Semi Final of Connacht Plate.
Creggs 2nd’s 34 — University of Galway 24.
This game in Creggs started with quickly with Creggs scoring 7 points within 3 minutes of play. Receiving the kick off Creggs were playing with the wind and took possession, where Mark Kilcommons broke through the defence from his own 10 meter line to race home for a try converted by Callum Fahey. On 11 minutes Creggs from a lineout on UG’s 22 used a driving maul where Tomàs Tiernan touched down for another try. On 23 minutes Fahey kicked a penalty adding another 3 points..
From the kick off Creggs won another lineout 30 meters out from where Jack Tucker scored another 5. UG stayed in the fight and on 35 minutes got their first score touching down for 5 points going towards half time. From the kick off UG attacked again deep into the Creggs half where the ever present Mike Feeley ripped the ball clean in a tackle, sprinted to halfway through the UG team and when stopped, off loaded to Paddy Fitzmaurice who continued for another 20 meters, rapid movement left Mark Kilcommons to chip over the defence into the 22 leading to Eoin Kelly being stopped on the line but three passes later saw Pete Lohan in for a superb team try. Converted by Fahey left the half time score 27-5.
UG hit their purple patch and within 10 minutes had 7 points scored. And again got another 5 on 60 minutes to tighten the score to 27-17. The referee pinged the Creggs pack on numerous occasions at the breakdown giving UG more momentum and field position. With pressure on, Creggs used their strong bench bringing in David Butler, Scott Oates, Tommy Curley and Maurice Buckley along with Luke Meehan earlier. This spurred on the Creggs side and Butler’s strength and pace was huge in carrying the ball forward. Eventually winning a lineout on their own 22, Luke Divilly took a clean catch leading to Butler making quick ground to the UG 10 meter line where an excellent pass to Mike Feeley saw him sprint home under the posts where Mark Brandon converted. This took the wind out of UG who were again 17 points behind with 8 minutes left. UG scored another 7 from a penalty close to the try line finishing the scoring at 34 -24.
Team photo compliments of Steve Fahey Foxshots77
