Well done to our U19 Boys’ Soccer Team who won the Wexford-Wicklow League Final beating Ramsgrange on a scoreline of 2-1!
The game was a real titanic battle between two well matched sides. Enniscorthy came into the match as underdogs having lost to Ramsgrange in the first game of the league back in October. Enniscorthy lost the toss and played into a strong wind in the first half. The lads put in a serious amount of work in the first half, limiting Ramsgrange to only a couple of chances, with Milosz in goal pulling off one great save to keep Ramsgrange out. Our backline were in great form ready for the pacey Ramsgrange forwards. Even against the wind, we had our own chances, but the ball just wouldn’t fall for us. With just over the halfway point gone in the first half, a wonderful pass from the Ramsgrange sweeper split our defence and set up their striker and he finished calmly to put Ramsgrange one nil up. It really was a pass befitting a final.
The lads came out in the second half full of confidence knowing that they had put in a massive effort in the first half containing Ramsgrange and that they were now going to be playing with the strong wind. Our midfield of Dominik and Ander were really putting in a massive shift controlling the Ramsgrange threat down the middle, and this allowed our wingers and strikers the freedom to attack. We were beginning to get clearer chances now, with Ian Reilly hitting the crossbar with a brilliant shot after about 10 minutes of the second half. Ander then hit the post as he lobbed the goalkeeper and Ian Reilly had a goal disallowed for offside. Clearer chances were now falling our way, but Ramsgrange were always dangerous on the break with chances falling their way also. After 15 minutes of the second half, Stephen Fortune picked the ball up on the edge of the box and sent a blistering shot into the corner of the Ramsgrange net. It was another goal befitting a final. For the next twenty minutes, both teams became nervy and hesitant, almost afraid to push on to win the game, with very few chances falling for either team. As the clock ticked on and legs became tired on both sides, space started to appear around the pitch. With two minutes left on the clock, Cody cut in and sent in a shot that the Ramsgrange keeper could only parry, Ian Reilly was alert as always and got to the rebound first, finishing into an empty net. A nervy few minutes followed, with the added time really adding to the tension. Thankfully, we held firm in the closing minutes and there were great scenes at the final whistle as the lads claimed an historic victory for the school. Thomas O’Brien Cashe collected the trophy on behalf of the school, representing a great panel of players who learned and improved with every game throughout the season.
