The first game of 2019 for the 1st XI men of Enniscorthy Hockey Club was a visit to Rathdown School, Dublin to take on Monkstown in Division 3. The south east side traveled missing a number of key players and were forced to take on the hosts with only 9 of their own. 

They were well aware that it was going to be a tough day at the office, but Dónal Doyles men put everything into holding their opposition out. As expected Doyle’s men started out very defensively, packing their own half to prevent the Dublin side from having time and space on the ball. The Wexford men held strong but eventually the Dubliners scored despite the best efforts of Hill in goal. Enniscorthy continued their high work rate and held it at 1 goal to nil at half time.

Monkstown were realising they would have to up their own work rate to see off the visitors. The second half, like the first saw Enniscorthy defending with everything, but they showed they were also well capable of countering quickly with aerial balls from Clive Rothwell for Durnan and Cooke to run on to. Monkstown went on to score 3 goals in the second half as their bench and extra legs were the major difference between the sides. Enniscorthy came agonisingly  close to scoring through an aerial ball from Clive Rothwell to Durnan who used his pace to round the Monsktown defence, but his shot went narrowly wide.

The side will now look forward to welcoming back their missing team mates as they take on UCD this coming Saturday when they travel to Dublin once again.

Squad: Graham Hill, Ivan Rothwell, Clive Rothwell, Andrew Rothwell, Jack Doran, Cory Cooke, Seb Rynhart, Roy Chapman, William Durnan