Final to look forward to

SLIGO CREGGS 11 9

SLIGO RFC’s development team paved the way for a Connacht Junior Cup final encounter against local rivals Ballina with a hard fought home win over Creggs.

The home side had a slow start, under pressure for the first 20 minutes, but their defence stood up to the waves of attack from Creggs.

Neither side crossed the whitewash in the first half but the trusty boot of Niall Gray gave Sligo a 6-3 lead after 40 minutes.

The second half opened with a flurry and Creggs once again stepped up the pressure on the home side and were rewarded with an equalising penalty on the 45minute mark.

The sides remained deadlocked until 6 minutes before the final whistle.

Sligo patiently worked their way up the pitch and Creggs found themselves defending their line through countless phases of possession.

Christian Neilsen finally punched through at the side of a ruck to score the first try of the game.

Gray coolly slotted the conversion home, to give the home side a 7point advantage.

Creggs opted for the long kick in the restart, and eventually won the ball back, spreading it wide to the wing for a touchdown in the corner.

Much to the delight of the home supporters, the difficult conversion failed to add the equalising points and a relieved Sligo side held on for the final two minutes of the game to advance to the final in the Sportsground, Galway on March 25th.