SENIOR RUGBY

Creggs lose out in epic encounter

Connacht Junior 1A League

Creggs Rugby 8, Connemara RFC 13.

Connemara travelled to Creggs for Sunday’s top-of-the-table Junior 1A League decider and emerged victorious following an immensely physical battle, with the outcome in the balance right to the last play of an enthralling game.

With time almost up, Creggs were camped on the Connemara line but a tremendous turnover sealed a vital win for the experienced West Galway outfit. Despite the intense competitiveness, this match was played with great spirit by both teams and particular credit is due to the Connemara defence which was unyielding in the face of sustained Creggs pressure.

The large crowd enjoyed a fast and fluid opening flurry which saw scoring chances at either end before Connemara right winger Marty Conneeley finished off a slick handling move with a try after 14 minutes to silence the large home crowd.

Creggs needed something special to lift the spirits after this score and it came in the 28th minute when fullback Ronan Dowd counter-attacked from just outside his own 22 and linked with his brother Shane who took his pass at full pace and set off on a brilliant 70 metre run which took him clear of the opposition for a super score.

With neither try converted, the score remained at 5 all but Creggs were now in ascendancy. Connemara looked to be in deep trouble when Ulster referee Robbie Mc Greer produced a yellow card for a high tackle in the 32nd minute.

However Creggs failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and instead it was Connemara who went ahead during this period with a well taken try by second-row Eugene Conroy following a series of rucks close to the line.

Creggs were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, which Ronan Dowd slotted to narrow the gap to 10 – 8. Connemara turned around to face into the stiffening wind and would not have been comfortable with such a slender lead.

Unfortunately, the third quarter did not go according to plan for the home team with the previously efficient lineout beginning to malfunction under increased pressure from Connemara. Several vital balls were stolen and this deprived Creggs of a key attacking platform.

Connemara also showed great commitment and technique in the rucks and won some critical battles on the floor. On a rare excursion into the Creggs 22, Connemara were awarded a penalty which fullback Henry O’Toole converted to lead by 13 to 8 heading into the final ten minutes.

Creggs threw everything into attack in search of a try but Connemara held firm to grind out a hard-fought win, the final whistle being greeted with a mixture of relief and elation by their large band of supporters. Creggs are still not entirely out of the League title race but are now reliant on other teams to defeat Connemara on their title run-in. This is very unlikely, as both their remaining games are at home in Clifden.

Creggs must now regroup for next weekend’s Junior Cup Quarter-Final at home against Monivea. Creggs suffered two early setbacks in this game with prop Eoghan Farrell and centre Tom Callaghan sustaining injuries in the opening ten minutes. Number 8 Kevin Brandon also had to be replaced and these changes were disruptive in such a finely balanced contest.

On the plus side, Tom Fleming has made a speedy recovery from injury and he made a valuable contribution when he replaced the unfortunate Farrell after just four minutes of action. Aidan Leech also had a storming game, carrying the ball with intent at every opportunity.

On a day when each player stood up to the challenge, Brian Diffley and Kevin Brandon were prominent throughout, while the Dowd brothers, Chris Duignan and James Brandon carried the fight to Connemara out wide. Connemara had star performers in the three O’Toole brothers, with centres David Mc Donagh and Eoin Bourke impregnable in defence while Kevin Barry, Eugene Conroy and Niall Staunton also made valuable contributions.

Creggs Rugby: Ronan Dowd, Thomas Flynn, James Brandon, Tom Callaghan, Chris Duignan, Shane Dowd, Mark Brandon, Eoghan Farrell, Maurice Buckley, Aidan Leech, Brian Donoghue, Tom Oates, Ronan Cahill, Brian Diffley, Kevin Brandon, Tom Fleming, Sean Higgins, Luke Meehan, Brian Coady, and Andrew Callaghan.

Connemara: Henry O’Toole, Marty Conneeley, David Mc Donagh, Peter OToole, Ian Heanue,Michael OToole, Kevin Barry, Barry Gibbons, Ian Staunton, Eugene Conroy, Niall Staunton, Conor O’Malley, Paul Lee, T J Berry, Marco Tademeyer, Kevin Keogh, Thomas Sicre, Dylan Slater, Emmet Ferron, and David O’Reilly.

Our Lady’s Boys Club defeat Development Team

Connacht J1C League

Creggs Development 6, OLBC 31.

