Connacht Junior League

Creggs – 14
Buccaneers – 20

For the second week running, Creggs managed a losing bonus point with nothing to spare in a hard fought match up with Buccaneers at The Green on Sunday. Played in sweltering conditions Creggs got off to the worst possible start, conceding a try directly from the kick-off. Strong running centre Billy Henshaw, having split the Creggs defence was stopped in his tracks by full-back David Brandon but offloaded to his supporting scrum half Gerard Fallon who ran in unopposed. David Fagan somehow contrived to miss the conversion and after 10 minutes Creggs secured a penalty converted by Noel Flynn following good work by the pack with Sean Og Higgins and Aidan Leetch particularly to the fore. Creggs were now shading the forward battle with the line out delivering and the Buccs scrum under pressure and took the lead from a second Flynn penalty after 20 minutes. The home side had a narrow escape when Henshaw was penalised for a double movement with the line at his mercy on the half hour and the teams turned around with Creggs 6 – 5 ahead. Within a minute of the re-start Buccs regained the lead when Creggs centre Conor Duignan was penalised and yellow-carded but notwithstanding the numerical deficit Creggs fought back and a third Flynn penalty saw the lead change hands yet again before Duignan re-entered the fray. After 20 minutes Buccs added a second unconverted try but Creggs narrowed the gap yet again when open side Niall O’Rourke displayed his athleticism in catching an overheard lob from Tom Callaghan and touching down at the corner flag. Henshaw got his long threatened try, again unconverted, with 10 minutes to go and although Creggs had further chances including an easy penalty passed up, that ended the scoring. Overall this was an impressive Creggs performance against a strong well drilled Buccaneers side, at full back Brandon hit a number of last ditch tackles, wing Stephen Kilcommons looked particularly sharp, at scrum half Chris Duignan added zip and penetration and the pack generally performed with hooker Owen Kelly and young second row Brian Donoghue both showing well in the loose. Creggs have no league match this weekend, away to Loughrea Sunday week.

Creggs : Kevin Rushe, Owen Kelly, Aidan Leetch, Tom Fleming, Brian Donoghue, Sean Og Higgins, Niall O’Rourke, Tom Callaghan, Chris Duignan, Noel Flynn, Stephen Crehan, Conor Duignan, Peter Lohan, Stephen Kilcommons, David Brandon.

Reserves : Mattie Corcoran, Ciaran Cawley.