Game of the decade in Creggs on Sunday

The biggest day for Creggs Rugby in many many years will be this Sunday, when the First Team take on the League Leaders (by just one point) Connemara RFC in a must win Connacht J1 League game.

A big crowd is expected to descend on the village to see what should be a really great game.
While both teams will have two more games to play in the league after Sunday, this weekend’s result is seen by many as determining which team will be crowned Connacht League Champions for this season.

Senior Rugby

Creggs win away to Galwegians in League

Connacht Junior 1A League

Creggs Rugby 76, Galwegians RFC 5.

With their showdown against Connemara looming on the horizon, Creggs probably needed a sterner test than that provided by Galwegians at The Green on Sunday. However, the home side maintained their pursuit of leaders Connemara with a high scoring bonus point win over Galwegians.

CONNACHT JUNIOR 1A LEAGUE TABLE

POS	TEAM	PLD	W	L	D	PF	PA	DIFF	BP	DED	PTS
1	Connemara	11	10	1	0	327	105	222	9	0	49
2	Creggs	11	10	1	0	319	93	226	8	0	48
3	Buccaneers	11	4	7	0	219	234	-15	9	0	25

While they erased the haphazard second-hand performance from the previous weekend, it wasn’t all convincing. Having bagged the bonus point with just over half an hour played, things unravelled a bit thereafter as Creggs sometimes departed from their systems and played a more flamboyant brand of rugby.

Maurice Buckley’s try on 4 minutes was the first of 12 in what ultimately became a rout but perhaps of more significance than the tryfest was the fact that the Creggs place kickers greatly improved their conversion percentages and there were no concerning additions to a lengthening injury list.

Shane Dowd converted Buckley’s try and a couple of minutes later his own following a searing break from his 22 by Brian Diffley, next up was a kick chase from Chris Duignan and the bonus point was clinched on 24 minutes when Sean Og Higgins crossed near the posts after a remarkable jinking run by Ronan Dowd who added the conversion.

This left the score 26-5, Wegians having hit back on the quarter hour but Creggs quickly added three further tries from Tom Callaghan, Kevin Brandon and Tom Oates, all converted by Ronan Dowd to leave them out of sight by half time.

Trailing 47-5 at the interval Wegians showed great fortitude in defending their lines during a scoreless third quarter but once James Brandon’s try broke the second half deadlock there followed in quick succession tries from Michael Feeley, Luke Meehan, Duignan’s second from a judicious Tom Callaghan cross-kick and finally Ronan Cahill on the stroke of full time.

This was Creggs game in hand over Connemara and moves them to within a point of the leaders. So Sunday’s game takes on the significance of a cup match and is a must win for both sides, perhaps even more so for Creggs who have been chasing the League from the outset and with away games to Buccaneers and Sligo have a much stiffer run in than the All Blacks.

Creggs Rugby: Ronan Dowd, Thomas Flynn, Tom Callaghan, James Brandon, Chris Duignan, Andrew Callaghan, Shane Dowd, Sean Og Higgins, Maurice Buckley, Aidan Leech, Kevin Brandon (Capt.), Tom Oates, Ronan Cahill, Edward Clinton, Brian Diffley, Brian Coady, Michael Feeley, Luke Meehan and Michael Holland.

Creggs Development Team at home to OLBC

Connacht J1C League

The Creggs Development team will round off the biggest day of rugby in Creggs for decades Sunday when play OLBC (Boy’s Club) RFC in the Connacht J1C League at 5pm.

The Creggs players performed with great spirit in their last League outing away to Portumna.
Training on this Friday (8.15pm). New and returning players are always welcome to come along.

Youth Rugby

Creggs Under-17’s bow out in Semi Final

Connacht Under-17 League Semi-Final

Ballinaloe RFC 38, Creggs RFC 15.

Creggs Under-17’s boys lost out to Ballinasloe in the Semi Final of the Connacht Under-17 League last Sunday morning in Ballinasloe. Creggs began the game well and had a try dissallowed from Mark Purcell for a harsh forward pass before eventually taking the lead through a very well taken try by Aaron Lyons in the corner after great work from Darragh Kiernan, Ciaran Corcoran and Tiernan O Sullivan up front and Sean Trundle, Darren Gately and Cian Glennon out the backs.

Unfortunately after having the majority of possession and territory for the first 20 minutes Creggs found themselves behind after an interception in midfield allowed Ballinasloe in for a soft try under the posts and Ballinasloe followed that up swiftly with a second try to lead 14-5.

Creggs regrouped and good work from Kian Moran, Ronan Lambe and Lorcan Maher was rewarded when Mark Purcell released Jack Deegan in for a try in the corner leaving the half time score 14-10 in Ballinasloe’s favour.

