Entertaining opener with close defeat

SLIGO had to be satisfied with a precious losing bonus point following an entertaining and hard fought 2016/ 17 Ulster Bank league Division 2C opener at Hamilton Park on Saturday.

Both sides crossed the whitewash 3 times in the game but Navan’s accuracy with the boot through outhalf Colm O’Reilly proved the difference between the sides.

With the pitch in immaculate condition the visitors kicked off playing towards the Knocknarea end and put pressure on their hosts in the early exchanges.

Sligo responded with some good driving play from Jamie Bowes and Conor Mitchell as both sides looked for the early breakthrough.

Following the initial skirmishes it was the Leinster men that opened the scoring on 8 minutes.

A sweeping left to right move allowed space for winger Simon Hogan to build momentum and the powerful runner burst through to score wide on the left. O’Reilly converted to put Navan 7 to the good.

Sligo knuckled down and began to use their scrum dominance to pressurise the visiting defence,

With 15 minutes gone Sligo’s outhalf Michael Wells launched a well judged cross kick across the Navan 22.

Daire Byrne contested well and the loose ball was picked up by the Sligo support.

From the resulting ruck team Captain Shane Boyle collected and drove over for his sides opening score.

Jack Keegan’s well struck conversion levelled the scoring.

Keegan and O’Reilly then traded penalties before Sligo moved ahead just before half time.

A penalty award on the Navan 10 metre line was kicked to the corner.

Hooker Shane O’Hehir found his captain in the middle of the line out and the pack rumbled over the line where Diarmuid O’Dowd- Hill was on hand to take the touch down.

Keegan added the extras to put Sligo 17- 10 ahead at the interval.

Following the resumption it was Navan that took the initiative and an O’Reilly penalty put 4 points between the teams.

Navan continued to press and a lineout steal on the Sligo 5 metre line was driven over to put the visitors back into a one point lead.

O’Reilly stretched the lead to 4 with another well taken penalty before Sligo responded with an excellent score from Stuart O Brien following a well timed O’Dowd- hill offload.

It was the visitors who had the final say however with a match winning try with time running out and despite Sligo’s late efforts to keep the ball alive the spoils went to the easterners.

Despite the loss Sligo can take many positives from the performance.

The front row of Mitchell, O’Hehir and Bowes gave their opposite numbers a torrid time at the scrum.

The Back row of Matt Davey, O’Dowd- Hill and Boyle were lively throughout and Mark Rooney and Daire Byrne were solid in the centre.

Next up for Sligo is a visit to Spollanstown to take on Tullamore. The Match kicks off at 2.30pm next Saturday.

Sligo Conor Kerins, Jack Keegan, Daire Byrne, Mark Rooney, Stuart O’Brien, Michael Wells, Enda Gavin, Jamie Bowes, Shane O Hehir, Conor Mitchell, Ciaran Cassidy, Michael McMorrow, Matthew Davey, Diarmuid O’DowdHill, Shane Boyle ( Capt) reps Ross O’Boyle, Ross Mannion, Simon Coulter, David Heath, Liam McElhinney, Donal Brady. CALRY Parish Church, The Mall, held its annual 3 mile fun run and walk for its seventh year, on Saturday. The route started at the roundabout on top of The Mall beside Calry Parish Church, turning onto Connaughton Road, heading down Lake Isle Road, making its way up The Mall, turning right across the Garavogue River ( via the John Fallon Garavogue pedestrian footbridge) and taking its way along the Riverside to Sligo Rowing Club & Kayak Club in Doorly Park and turning right here to return by the same course to finish on The Mall.

It was a very successful day, proving a very popular event. Despite other events taking place elsewhere, there were 65 entrants for the 3 mile event.

Juvenile races, ranging in the age from four up to twelve took place at 2pm, with 34 children taking part in separate races up The Mall to finish inside the Sligo Grammar School carpark.

Well done to Shane Hayes from Sligo Athletic Club who retained his title after winning the 3 Mile race for the second year in a row in a time of 00: 16: 16, beating his winning time last year by 15 seconds which is the second fastest time on this course since it started in 2010.

The record for this course stands at 00: 15: 48 from 2014’ s winner Richard Gorman. Second place finisher was Ryan Owen from North Leitrim Athletic Club in a time of 00: 16: 50. Jimmy Currid from North Sligo Athletic Club finished in third place and was 1st Over 40 in a time of 00: 18: 25.

Breda McDonald from Balyroan Abbeyleix Athletic Club was first lady overall in a time of 00: 20: 30. She was followed by Roseanne Mitchell from Sligo Athletic Club who was second lady overall and 1st Female Over 40 in a time of 00: 21: 29 and Eimear Joyce was third lady overall and 1st Junior Girl in a time of 00: 22: 02.

Congratulations to everyone who won prizes in this event and to everyone who participated. All the trophies were sponsored by Leslie Bagnall, Cordners, Sligo. There were numerous spot prizes which were sponsored by various local businesses in Sligo.

Trophies presented in the 3 mile fun run and walk as follows: Senior Male: 1. Shane Hayes 00: 16: 16 ( 1st overall); 2. Ryan Owen 00: 16: 50 ( 2nd overall); 3. Brendan McCarrick 00: 22: 12 ( 17th overall).

Senior Female: 1. Breda McDonald 00: 20: 30 ( 10th overall); 2. Lynda Bourke 00: 23: 46 ( 20th overall); 3. Ericka Murray 00: 23: 54 ( 21st overall) Veteran Male: 1. Jimmy Currid 00: 18: 25 ( 3rd overall); 2. Michael Casey 00.18.46 ( 4th overall); 3. Patrick Tuohy 00: 19: 02 ( 5th overall)

Veteran Female: 1. Roseanne Mitchell 00: 21: 29 ( 14th overall); 2. Fiona Lenehan 00: 23: 25 ( 19th overall); 3. Myra Clavin 00: 25: 31 ( 23rd overall)

Junior Male: 1. Barry Cryan 00: 19: 32 ( 8th overall); 2. Ambrose Bamber 00: 21: 23 ( 11th overall); 3. Ashraf Tumuheiwe 00: 21: 25 ( 12th overall)

Junior Female: 1. Eimear Joyce 00: 22: 02 ( 15th overall); 2. Hannah Higgins 00: 29: 28 ( 33rd overall); 3. Penny Lee 00: 30: 14 ( 35th overall) Walkers: 1. Jim Rushe 00: 32: 20.

Trophies and medals were presented in the children’s races to 1st, 2nd and 3rd boys and girls in races ranging from ages four up to twelve.

All the proceeds from this event were in aid of Calry Parish Church and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. Pauline Henry, one of the event’s organisers, said: “We had a great team of marshals on the day and thanks to all the caterers who helped make the wonderful cups of tea/ coffee and to all those who provided excellent tray bakes to offer everyone afterwards.

“Many thanks to the Catacombs, Cosy Cats Ltd for providing the facilities, the Sligo Gardai for their great assistance, Brian Hunt from AVA Systems providing the sound systems on the day. A special thank you to Terry Hayes and Anne McHugh from Sligo Athletic Club for all their advice, support and assistance towards this event. Thanks to Glencar Water for all the fantastic containers of water that they provided.

“A very big thank you to everyone who participated in the race, everyone who helped in organising this event, everyone who supported and sponsored the race and to all those who helped in any way possible to make this day a huge success.

“It was a brilliant day for the whole parish and congratulations to all of the winners,” Pauline added.