Momentous day for Sligo rugby as trio make start
FRIDAY, February 26, 2016 will be known as the Irish General Election, however it will go into the history books for Sligo rugby as three local lads started for the Ireland U20s.
Conan O’Donnell, Stephen Kerins and Cillian Gallagher lined out for their country in Kingston Park, Newcastle, as the young guns took on England in the Six Nations Championship.
All three are former pupils of Summerhill College and fellow Sligo player, Matthew Cosgrove, was also involved, having trained with Nigel Carolan’s side earlier in the week.
Conan and Cillian had started for the Irish fifteen as they began their Six Nations campaign against Wales and Cillian, on his debut, even managed to score the game’s first try in that encounter.
This was Stephen’s debut start for his country at U20 level and all three put in stellar performances on Friday, which saw Ireland take the scalp after a gruelling comeback battle to win 26- 20 and delight the travelling Irish support.
At one stage it wasn’t looking too positive for Carolan’s charges as they were losing 20- 6, yet they powered back to win, the first time they beat England in six years.
Back home in Sligo, there were also celebrations and lots of pride in abundance as the three local lads were very much a part of their country’s victory and testament to the hard work being done in Sligo Rugby club to nourish talent of the future.
The victory on Friday was one which was very sweet for Conan O’Donnell as the prop had been on two defeats to the side with the U20s. He told the Sligo Champion it was all the sweeter seeing past England in their own backyard.
“I’m over the moon after this win, it’s really great. “We weren’t thinking that we wouldn’t do it during the game as we always believe in ourselves,” the Strandhill road native quipped.
He said being joined by two Sligo players who he has known for a long time was extra special. “It was fantastic having the Sligo lads there as well.
“I’m delighted that Stephen made his debut as I’ve been playing rugby with him since I was around six or seven.
“It was really great having them both there,” Conan added. “Everyone was over the moon following the win.
“We were getting lots of messages from people involved with Sligo Rugby Club too. They were texting us wishing us well and saying how proud they were, which is really great.”
He said they also got messages from teachers in Summerhill who are organising a bus up to Donnybrook for the next game with Italy. “This was the third time I was playing England as we’d lost twice so Friday made up for that.
“Our coach Nigel Carolan was over the moon too, it’s a lot harder to beat England over there.
“Things are going well this year, there’s a great atmosphere, strong friendships and a great buzz with the team.
“Hopefully we can keep that going and focus hard on winning against Italy,” he said.
Also proud of Conan’s achievements are his family. “Unfortunately my family weren’t in Newcastle but my brother Brian said he was at a fitness class afterwards and someone asked him why he was smiling so much, he couldn’t stop smiling!”.
Conan said having three locals starting for their national team shows the tremendous work being done in the club and schools. “I started playing rugby when I was six with the club and then when I was in school being part of the U18s kind of kickstarted things.
“There’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes and there’s too many names to name, everyone has contributed to us and that shows the work being put in by the coaches, it’s really starting to show,” Conan pointed out. “My focus is with the U20s and I’ll try to get back into the Connacht team when I’m finished here.
“I’m really enjoying it, there’s a good buzz this year,” he added.
Another delighted player was Cillian Gallagher following the victory. “I am absolutely thrilled, we didn’t make it too easy on ourselves! This was the first time in six years that the U20s beat England and to beat them at home meant even more.
“It was a good game and I felt that we played a lot better than we did in the Wales and France games,” he said.
Flanker Cillian said it was such a proud moment having Conan and Stephen beside him on the starting fifteen on Friday night.
“It was a mad night, to think there were three Sligo lads from Sligo of all places staring for the Ireland U20s was something else.
“It was random altogether,” he laughed. “The work of the club and Summerhill is definitely paying off now.
“I was 13 when I began playing rugby with the club and it progressed from there to Summerhill, sport is really big in the school.”
This was Cillian’s third time to line out for his country and he said Stephen was thrilled to make his debut.
“Anyone that knows Stephen will know he hasn’t stopped talking about it! I’m very proud for him,” Cillian said.
There was lots of pride around Kingston Park on Friday night after the win. “My parents were over there for the game, there was a big Irish contingent at the match making their voices heard and we certainly felt them. The definitely made a difference,” he said.
Focus now turns to the home match against Italy in Donnybrook on Friday week.
“We’ll looking ahead to that game now, I’m sure there will be a lot of Sligo people travelling up.
“It would be great to have another victory to follow this England one to keep the momentum going.”
Cillian said he is the only person in his family to play rugby. “I’m the only one! It came out of nowhere really as no one else plays in the family but they’ve been a huge support.”
And as the three Sligo lads are showing, the hard work at grassroots level is certainly paying dividends now as more rugby stars for the future will be inspired to take up the sport.
Ireland next take on Italy in a home game in Donnybrook on Friday week with a strong Sligo support expected.
IRELAND U20: Jack Power ( UCD/ Leinster); Hugo Keenan ( UCD/ Leinster), Shane Daly ( Cork Constitution/ Munster), Jimmy O’Brien ( UCD/ Leinster), Conor O’Brien ( Clontarf/ Leinster); Johnny McPhillips ( Queen’s University/ Ulster), Stephen Kerins ( Sligo/ Connacht); Andrew Porter ( UCD/ Leinster), Adam McBurney ( Ballymena/ Ulster), Conan O’Donnell ( Sligo/ Connacht), Peter Claffey ( Galwegians/ Connacht), James Ryan ( Lansdowne/ Leinster) ( capt), Cillian Gallagher ( Sligo/ Connacht), Will Connors ( UCD/ Leinster), Greg Jones ( UCD/ Leinster).
WE’VE BEEN GETTING LOTS OF MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE IN THE CLUB AND THE SCHOOL. THEY’RE ORGANISING A BUS FOR OUR NEXT HOME GAME WITH ITALY WHICH IS GREAT