Good wins for Sligo RFC underage teams
SLIGO U16s travelled to Attymass on Saturday last to play Ballina in the Connacht A League. On another glorious day for rugby Ballina began the stronger and dominated the first half leading 8 to 3 going in at half time. Sligo eventually started to compete in the second half scoring two tries by scrum half Cathal Feely and prop Damian Cullen, both converted by Daire Cregg. Ballina responded with another try but missed the conversion. Sligo’s full back Jim Davies then went over for Sligo’s third try with a well worked sequence of play started with a turnover by winger Louie Scott. The game finished with a well deserved victory for the Sligo boys with a final score of 13 to 22.
Next up for Sligo is a home game against Creggs and an away game against Loughrea in the development league.
Another must win for the U15s saw them matched with Castlebar. Two late tries from Castlebar who exposed a tired Sligo due to the work rate had shown distorted the score somewhat but this was a great game for both teams. An unsettled start was followed by quiet confidence led by Captain Ewan Ripon and Pack Leader Leo Layden. This saw Sligo ahead on half time with hard work on the breakdown by Liam Candon and Conor Mullaney. Conal Kennedy and Oisín Diffley need special mention for their work rate and forward drive during this period. Unfortunately Eoin Ryan took an injury at this time and was taken off. The second half saw replacements Callum Murrin and Roarke McQuaid make their mark in the wing and front row. Scrum half Niall O’Connor made it count with out half Finn Underwood. Oisín Cregg, Ciaran Dolan and Charlie Kennedy worked hard tackling everything in their way with a concerted effort backed by a team who are coming into their own under Head Coach John Martin with James O’Hehir and Mark Rooney. Well done all – the opposition, referee Mr James Galvin and the hosting committee who organised food and treats post match.
On Saturday morning Sligo’s U13 had an early start travelling to UL Bohs for the annual Pat Lawler tournament in Limerick. On arriving they found out who their opposition were in the group stages. They were in a group with Cork Con, Garryowen and local Connacht rivals Corinthians. Cork con were up first and whatever cobwebs the Sligo lad might have had were well and truly dusted down once the whistle blew to start the game. To a man they played brilliant with all of the squad getting a run out. They won their 1st match 8 tries to nil. Garryowen didn’t show or didn’t bring enough teams, so to fill the gap Sligo played another different selection from Cork Con and while it was a stiffer test, they won again on a score line of 5 tries to nil. Last game in the group was against Corinthians who had also won their previous 2 games. The game would decide the group and the path forward for each team. It proved to be the toughest test of the group stages. Corinthians were well drilled at the breakdown and scored first. The Sligo lads picked up their game to equalise. The game ebbed and flowed. Sligo scored to go 2-1 ahead but Corinthians pegged them back with a score of their own. Sligo finished the stronger and could have edged it but for some brilliant defence by the opposition. The game ended in a draw 2-2. Sligo topped the group based on the number of tries scored so continued to the cup knock out stage.
They were drawn again Ballina/ Killaloe a club where the great Keith Wood and the late and great Anthony Foley first started playing rugby. Straight away the Sligo lads knew that they were playing in a level higher than what they experienced in the group stages. The final whistle blew with the game drawn at 1 apiece. There was tension while both sets of youngsters waited on a decision over the walkie-talkie and then it was announced that Sligo were to go through because they had scored more tries in the tournament. Up next in the cup Semi were Young Munster, Sligo’s U13 coach’s former club! The Sligo lads really put it up to them and went into a 2 try to nil lead in the 1st half. We suffered two injuries in quick succession which resulted in 2 players having to leave the field.
Full time saw the Sligo Lads bowing out of the competition 2-3 to Young Munster.