WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 28th MAY 2023
The Leinster Senior team suffered heartbreak in the final of the Lanigan cup when they went down 3-1 to a very good Ashbourne United side. Rovers went in front on twenty seven minutes with a class finish from Davy O'Sullivan with unstoppable effort from the edge of the area. The lads went in at the break one up but Ashbourne levelled twenty minutes into the second half. With fifteen minutes remaining Ashbourne went in front and when Rovers pushed forward seeking an equaliser, they got hit on the break deep into injury time for the Meath side to kill off the game. On the day Ian Brannigan, Jamie Snell, Jim Foley and Davy O'Sullivan stood out for Rovers. Well done lads on getting to the final and congratulations to Ashbourne. Our youths A team lost 3-1 away to title rivals Shillelagh B. The lads were missing a few players on the day and in the heat it told. Saying that the lads put in a great effort on the day. Keelan Darcy netted their goal.
In the junior section the under 14A’s kicked off their premier shield campaign with a narrow 2-1 home win over Arklow United on Tuesday night. They fell behind but courtesy of two well taken spot kicks from NJ Sinnott they managed to come back to claim all three points. Thanks to Arklow for a close competitive game. On Wednesday night the 12C’s went down narrowly to neighbours Rathnew B, losing 1-0. This proved to be a highly entertaining local derby between two good little teams, well done Rovers and Rathnew. The under 16’s came up against league leaders Ashford Rovers on the same night with Ashford proving too good for our lads on the night. Ashford were much more clinical in front of goal to run out convincing winners. Joe Culleton nabbed a consolation for the lads. On Thursday night the 12A’s maintained their good run with a superb 5-1 victory over Arklow United A in the premier shield. Alessio Coppola brought his tally to four for the season with a double, Kevin Yan moved on to six in the scoring charts with a single with Freddie Kavanagh [3] and Simon Lynch [2] also finding the net in a good team display. The 14B’s travelled to Ballyman to take on Enniskerry. The team were very much understrength but put in a good shift despite defeat. Stand in keeper Simon Volk, Max Hennessey and Michael Kennedy impressed on the night. On Saturday it was a mixed day for our three under 11 teams in the Jimmy Hackett shield. Both the greens and whites progressed to the quarter finals with good wins over St Anthonys C and Newtown Juniors B respectively. The blues were unlucky away to a higher ranked Avonmore side. The team put in an excellent display and had their chances. The 12 greens lost 2-1 to Aughrim Rangers in an epic Premier cup semi-final. This was a tight game between two evenly matched sides with Aughrim coming out on top in extra time. Mikey O’Neill netted the Rovers goal. Good luck to Aughrim in the final. The 12 whites were another team who went out of their cup in extra time losing 2-1 away to Carnew. The team put in a massive performance and were a little unlucky. Cayden O'Malley scored the Rovers goal. Best of luck to Carnew in the final. Our 12 blues suffered heartbreak when they cruelly went out of their cup on a dreaded penalty shootout. The sides ended square at 1-1 after extra time with Cayden O'Malley striking for Rovers. It was agony in the shootout with Arklow winning 3-2. Best of luck to Arklow United in the final. The 14A's progressed to the final of the Premier cup with a solid 2-0 victory at home to Arklow United. Cillian Czwalina put them in front with a beautifully lobbed goal before Alex Zevastki sealed the deal in the second period to book their spot in the final in a fine team display. Thanks to Arklow United for a good competitive game. On Sunday our 13A’s suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Rathnew in the premier cup semi final. Nothing separated the sides at full time and then extra time with the game finishing 3-3 and it was on to the dreaded spot kicks with the villagers coming out on top. David McCormack fired home a brace and Richard Carton nabbed a single. Hard luck lads, well done Rathnew and the best of luck in the final. The 13B’s eased into the division 1 cup final with a comfortable win over a spirited Arklow United B team. Highlight of the game were two hat-tricks, one from Darragh Reddin and the other from Will O’Callagahan his second in two games. Josh Murphy and Aiden Kelly added singles in what was a good all round team performance to book their place in the final.
Our annual summer camp is open for bookings. Week 1 will run from Monday 17th July to Thursday 20th July; Week 2 runs from Monday 24th July to Thursday 27th July. The camp will run from 10am to 2pm daily and the cost is €75 per child with discount for 2 or more children from the same family. Every participant will receive a jersey. All children should bring a packed lunch, drink, rain jacket, football boots and shin guards. To book your place use the following link: https://wicklowroversafc.com/categories/camp/products or alternatively you can contact any committee member.
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.wicklowroversafc.com or the club Facebook page.
