Clontarf    1

Enniscorthy 0

Earlier in the season, the Slaneysiders ladies first XI met Clontarf on home ground and managed to secure a 4-0 victory. However, they were not to be as successful on Wednesday evening as they travelled to Clontarf for what was arguably their toughest game yet, with Clontarf in hot pursuit on the leader board.

The Slaneysiders started out strongly with some quick precise passes around their back line and up the right through Graham, Kelly and finally up to Wickham. With some clever passes and good communication, Chapman found Rynhart in the circle, Rynhart took a strike on goal, but Clontarf had other ideas and defended incredibly well. The north Dublin side responded well to the intense pressure and with some clever passes down the left they found the Enniscorthy circle. Clontarf sent many crash balls in the direction of Watchorn and Smith but the reliable duo managed to defend and clear the balls just as quick. With superb linking play on both the right and left, especially between Chapman and Kelly, the Slaneysiders were able to pressurise the Clontarf ladies resulting in many circle penetrations by all forwards.

The interval gave both sides pause for thought. The first half of the game saw the visitors slightly unsettled and they knew they needed to calm things down for the second half.

The Slaneysiders stepped into the second half more composed and settled on the ball. Chapman and Kelly again picked up many straight hits down the centre and sending it back to Enniscorthy’s ever ready backline who distributed the ball well, finding Flood and Graham who were able to pick out space down both wings and finding forwards Walsh, Dunphy and Wickham who again, continued to pressurise the Clontarf ladies. Smith had many leading runs in the second half, beating many players and managing to find our midfields and forwards. Enniscorthy’s forwards worked relentlessly in the circle throughout the game, winning five penalty corners in total but to no avail. 

McGinty, as per, played a blinder in goal. Challenged with many 1v1s she managed to keep the scoreboard empty for some time, along with the help of Watchorn and Smith.

With around six minutes to go, maybe due to a small lapse in concentration from the Slaneysiders, Clontarf made a break and managed to get their desperately sought for goal, bringing Enniscorthy’s seventeen- match unbeaten run to an end.

Squad:  Norah McGinty, Julie Watchorn, Laura Smith, Hannah Graham, Jessie Flood, Leah Chapman, Ciara Kelly, Aoife Mahon, Sonja Rynhart, Nancy Dunphy, May Wickham, Isabelle Walsh, Niamh Ogilvie