WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 26th FEBRUARY 2023

It was cup action under the lights at Whitegates Friday night when our Leinster Senior side welcomed Dundrum FC to town in a David and Paddy Lanigan cup tie. Rovers went into the game full of confidence and in good form. They started off well with every player working their socks off. Their endeavour was rewarded on the half hour mark when Rovers pressurised the away defence resulting in a wicked deflection from a Dundrum player to put Rovers one up. One nil became 2-0 when great work from Ciaran McGettigan set up JT Moorehouse who made no mistake and Rovers were in the driving seat. Rovers put in a workmanlike performance and saw out the game to progress to the next round. It was an excellent team performance from every player on the pitch as the lads continue their good form. On Sunday the WDFL division 3 team went down 3-0 to a good Glenealy FC side. The lads didn’t get a foothold at all in the game as the newly formed Glenealy claimed all three points. The youths A team lost their hundred percent record when Ashford Rovers beat them 3-2 at Whitegates. The lads fell 3-0 behind and were reduced to nine men. The nine men on the field showed great character to fight back to 3-2 with goals from Alex Sinnott and Brandon Battams but they couldn’t find an equaliser. Jack Macklin and Keelin Darcy impressed for the lads on the day. The youths B team put in a spirited display in defeat away to Shillelagh B, they gave it everything in a 4-1 defeat. Shea Bolt nabbed the Rovers goal and the performance against a good Shillelagh team will give them confidence going forward.

Junior action started back at the weekend, the 12A’s lost 4-1 away to a very strong Aughrim team, the team gave everything, but Aughrim proved clinical in front of goal on the day. Mikey O’Neill hit the Rovers goal. The 12B's recorded an excellent 2-1 away victory over Enniskerry. Against the run of play Enniskerry went in at the break 1-0 up but to Rovers credit they kept pushing and were rewarded with two fantastic second half strikes from Lukas Araminas and Eoghan Quinn to claim all three points. Chris Delahunt, Rian Kavanagh and Eoghan Daye impressed in a good team display. Our under 12C's narrowly lost 1-0 to Ashford Rovers. It was a tight tense affair with Ashford scoring the winner early in the second half. The lads put in a great shift and had their own chances. Well done to both teams. The 14A's produced a five star performance when they defeated a gallant Rathnew team at Shamrock Park winning 5-0. Rovers were fast out of the traps and went in at the break 4-0 to the good. Nathan Gough was on fire hitting a brilliant hat-trick with Cillian Czwalina nabbing the other goal. Rathnew came into it more in the second period, but Rovers did manage a fifth with Rhys Behan scoring from a spot kick to round off a good team performance. Big thanks to Rathnew for the game. The 14B's came up against a strong Newtown team and never really got going on the day as Newtown ran out 7-0 winners. To their credit Rovers kept battling right to the final whistle. On the day Kian Copeland, Davin Kelly, Turlough Byrne and Ryan Quinn impressed. On Sunday the 13A’s kicked off their season with a 4-1 home win over Arklow United in an excellent team display. Richie Carton and David McCormack on his debut fired home two a piece. Robbie McCoy, Kuba Cielecki, Jack Madden and David McCormack all settled in well with the team on their debuts. Sam Czwalina in the Rovers goal pulled off two excellent saves at crucial times with Harry Kavanagh earning the man of the match accolade for his performance in front of the Rovers defence. The 13B’s were involved in a high scoring encounter with St Anthonys B with Rovers coming out on top winning 8-3. Dougie Bowie and Matas Araminas both scored two each with Darragh Reddin, Will O’Callaghan, Aiden Kelly and Josh Murphy all firing home singles in a good all round team performance. Our under 15’s were another team who got off to a flyer with a 4-2 win against Arklow United, David Johnston led the way with a brace, Josh McCall nabbed a single with the fourth coming in the shape of an own goal in what was a good team display. Last season’s under 15 premier shield final was held on Sunday but unfortunately it was a bad day at the office for the lads as they went down 6-0 to a very strong Shillelagh side. The lads never reached the standards they have set themselves in the past and will confine this to the history books, get back onto the training ground and get ready for the new season.

The club are running two Easter camps, week 1 will take place from Tuesday 4th of April to Thursday 6th of April. Week 2 runs from Tuesday 11th of April to Thursday 13th of April, the camps will run from 10am to 2pm daily and take place at Whitegates. Cost of the camp is €45 with a reduction for families with two or more kids. All kids should bring a packed lunch, drink, football boots, shin guards and rain jacket. To register please use the following link: https://wicklowroversafc.com/categories/camp/products

Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Maud Power née Forde of Church Hill, Wicklow Town and formerly of Arklow who sadly passed away recently. Our thoughts and prayers are with her sons John and George, her daughters June, Olive, Siobhan and Grace, her sons and daughters in law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family and friends. Also, everyone at the club would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of James [Jim] Hollingsworth of Rathnew who sadly passed away recently. Our thoughts and prayers are with his son Sean, daughter Margaret, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. May they rest in peace.