Teens reach a final

HELPING HAND: Sligo U-17 player Samuel Garvey is assisted to his feet by teammate Naoise Fitzgerald during last Sunday’s Connacht Boys U-17 Cup semifinal at Hamilton Park, Strandhill.

SLIGO Rugby Club have qualified for the Connacht Boys U-17 Cup final.

Samuel Garvey’s second-half try proved the crucial score in last Sunday’s 10-6 semi-final defeat of Carrick-on-Shannon at Hamilton Park – Sligo’s reward is a joust with either Galway Corinthians or Buccaneers in the decider on Sunday week, April 29.

Sligo trailed at half-time against the Leitrim club, 6-3, with all three first-half scores having come from penalties.

Cillian O’Neill’s successful kick got Sligo off the mark but the hosts were later punished for indiscipline at the breakdown and Carrick took advantage by landing a brace of penalties to go three points clear.

Sligo’s sterling defensive efforts were matched by Carrick in the second-half but the difference was that Carrick were held scoreless and Sligo made a vital breakthrough as Samuel Garvey’s try followed by Cillian O’Neill conversion sent the hosts through to the big one.

Sligo Rugby Club Boys U-17 squad (v Carrick-on-Shannon): Adam Feeney, William Draper, Samuel Garvey (1 try), Naoise Fitzgerald, Michael Cosgrove, Kamsi Mojekwu, Jake Laws, Roghan O’Neill, Andrew Ryan, Cillian O’Neill (1 pen, 1 con), Jacob Norris, Conor McGoldrick, James McGettrick, Piotr Maciorowski, Connor van Rensburg, Mark Bradley, James Mackey, Odhran Buckley, Sean Keaney, James Dylan Barnicle, Rory O’Connor, John Paul Flanagan, Feidhlim McGowan