SENIOR Rugby

Connacht Junior Cup Semi-Final

Catlebar RFC 25, Creggs Rugby 15.

26 years ago Creggs narrowly overcame Connemara in the Sports Ground to record the last of their six successes in the Connacht Junior Cup. Creggs haven’t reached the Final since, but Sunday March 24th. will see a repeat of the 1993 Final with both Creggs and the All-Blacks having booked their places with away wins in their respective semi finals.

Connemara having effectively claimed the League title with their recent defeat of Creggs in The Green, and on Sunday last they overcame a doughty Tuam 18-6. At the same time in Mayo, Creggs always had that little bit to spare over Castlebar, their vanquished opponents in the Cawley Cup Final earlier this season.

Castlebar were nonetheless unrecognisable from the side which succumbed so meekly in their recent League encounter and Creggs can be thankful for their good start which saw them rack up a 10-nil lead within 10 minutes of the kick-off.

Playing with wind advantage Creggs shut out their opponents in the opening minutes and following a period of sustained pressure opened the scoring with a Ronan Dowd penalty after 7 minutes. A converted try quickly followed with Sean Og Higgins touching down from a lineout drive and Shane Dowd bisecting the posts in tricky wind conditions.

After that Castlebar came more into the game and Creggs found themselves scrambling in defence with Liam Molloy crossing for Castlebar in the left corner before Chris Duignan did the equal and opposite to leave his side 15-5 ahead at the interval.

That lead was cut to 7 points when Castlebar slotted over a penalty within 2 minutes of the re-start but Creggs centre James Brandon restored the gap finishing off a sweeping move in the right hand corner 10 minutes later.

Creggs looked to have the game sewn up when Chris Duignan in fine form broke out of defence with a spectacular run 4 minutes later but Creggs failed to finish the move and instead Castlebar were awarded an alleviating penalty.

On the half hour mark a Creggs turnover sent Brandon on a 40 metre run along the left touchline for the clinching try and whilst Castlebar continued to take the battle to the visitors and deserved their break-through when it came, David Staunton’s try 2 minutes from time was strictly a consolation score.

So with the Junior Cup Final looming on the distant horizon, this Saturday Creggs play their penultimate League game away to Buccaneers – kick off at Dubarry Park 7.30.

Creggs Rugby: Ronan Dowd, Thomas Flynn, Eoghan Coyle, James Brandon, Chris Duignan, Shane Dowd, Andrew Callaghan, Tom Fleming, Maurice Buckley, Aidan Leech, Sean O’ Higgins, Brian Donoghue, Ronan Cahill, Alan Brandon, Brian Diffley, Eoghan Farrell, Brian Coady, Mark Brandon, Michael Holland and Michael Fleming.

Development Team play Ballina Saturday in Creggs

Creggs Development team will play Ballina RFC on this Saturday evening week in Creggs in their second-last League game of the season. A week later, Creggs Development play Ballyhaunis RFC away.
Training continues on Tuesdays (8pm) and Friday’s (8.15pm) for the remaining three weeks. A big turnout and maximum effort is requested to finish the season on a high note.
New and returning players are always welcome to come along to training on the new 4G pitch in Creggs.

YOUTH Rugby

Great weekend for Creggs Youth Teams

Last weekend proved a great time for Creggs Boys and Girls Youth teams.

It started off with a big away win for the Under-18.5’s. The lads defeated Ballyhaunis 42-7 in the first round of the U-18.5 Connacht Cup. Creggs had a big squad there on Friday night.

Early on Saturday, the Creggs Under-14 Girls defeated Ballina 39-10 in the Connacht Under-14 Cup Semi-Final In Creggs. A big congratulations to all concerned in their first competitive year. The girls already topped the Connacht League undefeated, and now have a Cup Final to look forward to in a couple of weeks.

Later on Saturday afternoon, the Creggs Under-16 boys travelled to Castlebar to play them in the Connacht Under-16 Cup, and came away with a great 18-0 win.

Early on Sunday afternoon, the Creggs Under-16 girls had a great 17-10 win over Galwegians RFC in the Connacht Under-16 Girls Plate in Creggs.

The weekend finished with the Under-14 boys having a good win in a Friendly match in Creggs on Sunday evening.

Creggs has impressive away win in Under-16 Cup

Connacht Under-16 Cup

Castlebar RFC 0, Creggs RFC 18.

