U-16s reach Connacht Cup quarter finals
SLIGO CORRIB 29 7
LAST Sunday saw Sligo R.F.C. U16s home in the first round of the Connacht U16 Cup against Corrib R.F.C. This was the first times for these two teams to meet. Corrib travelled with fourteen players and Sligo agreed to match their number for the start.
Sligo started strong and the game was tight to begin but Sligo fought hard and secured their first converted try early on, despite having an over-eager Conal Kennedy sin binned for an offside offence. Corrib did well but failed to make the most of their 10minutes with an extra player.
It took a while for the home side to settle, but their experience eventually paid off and their dominance was obvious with tries from Oisin Cregg, Dara Foy and Eoin Ryan.
Adam Hunter’s two tries and their subsequent conversions saw the home side stretch their lead to 29points with no reply.
The whole Sligo team played well as a unit and there was good interlinking between the pack and the back line.
Great credit is due to Corrib who kept fighting right to the final whistle. With only minutes left in the game, the visitors retained possession, going through the phases and spotted an uncharacteristic lapse in the Sligo defence and scored a well-deserved try, which they converted to end the game.
All attention is now turned to the second round of the Connacht U16 Cup in two weeks’ time, which sees Sligo drawn away against a formidable Ballina team.
Sligo: Adam Hunter, Ben Garvey, Brady Lynch, Ciaran Cawley, Ciaran Dolan, Conal Kennedy, Cormac Fahey, Dara Foy, Eoin Ryan, Evin Ballantine, Ewan Ripon, Fionn Feeley, Jim Sweeney, Kian Reynolds, Niall O’Connor, Oisin Cregg, Oisin Diffley, Olan Martin, Sean Gilvarry, Sonny Muldoon. Coaches Michael O’Hehir, Wes Maxwell. John Garvey and Mark Fox.