Huge win for U13s

SLIGO’S U13s were back in Cup action again last Sunday and had a long trip to Dangan to take on NUIG with a place in the cup semi-final at stake. Sligo got off to probably the worst imaginable leaking 2 quick tries and found themselves 12 nil behind. Sligo scored their 1st try following excellent ground work by the pack with a super break from Sligo’s 2nd centre Oisín Conlon to the relief of the squad and travelling supporters. Sligo No.10 Oisín O’Neill added the extra 2. Tackling and commitment from both sides was excellent. Territory was key and Sligo finished the half in the NUIG 22 and were rewarded by an excellent score by Conor Creaven on the left wing when he took a pass from O’Neill, rounded the last defender and ran towards to the posts to improve the angle of the conversion which was duly converted again by Oisín O’Neill. This left the half time score at 1412 to Sligo.

NUIG opened the 2nd half with their 3rd try giving them a 3 point lead. They were on the attack again when Robert O’Kelly-Lynch put in the tackle of the game stopping another NUIG attack. He was ably supported by Ronan O’Hehir who gathered the ball and ran clear of 3 chasing defenders scoring Sligo’s 3rd try. O’Neill added the 2 with the conversion and Sligo were ahead again 2117. At this stage in the game Sligo’s fitness showed true with a great team score with forwards and backs all involved before Sligo’s out half got the ball after many phases, saw a gap and went over for Sligo’s 4th of the game. O’Neill converted his own try and Sligo had opened an 11 point gap. NUIG discipline began to let them down and Sligo were pressing hard to finish their opponents.

Sligo’s 5th try came through Robert O’Kelly-Lynch who stayed wide for a pre rehearsed cross field kick by O’Neill. Sligo’s forwards had picked and drove tying in many of NUIG’s team and when their back line was caught narrow, O’Neill let fly a well-executed kick for O’Kelly-Lynch to chase down and score. O’Neill converted and Sligo were ahead 35-17. Sligo’s final try of the game came from 2nd row forward Ross Clifford who ran a super supporting line off left winger Alex Harte. Full time in Galway 40-17 and Sligo’s U13 squad have a semi-final match to look forward to on weekend of 7th/8th April. This again was a magnificent performance.