With all the teams enjoying mid-season breaks and all well up on their matches, we now take this opportunity to look back on where all the teams stand in their respective divisions and what the remainder of the season might hold
Under Nine and Ten Boys
Both these sides play non competitive but both are doing well in their respective blitzes and games and the management teams of Bridget Nolan Kenny and Darragh Hendrick are happy with how the squads are performing.
The future of the club is in the hands of these players and it is great to see the efforts of the managers,coaches, parents, supporters and of course the players, all this work will pay off in the near future
Under Ten Girls
This season we have one of the strongest Under Ten girls squads that we have had in a while and under the management of Martin Doyle and his Assistant Rebecca Doran Doyle they have qualified to play in division one for the remainder of the season. They won four and drew one of their five games in the regional section, scoring nineteen goals and conceding five, with all of the sixteen players in the squad playing a part. Mikayla Tobin Cosgrave leads the way as the top scorer but Emer Roche, Megan Hayes and Ciara Kenny have also showed they are capable of finding the net while goalkeeper Eabha Roban has showed she is a talent for the future.
The girls resume their season away to Forth Celtic on Saturday January 7th in the league and play at home to All Blacks in the second round of the cup two weeks later
Prediction: This squad are probably good enough to compete for the Division One title but this age group is difficult to predict and it will depend on how well they can get up and running when season resumes
Under Eleven Boys
This team are the side to watch if you want to see goals as their five games in the league have produced a total of forty goals, an average of eight per game. Unfortunately, as manager Darragh Hendrick says "we score a lot of goals but we concede a lot as well" as his team heads into the break having won just one of the five games but have lost three of the remaining games by less than two goals and only leaders Bunclody managed a three goal winning margin over this group of players. Performance of the season was in the first game away to Fethard Rangers when we traveled with five players and just lost 4-3 while the win came in dramatic circumstances against Camolin in the second game of the season.
Stephen O Toole is the main scorer for the team with Danny Dreelan, Conor Dillon and Oran McGovern also finding the net throughout the season and while results are not going their way, more consistency in numbers would see the results become more positive
Prediction: A couple of more wins before the season ends and possibly cause an upset by beating one of the top teams in the division and definitely a group of players who will form an integral part of the club in years to come
Under Twelve Girls
Last season our Under Twelve girls finished runners up in their division but this season saw most of them players move up to the Under Fourteen side, leaving manager Pat Walsh with a very young squad which also has to call on the Under Ten squad to fulfil numbers. Despite these issues, this young team have managed to pick up three points after a thrilling 5-4 win at home to Rosslare Strand although their other games in this division have resulted in defeats. The positives in this season will come from the fact that team should hold its place in this division, resulting in the younger players coming through in the next few seasons will be playing at the higher level. The other positive is that the character being shown by this group of players is excellent and they will battle to the end, irrelevant of what the score might be at the time and they pick up their rewards as proven in the win over Rosslare Strand. Anna Dragusin has proven to be an excellent signing and has scored most of the goals scored by the team so far with Leanne Walsh also getting her name on the list. There are still some excellent performances to be be generated by this squad and just needs a bit more comittment in numbers to get a few more points on the board
Prediction: To survive in this division, avoid relegation and and continue to improve as the season goes on
Under Twelve Boys
Our Under Twelve boys are half way through the season and find themselves in fifth place on the table but just three points off the top, having just lost two of their six games to date. This is one of Bob's teams that play "total football" and have been rewarded with some good wins and have only lost to the top two, Shelburne and Cloughbawn, both who have physically stronger teams. Once again, Stephen O Toole leads the scoring charts but this time around, he is surrounded by several other players capable of scoring goals such as Robert McCrea, Conor Dillon and Patrick Murphy plus they dont concede goals softly and if they can turn around the results against the leaders in the second half of the season, they could move into a title challenging position.
An away draw to Division Two side Fastnet Rovers will be an interesting challenge for this side and not an impossible task....no pressure
Prediction: Could be one of our teams that could sneak in for a medal if they get a bit of luck and commitment from the squad in the important games
Under Thirteen Boys
This team has played seven of their ten league games and sit just that bit too far behind the leaders to make any serious impact but in their seven games to date, they have won two and drew two and played some excellent passing football along the way. An opening day 5-10 defeat in Forth Celtic came as a major wake up call but the team reacted well and actually drew with Forth in the return fixture a few weeks later. Similar circumstances with Corach. a win in Tombrack and a heavy defeat away would give the impression that this team does not travel well. However when at full strength and playing well, they are good enough to take on anyone with the goals coming mainly from Conor Salt, Conor O Toole, Colm Fortune and Robert McCrea.
