Sligo are Connacht champions
SLIGO CORINTHIANS 12 10
SLIGO RFC U15 team produced a marvellous performance in difficult weather conditions defeating an able Corinthians RFC side.
The fixture was hosted by Creggs RFC and played during Storm Ciara.
This match was a splendid battle between the two best teams in Connacht at their U15 age grade.
Sligo played against the wind in the first half. Corinthians using their wind advantage laid siege to the Sligo line for the first 5 minutes of the game.
Stern defence by Sligo forced Corinthians to kick a penalty goal to leave the score 3-0 to Corinthians.
Sligo’s response was to drive up the field from the kick off earning a scrum on the Corinthians’ 22m line.
Sligo’s back line filled the open side allowing No 8 and Captain Ambrose Bamber to pick at the base of the scrum and attack on the blindside of the scrum.
Bamber fended off 2 defenders to score a try.
Outhalf Oisín O’Neill’s conversion attempt into the teeth of Storm Ciara went agonisingly close, leaving the score 5-3 to Sligo with 10 minutes gone.
Corinthians again used their wind advantage to gain field position, camping on the Sligo 5m line.
Sligo’s defence play was immense,however playing with a penalty advantage Corinthians scored and converted a try to lead 10-5 halfway through the first half.
Sligo stuck to their game plan of aggressive defence and were rewarded when Conor Creaven intercepted a kick ahead by Corinthians.
His clever offload to Ambrose Bamber allowed the No 8 to score a try under the posts.
The try was converted by Oisín O Neill to leave Sligo leading 12-10 at half time.
This surprisingly proved to be the final score of the match.
The second half kicked off with Sligo camped on the Corinthians’ line for 10 minutes without reward.
Corinthians to their credit worked the ball into the Sligo half and the remainder of the game was mostly played in the Sligo half.
In a nail biting final 20 minutes, Sligo’s defences were tested to their limits but Corinthians could not find a way through.
Sligo’s heroes time and time again put their bodies on the line in their magnificent defensive performance.
Sligo held firm to win 12-10 with tears of joy from parents and players alike at the final whistle.
SLIGO RFC U15s: Oisín Quinn, Keelan Schoen, Aran Platt, Tom Walsh, Matthew Gallagher, Malachi Cullen, Ben Hayden , Ambrose Bamber (C) , Oisín Conlon, Oisín O’Neill, Ronan O’Hehir, Stefan Roche, Conor Creaven, Alex Harte, Robert O’Kelly-Lynch, Lochlann Jordan, Arann GillIgan, Michael Honeyman, Colum McGonigle, James Crawford, Liam McNamee, Senan Fallon, Max Hunter, Conor Clinton, James Cawley, Eamon Keane, Ronan O’Connor. COACHING & Management: Joe Walsh, Stanley Hunter, Brian Roche, Brian Gill, Sean Creaven.
THERE WERE TEARS OF JOY AT THE FINAL WHISTLE.