WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 12th FEBRUARY 2023

It was the battle of two title hopefuls when our Leinster Senior team entertained Leicester Celtic in a sixth versus second place encounter at Whitegates Friday night. The lads went into the game six points behind Celtic with two games in hand. In the first fifteen minutes there was little in the way of clear cut chances but that all changed in the space of a minute on the sixteen minute mark. Jamie Snell was on hand to head home over the keeper from eight yards out and then Sam Brown made it 2-0 to put Rovers in the driving seat. Ciaran McGettigan was creating havoc on the right wing and was instrumental in all Rovers attacking play, he set up Sam Brown who saw his piledriver turned away by the keeper. On twenty five minutes Rovers should have added a third, an Ian Brannigan corner was right on the money, but Rovers failed to capitalise with the away team clearing the danger. The third goal did come shortly after in the twenty eighth minute when Sam Brown was alert to a ball spilled by the keeper to tap home. Nine minutes before the interval Ross O'Brien dinked his way into the box and from fourteen yards he fired home to make it 4-0. At this stage Rovers were running riot and never let the away team time on the ball. With six minutes remaining in the half Ciaran McGettigan got the goal he deserved for his overall contribution when he pounced in a crowded six yard box to slot home to send Rovers in 5-0 up at the break. The second period was only a couple of minutes old when the referee pointed to the spot awarding Leicester a penalty which was coolly tucked away. Any hint of a comeback was distinguished in the fifty fifth minute when the impressive Jamie Snell added his second of the game and Rovers sixth. Rovers could have added more but were denied by the keeper. They added a seventh when Nathan Sullivan with the outside of his right foot fired home. This was an excellent 7-1 victory for the lads against one of their nearest rivals and puts them firmly back in the title shake up. This proved to be an excellent all round team performance with everyone playing their part in a great team effort.

Our youths A team travelled to Rathnew on Saturday and kept their hundred percent start to the league campaign intact thanks to a 5-0 win. Lorcan Sinnott, Alex Sinnott, Georgie O' Neill, Brandon Battams and Tadgh Lord all chipped in with a goal a piece in what was another solid all round team performance. Rovers took an early lead when Evan Conyard’s corner was met by Lorcan Sinnott. Georgie O'Neill was next in on the act when he finished cleverly over the Rathnew keeper after twenty minutes. Rovers had some chances to increase their lead but couldn’t find a way past the Rathnew keeper who was in inspired form. On the stroke of half time Alex Sinnott put Rovers three up after combining well with Charlie Czwalina. The second half saw Rovers start brightly and were moving the ball a lot quicker. Dylan Vickers put Brandon Battams through with a great pass and the winger finished brilliantly lobbing the keeper from twenty five yards. Battams and Lorcan Sinnott would strike the post before Tadgh Lord finished the scoring again coming from good work from Alex Sinnott on the right. Solid performances all round. Keelan Darcy and Jack Macklin marshalled the defence brilliantly today to keep another clean sheet.

Congratulations to Michael Keating who was the winner of our February 50/50 draw picking up a cheque for €217.50, unluckily for Michael he missed out on the bonus ball jackpot of €3,200 to top up his winnings when his bonus ball number 15 let him down. It means our bonus ball jackpot now increases to €3,300 for the March 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, and you can buy as many tickets as you like. You can also subscribe to a monthly payment option, so that you won’t forgot to enter the draw each month!!. The Jackpot prize is €3,300 for our March draw and will go up by a minimum of €100 per month if not won. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 7th of March. It will be streamed live at 8pm on the club Facebook page. 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. To enter the March draw tickets must be purchased by midnight on Tuesday 28th of February, tickets purchased after midnight on this date will be entered in the following month’s draw. Any questions, please contact us at wrafcshop@gmail.com Many thanks from the Wicklow Rovers fundraising committee.

Everyone at the club would like to wish under 12 player Daniel Clarke a speedy recovery after he recently broke his arm. We all hope to see you back out and about on the playing field very soon, get well soon Daniel.