WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 18th JUNE 2023
Our Leinster Senior team finished off their season on a positive note, winning promotion with a 5-3 victory over Dublin Hospitals last Monday night. It was the away side who went in front after eighteen minutes, but Rovers were level within a minute from a Tommy Smullen thunderbolt which is definitely a contender for goal of the season. Parity was short lived as the Dublin side were back in front a minute later with a cracker of their own to make it three goals in a three-minute spell. Seven minutes before half time Rovers levelled with a clinical finish from Ciaran McGettigan. The second half was only three minutes old when the visitors went in front for the third time and Rovers were chasing the game again. At fifty-eight minutes Ciaran McGettigan was taken down in the area and Davy O’Sullivan stepped up to blast the spot kick home to level for the third time. Rovers knew they needed the three points and they started to put the away side under pressure, and they were rewarded with twenty minutes remaining when Tommy Smullen headed home to put Rovers in front for the first time. Ian Brannigan came close to sealing the game but his effort from twenty-five yards just went the wrong side of the post. The away side tried to get back into the game but found Jim Foley, Ian Brannigan, Jamie Snell, and Ben Algera in no mood to be breached. Davy O’Sullivan put the icing on the cake in the dying minutes to seal the three points and promotion. Well done lads.
On Wednesday night the under 12C’s gained their first shield win with an excellent 4-1 victory over Rathnew B. Having lost to the same opposition a few days earlier this was always going to be a tough game against a very good team from the village. Rovers raced into a 3-0 lead by the break with a brace from Aaron Lynn and a single from Olivia Stephenson. Rathnew piled the pressure on in the second half but found Loukas Karamalis in inspired form between the Rovers posts. Rathnew pulled one back before Nathan Byrne sealed the three points with the fourth. This was a great game between two good little sides, well done Rovers and Rathnew. On the same night our under 13B’s suffered a bad day at the office when they were soundly beaten by Ashford Rovers. To the team’s credit they battled bravely on, but nothing went their way on the night but to be fair the Ashford team were in clinical form in front of goal on the night with some classy finishing. On Saturday our U12A's were in fine form when they lined out against Carnew. Freddie Kavanagh opened the scoring early and our boys in green never looked back with Mikey O'Neill, Alessio Coppola, Nadal Kingne, Ronan Byrne & Hank Murnane all getting in on the scoring action. This was a solid performance from Rovers, but huge credit must go to the Carnew players who didn't have any subs on the day with each player having to put in a full game shift on a very humid afternoon. Thanks to Carnew for the game. On Sunday the under 15’s had a tricky looking trip to take on Arklow United. The lads maintained their place at the head of the pack with a hard earned 3-1 victory. David Johnston hit the net for the third successive game with a well taken brace to bring his tally to sixteen for the campaign, Sam Behan scored his second of the season with the Rovers third goal in an excellent overall team performance and a good three points against a fine Arklow United side. Thanks to Arklow for a good competitive game.
Next Saturday sees the official opening of our community garden at Whitegates. It kicks off at 11.30 and the official opening will be carried out by Jennifer Whitmore TD. We look forward to seeing as many members as possible in attendance.
Our annual summer camps are 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.
The club in conjunction with our Saturday morning junior academy run a Superheroes Football section for kids with special needs. It runs every Saturday on the astro pitch at Whitegates and will be overseen by coaches James Quinn and James Macklin. The Superheroes section will run from 11.15 to 12.15 on Saturdays. If you are interested, you should register your child by email to wicklowroverssuperheros@gmail.com or you can contact James Quinn at 086-3989769.
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.