Creggs Development team battled bravely to the end but Galway city side OLBC ran in three secondhalf tries to pull away.

in an entertaining Junior 1C League game on Creggs’ new 4G pitch on Sunday evening. Two well-struck penalties by fullback Michael Farrell.

in response to a converted try and penalty left the home team trailing by 10-6 at halftime,but OLBC’s superior forward strength proved decisive as they finished strongly
to power to victory.

Prominent for Creggs were Michael Farrell, Michael Holland, Matthew Browne, Mike Fleming, Eoghan Cahill, Luke Meehan and Damien Nolan.

Training continues on Tuesdays and Friday’s for the remaining League games. New and returning players are always welcome to come along.

YOUTH Rugby

Creggs Under-15’s bow out in Semi Final

Connacht Under-15 League Semi-Final

Creggs RFC 5, Buccaneers RFC 10.

Creggs Under-15’s involvement in the Under-15A League ended on Sunday morning in Creggs when they lost the local derby on a scoreline of 10 points to 5.
A real local derby with lots of unforced errors by the two teams on both sides will be dissapointed in how they performed on the day. Creggs had pots of possesion in the game and up front in the first half Leigh Kilcoyne, Eoin Kelly, Ciaran Purcell and Ben Johnson were prominent.
And certainly the best move of the match belonged to the home team after good work by the forwards, the Creggs backs moved the ball wide for Edimar Fimho to score in the corner. The half time score was 5-5.
Buccaneers scored a try with 10 minutes remaining to lead 10-5 and although Creggs owned the ball after that, it seemed that too many handling errors cost them time after time and that seemed to kill the momentum.
The lads will hope for better when they start their Connacht Cup campaign away to NUIG on Saturday 23rd of February away in Galway.
Creggs Rugby: Leigh Kilcoyne, Tomas Tiernan, Ben Johnson, Jimmy Hoey, Cormac Feeley, Patrick Keane, Noah Fallon, Aidan Hoare, Eoin Kelly, Ciaran Purcell, Daniel Flyy, Eoghan Gilleran, DJ Hession, Cormac Dolan, Edimar Fimho, Jack Fleming, Josh Adams Verling, Senan Lambe, and Oisin O Beirne.

NUIG prove too strong for Creggs Under-14’s

Connacht Under-14 Cup

NUIG RFC 38, Creggs RFC 20,

Creggs Under-14s played away to NUIG in the first round of the Under-14 Cup on Sunday last.

With a home game against Westport up for grabs in the next round Creggs were well up for the game. Unfortunately NUIG registered two early converted tries before creggs replied with a penalty from the boot of Andy Quinn. NUIG scored another try before half time which left Creggs a big hill to climb in the second-half.

The second half was much more evenly contested with three tries coming for Creggs from Eoghan Kelly, Aindriú Oates and Andy Quinn. NUIG eventually ran out winners with a score line of 38 to 20.

Creggs now go into the Connacht Under-14 Plate, with training next week and their first match in two weeks time. New players are always welcome with training on Tuesday evenings on the new all-weather 4G pitch in Creggs at 7.00 pm

YOUTH Team’s FIXTURES

Creggs Under-14 Girls will take on Ballina RFC in the Semi Final of the Connacht Under-14 Cup on Saturday week (16th. Feb.) at 12.30pm in Creggs.

Creggs Under-16 Girls will host Galwegians in their Connacht Under-16 Plate competition on Sunday week (Feb. 17th.) at time TBC.

Creggs Under-18.5’s have their first round of the Connacht Cup away to Ballyhaunis RFC the weekend after next (16th/17th. Feb.) – the day and time are to be confirmed.
This team also has the Connacht Under-18 League Final the following weekend after that to look forward to.

N.B. – Always check CreggsRugby.ie for any late changes to the fixtures

YOUTH Team’s (Boys & Girl’s) TRAINING

Creggs Under-14’s & Under-16’s Girls Training on every Monday night at 7.30pm.
Creggs Under-13’s & Under-14’s Boys training on Tuesday nights at 7pm.
Creggs Under-15’s Training on Thursday night at 7pm.
Creggs Under-16’s Training on Saturday evening at 6pm.
Creggs Under-17’s Training on Sunday afternoon at 12 Noon in Creggs.
Creggs Under-18’s Training on Sunday afternoon at 12 Noon in Creggs.

Please note – many training times have changed for February.

MINI Rugby

Creggs Mini’s of all ages ( Under-6’s, Under-7’s, Under-8’s, Under-9’s, Under-10’s, Under-11’s and Under-12’s) will have training next Saturday at 11am in Creggs.
Please note that from this week, no one is allowed on the new 4G pitch without football boots.

Also, football boots must be removed when entering the clubhouse.