They face a tough draw against Wexford Albion in the cup but a chance of an upset is not outside the realms of possibility and they have proved they are capable of performing in big games as they were within seconds of defeating unbeaten Gorey Celtic in the league only for Celtic to score an injury time equaliser
Prediction: Top three finish is still a practical possibility but need to get the away form in the big games sorted
Under Fourteen Girls
Our Under Fourteen girls lost their opening match of the season but have been unbeaten ever since and are currently joint top of the division. Two wins over Wexford Youths as well as a big win away to Corach Ramblers have moved them up alongside Seaview United and North End United so they are well placed to launch a bid for the title in 2017. New signing Nadine Fortune has made an impact in front of goal, scoring nine goals in the three games she has played with this team so far and added to scoring skills of Shauna McGovern and Zoe Tobin Cosgrave, they are proving to be clinical in front of goal. They are also conceding very few goals and have only let in one goal since North End scored five in that opening day defeat. They also have a decent draw in the second round of the cup where they will take on Bree United in Ballyboy and while nothing can be taken for granted, they would be expected to progress to the quarter finals
Prediction: To be well in the mix for the title, or at least promotion, right up to the bitter end and are a side well capable of winning this division
Under Fourteen Boys
Our Under Fourteen boys have only two league matches remaining but can be more than happy with their performances, winning four and losing four of their eight games played. This is a very young side and have great potential in the seasons to come and aside from the games against the two leaders, they have been competitive in all other games including wins over Gorey Celtic and Gorey Rangers.
The main scoring threat comes from Evan Maher and William Kenny while Conor Salt, Adam Jeffers and Rashid Yashin have also being on the scoresheet.
Overall, manager Willie Maher is happy with how the lads have performed and believes there is a big performance left in them before the season ends
Prediction: Difficult to predict as their season is almost over but third place is not beyond their capabilities at this stage
Under Fifteen Boys
As we head into 2017, our Under Fifteen boys are well in the mix as they compete with Kilmore United and Gorey Rangers for the league title with a home game against Kilmore likely to be a key point in the season. They lost 4-2 in Kilmore in October but the game was much closer than the scoreline suggests so manager David Fitzgibbon is confident his side can take all three points when the teams meet in Tombrack. Of course, Gorey Rangers have pulled themselves into contention with a 4-2 win at home to our lads and are well capable of upsetting leaders Kilmore as well.
Josh McMullan has scored in six of the seven games this side has played while Harry Fitzgibbon, David Power and Barry O Toole are also scoring regularly
This division is likely to go down to a very tight finish with that game against Kilmore likely to be the key one for Tombrack
Prediction: A possible league title but definitely well capable of a runners up spot and even at this point it has been a good season for this side anyway
Under Sixteen Girls
Our Under Sixteen girls are sitting top of the Premier division as wel head into 2017 and with some big wins behind them, they are piling the pressure on holders Cloughbawn. Our girls have won all five of their league matches so far and most of them quite comfortably and only the game at home to Bunclody caused any concern as we ran out 3-2 winners.
With an array of scoring talent, a strong midfield as well as a hard working defence and strong goalkeeper, this side is almost the perfect package and their ability to work hard under pressure is what stands them out from the rest.
With goalscoring talent in the form of Becky Connaughton, Nadine Fortune, Shannon McGovern, Kelli Maguire and Nicola Ryan, it is difficult for any opposing defence to contain them
With two big games in 2017 v Cloughbawn as well as away games against Bunclody and St Leonards, this squad has major potential and has a lot to look forward to
Prediction: Well capable of lifting the Premier title and if they can get over a difficult first round cup tie away to Bunclody, the double is not beyond their capabilities
Under Eighteen Girls
Our Under Eighteen girls are competing in the experimental seven a side league which was brought in by the league to assist teams who were unable to field teams at eleven a side. Despite an opening day defeat to Bree United, when we lost 2-0, our girls have won one and drew two, as well as receiving a walkover when North End withdrew.
