Celebrations in Yeats County

SLIGO will play their rugby in Division 2B of the Ulster Bank League next season after they secured promotion to the fourth tier last weekend to crown a memorable campaign.

It has been a brilliant season for Sligo and they signed it off with a stunning 37-0 win over the then second-placed Thomond at a packed Hamilton Park.

It was Sligo’s 11th win in 18 games this season but it was arguably their most impressive, as they avoided the dreaded play-offs for promotion.

Omagh’s 19-14 win over Bruff meant that Thomond finished back in third. But it was another stunning weekend for the best team in the league this season.

Sligo will compete in Division 2B in 2018-’19 where they will be joined by Corinthians for two intriguing Connacht derbies.

The Tuam Road outfit finished bottom of Division 2A after a harsh

38-28 defeat against Queen’s University at Dub Lane. It was a difficult defeat to take, as a spirited display went unrewarded and Corinthians fell to their 13th loss of the season.

Galwegians, on the other hand, survived relegation in the final round when they hammered Cashel

50-15 at Crowley Park. It was another quality display from a Connacht club on the final day of the season.

Galwegians went into the last day second from bottom in the league, but Greystones fell below them as a result of that victory.

Buccaneers had already been relegated going into Round 18 in Division 1A, and they went down fighting in a 26-17 defeat to Lansdowne at Aviva Stadium.

Lansdowne finished top of the standings with 16 wins, but Buccaneers almost secured a shock third win of the season in Dublin.