On Sunday in a wind and rain swept Dexcom Stadium the premier competition in Connacht Rugby, the J1A League, played its final with Creggs RFC V Dunmore RFC. Creggs kicked and mounted surge after surge to the Dunmore 22 but a spilled ball or a knock on would lead to 40 meter clearance kicks. Most of the first half was played between both 22s. Creggs best effort saw Tavai stripped in a tackle short of the try line. Discipline was good and Creggs only gave away one kickable penalty 45 meters out which bounced off the posts and was cleared on 29 minutes. Mark Dowd saw one clearance kick go back 10 meters over his head and on the 40 ,imutes he was glad to kick direct to touch for half time. Eoghan Cahill was injured in the last play and was replaced by the experienced Tom O’Brien.

 

 

From the kick off Creggs planted themselves at the Dunmore 22 and with the strong wind Dunmore found out it was near impossible to kick to touch further than the 22. Creggs kept the pressure on and attacked through forwards and backs but being stopped short each time. On 51 minutes the first score of the game appeared when Ronan Dowd kicked a penalty from 30 out. From the Dunmore kick off Creggs ran at pace releasing Dean O’Reilly down the left wing and was fouled 15 out with Dunmore receiving a yellow. Creggs freshened up the side with Cormac Dolan, Ronan Cahill and Aodan Kelly coming on. On 63 minutes Dunmore breached the defence and Dolan made a try saving tackle. Dunmore won a penalty kicking to 5 out and mauled their way over the line for a try with the conversion bouncing off the posts again. Lee Kilcoyne and Chris Duignan subbed in to keep the pace up. Cormac Dolan took a ball from a scum on his 10 and raced to the Dunmore 22 winning a penalty. This attempt by Ronan Dowd bounced off the post and Creggs won a scrum. The strong scrum saw Ronan Dowd kick across field where Mark Purcell gathered and touched down in the right corner. Creggs now led 8-5. Tiernan and Fleming were subbed in and shortly afterwards Creggs won a penalty 45 out where Purcell again kicked 3 pushing the final score to 11- 5.

 

 

Photos by Connacht Rugby and Club and Community and Steve Fahey Foxshots77