As the season heads into 2017, our girls are still in the running in what is a very tightly contested league and the small sided goals on the big pitch is making scoring difficult so any team is capable of taking points from each other.
Our side is very young, mainly being built around the Under Sixteen team, and have a few years competitng at this level so the future is bright
Prediction: Well capable of challenging for the title if they can put a consistent run of form together and grab a couple of wins in a row
Under Eighteen Boys
At this stage of the season, our Youth's side are well in contention for the league title and it is completely in their own hands if they win all four of their remaining league games, they will win the league. The team has been very impressive all season although were unfortunate to draw with Wexford Albion twice and this could have proven costly but with other results going their way, they are still well in the running.
The team is well balanced throughout with an excellent defence, dominant midfield and forwards capable of scoring goals so it has to be felt the team is good enough to take the title. Manager Willie Maher is confident he has the players to win this division and will drive them hard in their quest to do so.
Several players are showing the desire to win with Jack Kehoe, Evan Maher, John Kavanagh and the Kenny brothers, Kieran and Kevin, all enjoying a good season.
A good cup run is also not beyond belief if the draw is good to them and they can get past St Josephs in the first round
Prediction: Team is definitely good enough to win this division and will do so if they work hard enough in the four vital games in the coming months
Women
As we head into the new year, the Women's team sit joint top of Division Three and remain unbeaten with five wins and a draw. As with the Youths team, the destination of the league title sits completely in their own hands and if they continue their good run into 2017, a league title is definitely possible.
Even at this stage they are seven points clear of third place so promotion is almost a definite at this stage although they do have some tricky games to come.
With a mixture of experience and youth, the team possess everything required to win the division and their goalscoring tally in the league is 21 for with just 2 against. Several players are capable of scoring goals with Sarah Merrigan, Sharon Walsh, Mary Boland, Tammy Hennessy and Kelli Maguire all finding the net on a regular basis while defensively the team is proving to be very strong.
Manager Peter Doyle is happy with the way the experience and youth has gelled together and if the team can remain injury free, they are well capable of enjoying a very successful season
Prediction: Team definitely good enough to win the league but will just need to be a little more clinical in front of goal and work harder at killing off games earlier
Men's Second Team
A poor start to the season, where they only picked up one point from a possible twelve, gave the impression that our men's second team were out of their depth in Division Four A. However in the nine games after that, they have only lost once and have pulled themselves from the bottom of the division up to third.
With Cloughbawn looking to have the title more or less wrapped up, St Josephs look set to finish second but our lads can still catch them if they can put in a consistent run in their remaining five games.
Players have hit form in front of goal at this important point of the season with John Ryan in particular beginning to pick off scores in vital matches, scoring the only goal of the game at home to Boolavogue being a typical example.
With a good mixture of the Youth team blending into this team as well as a good level of experience in the shape of James Hendrick, David Kennedy and Savo, this team are well capable of getting promoted for the second season in a row
Prediction: Well in for promotion and with a bit of good luck, runners up spot can still be achieved
Men's First Team
Our men's first team are having a topsy turvy season that could see them finish anywhere from relegated to promoted as they currently sit second from bottom but with five in games in hand on the teams around them.
A decent run in the LFA Junior Cup saw them knock out LSL side Enniskerry YC and Wexford League Premier side Kilmore United, before being eventually knocked out by Curracloe in the third round. Games being called off for various other reasons means that our lads have only played six league matches while most of the teams in the division have played twelve.
Two recent good wins at home to Wexford Bohs (3-0) and Curracloe United (6-0) has them poised just behind St Leonards and another win would see them rocket up the league table.
The team have an overall balance of youth and experience and is gelling well together with several players scoring goals and new signings Jason Maguire (goal) and Tommy Devereux (midfield) are both making a major impact on an already strong side.
As they have less than a third of their league season played, they can expect a busy 2017 which can be a good advantage if the team can stay injury and suspension free
Manager Joe Newe is confident that this side can make it to, and compete, in the Premier Division and this could be the season to achieve that ambition
Prediction: Anything can happen, from a season long battle against relegation to a strong push for promotion and on current form and confidence, it will be a big push for a top three finish....with two good cup runs thrown in for good measure
No comments:
Post a Comment