Creggs were short a few regulars and Ballinasloe started the second half by kicking Creggs back into their own 22″ and as the Creggs pack tired and with no options on the bench on the day, Ballinasloe got in for 3 further tries, 1 from a block down and one from confusion in the Creggs defence after a loose kick from Ballinasloe.

Creggs responded with a try from Ciaran Corcoran. Certainly, the scoreline does not reflect on the true balance of this game. There is much less between these two sides and Ballinasloe has been undefeated at this age-level this season.

Hopefully this Creggs Under-17’s can have a full squad available for the upcoming Connacht Cup games as they will be very competitive if they have a full squad – I have no doubt that with a full squad, these lads could beat anyone on their day.
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Creggs Rugby: Jack Deegan, Aaron Lyons, Cian Glennon, Mark Purcell, Ben Finnerty, Darren Gately, Sean Trundle, Jack Tucker, Ronan Lambe, Kian Moran, Daniel Hill, Darragh Kiernan, Lorcan Maher, Tiernan O Sullivan, Ciaran Corcoran, Daniel O’Brien, Kyle Kelly, Conor McNulty, Mark Dowd, and Naoise Coyle.

Creggs Under-14’s win over Midland Warriors

Creggs RFC 43, Midland Warriors RFC 15.

Creggs Under-14s played a friendly match against midland warriors last Saturday in Creggs. The game was played at a fast pace with both teams trying out players in different positions ahead of their first games of their respective cup campaigns starting next weekend.

The Creggs Under-14 squad has been improving with every game during the Connacht League and they proved a bit too strong for the Midland Warriors, with the final score a good win for Creggs by 43-15.

Creggs are away to NUIG on Sunday next in the first round of the Under-14 Connacht Cup with a 12.00 kick off. The Under-14 coaches are looking forward to lots of support from parents for this very important opener of what they hope will be a good cup campaign.

Youth (Girls)

Big win for Creggs Girls in Connacht Under-14 Cup

Connacht Under-14 Girls Cup

Creggs RFC 57, Galwegians RFC 0.

Creggs girls secured a home Connacht Under-14 Cup semi final with a big win over Galwegians in Creggs last Saturday morning.

Tries came from Sarah Purcell, Gabrielle Kilcommons, Nadine Fitzmaurice, Roisin Maher and Emma Mannion with conversions from Siofra Hession.

Up front Julie Ann Fahy, Gemina Verling, Rachel McDonald and Beibhinn Maher were very impressive while Eabha Dowd, Emily Murray, Aisling Nally, Megan Donoghue and Michaela Gilhooly were excellent in both attack and defence.

The Connacht Under-14 Semi Final will be in two weeks time against either Ballina RFC or Sligo RFC, so good luck to our Under-14 girls in that big game.

Creggs Girls put in great performance in first Cup game

Connacht Under-16 Girls Cup

Creggs RFC 17, Ballina RFC 38.

Creggs Under-16 girls played they first ever competitive game last Sunday evening in the Connacht Under-16 Cup and put in a very spirited effort, going down to a very strong Ballina team.

Creggs took a while to settle and let in 4 tries in the first half but clawed their way back into the game with tries from Anna May Keegan, Roisin Maher and Sarah Purcell to leave the score 24-17 with 10 minutes remaining.

Ballina got in for a couple of late scores to put a gloss on the scoreline but the Creggs girls will be happy overall with their first game.

The girls now go into the Connacht Plate competition in this their first year at rugby to continue their development in the game.

Creggs Rugby: Anna kelly, Katie Edwards, Sarah Purcell, Jennifer Morris, Rachel McDonald, Emma Mannion, Grace Hanly, Roisin O’Brien, Elaine O’Grady, Eadaoi Walsh, Caoimhe Walsh, Isabelle Gubbins, Amy Fitzmaurice, Jean O Boyle, Anna May Keegan, Eabha Dowd, Gabrielle Kilcommons, Ornella Varale, and Michaela Burke.

YOUTH Team’s (Boys) FIXTURES

Creggs Under-14’s will play a Connacht Under-14 Cup game this Sunday away to NUIG at 12pm. Please support the lads.

Creggs Under-15’s will play Buccaneers RFC Buccaneers RFC next Sunday at 12pm in the Semi Final of the Connacht Under-15A League. This kicks-off a very big day of rugby in Creggs.

Creggs Under-16’s will play Buccaneers RFC next Friday at 7pm in Creggs in a friendly match.

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 Tuesday 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 Wednesday evening at 7pm.
Creggs Under-17’s are on a rest week from Training
Creggs 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, Under-11’s and Under-12’s) will welcome Buccaneers RFC to Creggs for a Mini Blitz next Saturday with a 10.30am kick off.