers goal. Well done to both teams. Our 12C's turned in a spirited performance away to Enniskerry. Rovers were two players short as two of their players were delayed, Enniskerry showed their sportsmanship by loaning the lads a couple of players until they had their full compliment. Enniskerry came out on top winning 4-2 but the progressing young Rovers team showed great character and spirit throughout the game. John Jackson was their goal hero on the day with a brace. Again, big thanks to Enniskerry for showing great sportsmanship. The under 14’s followed up their midweek win with an excellent 5-3 victory over a gallant Aughrim Rangers side. Naoise O'Dubhslaine, Ronan Phelan, Josh McCall and Sean Patrick Guerin all hit the back of the net with a goal a piece. The fifth came in the way of an unfortunate own goal. This was a thrilling game with plenty of good football from both teams and eight goals to keep the supporters on their toes. Our under 16's welcomed Roundwood to Whitegates in the under 16 premier league and came away with a 4-2 victory. Charlie Czwalina and a Brandon Battams hat-trick secured the three points to make it 12 wins from 12 games. A good all round team performance from each and every player. On Sunday the 13B’s had a bad day at the office when Ashford ran out easy winners at Whitegates in very poor conditions. The under 15’s claimed all three point in a good 5-1 home victory over St Anthonys, Steven Kavanagh doubled his tally for the season with an excellent brace, under 14 player Sean Patrick Guerin also hit two with Finn Dunne completing the scoring with a single in a good all round team performance.