The Creggs Under-16 boys overcame a stern test in Castlebar in the Connacht Under-16 Cup on Saturday last.

Two first half tries from Edimar Filho and Tyrese Etete gave the away side a lead at half-time.

Creggs then soaked up a lot of pressure but the defence held strong thanks in particular to great tackling and counter rucking from Ruairi O’Brien, Jordan Kennedy and Aodán Kelly with Shane Connaughton immense throughout.

Darren Gately added a penalty mid-way through the second half and Matthew Ryan completed the scoring with a well worked blind side move.

Creggs Rugby: M Kilcommons, R Colleran, C Purcell, E Filho, M Ryan, D Gately, M Dowd, R O’Brien, M Hoey, A Gorman, J Kennedy, A Kelly, F Quinn, T Etete, S Connaughton, S O’Roarke, J Murray, E Smyth, R Tiernan, L Gregory

Excellent win for Creggs Under-16 Girls

Connacht Under-16 Girls Plate:

Creggs RFC 17, Galwegians RFC 10.

Creggs Under-16’s secured a semi final spot in the Connacht Girls Under-16 Plate after a 17-10 victory over Galwegians RFC in Creggs on Sunday.

Creggs took an early need when a very good run by Caoimhe Walsh was finished off by Ornella Varale. They then they extended the lead near half time when Roisin Maher got in for a try that Eabha Dowd converted.

In the second half Galwegians got in for two tries but in reply Mikalya Burke got in for a Creggs try to secure a well earned victory.

The Under-16 Girls will play Corinthians RFC away in the Semi-Final on Sunday, March 3rd.

Creggs Rugby: Mikayla Burke, Sarah Purcell, Emma Mannion, Ornella Varale, Eabha Dowd, Elaine O Grady, Caoimhe Walsh, Eadaoin Walsh, Grace Hanly, Rachel McDonald, Roisin Maher, Anna May Keegan,Nadine Fitzmaurice, Jean O Boyle, Fiona Duffy, Gabrielle Kilcommons, Aisling Nally, Amy Fitzmaurice, and Katie Edwards.

Creggs Under-14 Girls advance to Connacht Cup Final

Connacht Under-14 Girls Cup Final

Creggs RFC 39, Ballina RFC 10.

Creggs Under-14 Girls have qualified for the Connacht Under-14 Cup Final on March 3rd in the Sportsground in Galway after an excellent 39-10 win over Ballina RFC in Creggs on Saturday last.

Creggs got off to a flier in this game and scored 4 tries in the first half from Sarah Purcell, Siofra Hession, Jennifer Morris and Roisin Maher and a conversion from Eabha Dowd before Ballina RFC got in for a try just on the stroke of half time., to leave the half time score 22-5.

Ballina scored their second try from the kick off and the lead was cut to 22-10 early in the second half.

However Creggs were lucky to have a good bench and they scored another 3 tries from Roisin Maher, Eabha Dowd and Nadine Fitzmaurice to finish out 39-10 winners.

Creggs Rugby: Mikayla Burke, Emma Mannion, Jennifer Morris, Sarah Purcell, Megan Donoghue, Eabha Dowd, Siofra Hession, Gabrielle Kilcommons, Fiona Duffy, Gemima Adams Verling, Rachel McDonald, Roisin Maher, Nadine Fitzmaurice, Beibhinn Maher, Emily Murray, Aoibhin Murray, Julie Ann Fahy, Shauna Walsh

BOYS – YOUTH Team’s FIXTURES

Creggs Under-13 Boys will play Dunmore RFC in the Connacht Under-13 Cup on this Saturday at 1.30pm in Creggs.
Creggs Under-15’s will play their first round of the Connacht Cup next Saturday away to NUIG RFC at 2.30pm.
On Saturday, March 2nd. Creggs Under-14 have just been drawn against Corrib RFC in the Preliminary Round of the Connacht Under-14 Boys Plate.

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 – Saturday at 6pm.
Creggs Under-17’s/ Under-18’s Training on Friday night at 7pm.

MINI Rugby

Creggs Mini’s of all ages ( Under-6’s, Under-7’s, Under-8’s, Under-9’s, Under-10’s, and Under-11’s) will travel to Claremorris RFC RFC for a Blitz next Saturday morning with a 10.30 kick off.

The Creggs Under-12 players played at half-time in Connacht’s Pro-14 win over the Cheetahs in the Sportsground last Saturday. Well done to all the players, their parents and coaches on what was a great day out.