WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 27th NOVEMBER 2022

The weather played havoc with the weekend's fixtures with only three games taking place as the bad weather meant postponements were the order of the day both Saturday and Sunday. 

Our Leinster Senior League team welcomed high flying Rosemount Mulvey to Whitegates on Friday night for what would be a stern test for the lads. The away team sat in second place in the table with two games in hand and a point behind the leaders. Rovers got off to a dream start with less than a minute on the clock when Ciaran McGettigan nipped in to put Rovers one up, the best possible start. After that it was mostly played in the Rosemount Mulvey half, but it wasn’t until twenty minutes in that Rovers created another clear cut chance and Dylan Orr made no mistake to put Rovers 2-0 up and suddenly Rovers had a cushion. Five minutes later things got even better for Rovers, Ciaran McGettigan got his second and Rovers third when he got on the end of a Nathan Sullivan cross to head home to give them a commanding 3-0 lead. Just before the break Ciaran completed his hat-trick when he ran at the away defence before slotting home to send Rovers in 4-0 in front at the break. Anything Ciaran McGettigan touched turned to gold and two minutes into the second period he beat the away defence for pace, rounded the keeper to fire home his fourth to make it 5-0. In the fifty first minute Tommy Smullen's fierce drive was turned onto the post by the keeper and this was a sign of what was to follow soon after. A minute later Tommy's shot had too much power for the keeper as the ball flashed by him to nestle in the net to make it 6-0. At this stage, every time Rovers ventured forward they looked like scoring. In the fifty seventh minute Sam Brown got on the end of a JT Moorehouse through ball to fire past the keeper for number seven. Midway through the half the away side were awarded a penalty which they duly tucked away for a consolation goal. Sam Brown completed his hat-trick with a brace of powerful efforts within a minute at the eighty second minute mark. It was an excellent all round performance from the whole squad. Every goal scored was in a clinical fashion, everything just seemed to click all over the field. As for a man of the match there were many candidates. At the centre of the defence Rikki Quinn and Ross O'Brien were exceptional and never put a foot wrong. The midfield operated smoothly as a unit and then there was a hat-trick from Sam Brown. But when it comes to the final decision on man of the match there wouldn’t be too many who would disagree with Ciaran McGettigan. Ciaran netted four times, and all came before the game was totally killed off. Each goal had a touch of class and showed off Ciaran's all round ability. One was a header, another showed his pace and coolness, with another coming from his ability to run at defenders. Ciaran is consistent with his performances and strikes fear into defences. All this was done inside the first fifty minutes before he was substituted. In truth the team turned in their most impressive performance of the season. Well done lads.

On Thursday night our youths A team continued their impressive start with a comfortable victory over neighbours Rathnew at Whitegates. On a poor night for football Rovers controlled the game from start to finish. Highlight of the game was a well taken hat-trick from the clinical Lorcan Sinnott. It means Rovers have taken six points from their first two games to get them off to a flyer in their pursuit of the youth's title.

On Sunday the only junior game to be played was our 12A’s shield semi-final tussle away to local neighbours Ashford Rovers. After a tough battle against a good Ashford side the lads came out on top winning 3-1. It could have been so much different though only for a man of the match performance from Sam Czwalina in the Wicklow goal making three excellent saves, one from a penalty which saw his team progress to the final and keep their hopes of the treble alive with the league and cup already in the bag. Tommy Morrissey bagged a brace to bring his tally for the season to seven and top goalscorer Richard Carton added a single to bring his total to twenty four in the scoring charts. Big thanks to a good Ashford side for a tough sporting local derby and well done to our lads.

Our Saturday junior academy continues every Saturday at Whitegates under the guidance of senior coaches Johnny Dunne, Jimmy Nolan and John Kelly. Come along and join in the fun while learning the skills of football that gets you ready for organised league football. It runs from 11 to 12 weather permitting and cost €2 for the hour. The academy will run up to and including Saturday the 17th of December when a special man will take time out of his busy Christmas schedule to visit all the kids of the academy. Look forward to seeing you all Saturday.

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.wicklowrovers.com or the club Facebook page.