Creggs Rugby 5, Ballinasloe RFC 21. Connacht Under-16 Cup Quarter-Final

Creggs bowed out of the Connacht Under-16 Cup last Saturday afternoon. Playing cup favourites Ballinasloe was always going to be a big ask for Creggs, but they have improved greatly this season and were not lacking in confidence.

This was very much evident from the kick off when Jack Tucker put in a strong tackle on the Ballinasloe flanker and this set the tone for afternoon. After some strong carrying from the Creggs pack, scrum half and Captain Aodha Hession snipped over for the opening try after barely five minutes.
The intensity and tackling in defence by the Creggs team got them to haft time without conceding and they well deserved their five nil lead at the break.

Ballinasloe responded well at the start of the second-half and were rewarded when their out half got through for a try and added the conversation to put the visitors in front.

Creggs responded well but were unlucky when two Creggs defenders collided and a gap opened for an impressive Ballinasloe centre to run the length of the pitch to score.

Creggs fought valiantly to get back into the match but gaps were appearing as players tired from the efforts and when a Ballinasloe player broke free down the wing to score the match was over as a contest. Their out-half again converted and the visitors had survived a scare to advance to the semi-finals 21-5.

The Creggs lads have the conciliation of travelling to Wales next weekend where they will play a Swansea Schools selection in a match next Saturday morning.

CREGGS Rugby: Thomas O Brien, Roddie Mc Guinness, Tom Farrell, Jack Tucker, Jack Hanley, Rory Callaghan, John McDonnell, jack Keegan, Aodha Hession (Capt.), Mark Purcell, Richard Walsh, Lorcan Maher, Jonathan Whyte, Aaron Hannon, Diarmuid Quinn, Eric O Doherty, Kaylem Holian, Colin Walsh, Aaron Lyons, Ethan Glennon, Leigh Doyle, and Micheal Beirne.