Controversy mars Sligo’s play-off loss
CONNACHT GIRLS U-18.5 PLATE FINAL
CREGGS RFC: Sligo 15, Ballinasloe 5 (Thursday, April 18)
Hunter, Sligo Rugby Club Girls U-18.5 squad (v Ballinasloe): Maya Donaghy, Ellen
Hunter Caragh Cooke, Louise Robertson, Sara Mostafa, Ellie Filan (1 try), Lauren
(1 try), Grace O’Connor, Nessa O’Sullivan (c), Lara Clinch (1 con, 1 pen), Sarah Maye, Faílenn McLoughlin, Saoirse Lawley, Ailbhe O’Rourke, Ciara Kerrigan, Brooke Deighton, Sadhbh Hanley, Melissa Higgins, Rebecca Doherty, Alanna Connolly, Liana Heffernan
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B Play-offs UL Bohs
Sligo
S13 12
LIGO Rugby Club have been unsuccessful in their appeal of last Saturday’s Energia All-Ireland Division 2B promotion/relegation play-off semi-final against UL Bohemians.
The Limerick club won 13-12 at Annacotty but in hugely controversial circumstances.
The home side, looking to retain their Division 2A status, scored a try through winger Ihechi Oji in additional time to cut Sligo’s lead to a point, 12-11.
When Harry Byrne went to take the conversion the Sligo players charged in an attempt to block the kick. But the referee called for a retreat on the surge and the Sligo players did so as Byrne completed his kick but sent the ball wide.
The full-time whistle sounded and Sligo understood that they had beaten a side that they lost to by two points at a similar stage last season.
But the referee, having been consulted with one of his touch judges, indicated that the conversion attempt was to be retaken and this time Byrne nailed it to give his side a one-point win, 13-12.
Sligo Rugby Club appealed the decision and sought clarification with the IRFU Competitions Committee (which looks after AIL and national competitions).
This committee decided on Tuesday evening that the result will stand and so UL Bohs will take on Galway Corinthians in this Saturday’s promotion-relegation play-off decider at Annacotty (2.30pm). Corinthians beat Wanderers 35-21 in last Saturday’s other semi-final.
Sligo, obviously, will reflect on what might have been and what should have taken place.
Having battled skilfully for the majority of the contest, with a try in each half from Philip Carter and Kuba Wojtkowicz as well as Euan Brown’s conversion of the Wojtkowicz try, Sligo had dug deep for what would have been a merited win.
Notwithstanding the incredible conclusion and its controversial conversion retake, Sligo had enough possession to have hurt UL Bohs long before the never to be forgotten ending.
In the first-half alone there were a hat-trick of occasions when Sligo were one smart pass away from getting through for a five-pointer.
They did get a try that their build-up play deserved when Philip Carter got over the line midway through the opening period – this unconverted
The number of tries that the Sligo Rugby Club senior men’s team scored against UL Bohs last Saturday.
scored Sligo’s try put Sligo in front, 5-3, as they had trailed early on when Harry Byrne kicked a penalty for the home side.
Sligo maintained their dominance, albeit without transferring this onto the scoreboard, but a 50th minute try from Polish international and former Ireland U-20 Kuba Wojtkowicz appeared to have given Sligo a proper foothold to prosper. Euan Brown’s successful conversion moved Sligo nine points clear, 12-3.
A second penalty from Harry Byrne kept UL Bohs in the game and Sligo missed a chance to negate this score when missing a penalty of their own later on. There was still time for a last-gasp UL Bohs rally and then a bizarre call from the referee.
“A bitterly disappointing end to another amazing season for our AIL senior men’s team,” said Sligo Rugby in a social media post.
“The referee’s final whistle initially signalling the end of the game and a famous win for Sligo. Cheers of delight soon turned to tears with a retake of the conversion. A controversial ending that provoked much discussion.”
Euan Brown (1 con), Hubert Gilvarry, Ethan Faitaua, Ryan Feehily, Philip Carter (1 try), Julian Leszczynski, Brendan Cunningham, Kuba Wojtkowicz (1 try), Matthew Earley, Tom Gormley, Archie Maclean, Gary Duffy, Brian West, James O’Hehir, Ambrose Bamber
Replacements: Ben Hynes, Aidan Healy, Ciaran Cummins, Rob Tiernan, Sean Wynne, Cathal Finneran, Finn Young