SENIOR RUGBY 

Creggs crowned League Champions with game in hand

With Tuam RFC defeating Castlebar RFC by 25-17 last Sunday, Creggs were crowned Connacht Junior League Champions with a game in hand. Creggs are now well equipped to look forward with confidence to playing in the top flight next season.

LEAGUE TABLE CONNACHT J1B LEAGUE

Pos	Team	Played	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	BP	Ded	Pts
1	Creggs	13	10	1	2	234	114	120	5	0	47
2	Castlebar	13	8	1	4	291	202	89	7	-1	40
3	Tuam	13	7	2	4	256	175	81	8	0	40
4	Corinthians	13	7	0	6	262	206	56	7	-1	34
5	NUIG	13	6	1	6	284	240	44	7	0	33
6	Ballinrobe	12	5	0	7	192	260	-68	4	0	24
7	Corrib	13	4	1	8	142	332	-190	1	0	19
8	Dunmore	12	1	0	11	189	321	-132	6	-1	9

Round 14 Connacht League V Corrib RFC

Despite having won the Connacht Junior League, the Creggs First Team is currently down to play Corrib RFC on Sunday next in Headford (KO: 2.30pm) in the final round. However, Creggs is attempting to accommodate Corrib RFC with a change of fixture as their team is due to entertain a touring side on that date. Details will be announced of any change during the week. Training continues on Tuesday and Friday nights.

Creggs run Sligo close in Junior Cup Semi Final

Sligo  13,  Creggs  11.

Creggs came up just short in a tremendous Connacht Cup semi-final against Sligo RFC who now go on to contest the final against Ballina who easily overcame Connemara in the other semi.  

 Played in ideal conditions this was a classic cup tie with scoring chances few and far between and the only difference between the sides at the finish was that Sligo scored their try near the posts to afford an easy conversion whereas Creggs reply was in the corner and the attempted conversion went agonisingly wide.  

 From the start it was clear that we were in for an epic contest between two well-drilled and in-form packs and it ultimately ended honours even with neither side leaving anything behind on the pitch.   

 Creggs threatened the home line at the end of the first quarter but the siege was lifted when they conceded a penalty and Sligo took the initiative in the second quarter, out-half Niall Gray scoring two penalties in the 34th and 37th minutes before a timely response from Mark Brandon just before half-time left Sligo ahead 6 – 3 at the interval.  

 Sligo pounded the Creggs line at the start of the second half but the defence held and Creggs drew level with fifteen minutes remaining when Brandon landed a difficult penalty to set up a grandstand finish.  

 Sligo made the breakthrough first, a forwards drive yielding a try near the posts with Gray adding the easy conversion. 

 Creggs struck back, a great burst by Aidan Leech stopped just short under the posts, the ball was then whipped out the line with Elliot Jennings crossing in the right corner. Brandon made a brave effort at the difficult conversion from the touchline but it drifted slightly to the right and Sligo held out for a narrow victory.

Creggs Rugby: Kevin Gavin, Ryan Horan, Elliot Jennings, Tom Callaghan (Capt.), Chris Duignan, Mark Brandon, Andrew Callaghan, Kevin Brandon, Alan Brandon, James Brandon, Brian Donoghue, Mike Blighe, Aidan Leech, Sean Og Higgins, Tom Fleming, Eoghan Farrell, Ronan Cahill, Peter Lohan, Barry Egan, and Ruairi O’Brollochain.

Curley Cup Final 

Creggs First Team will also play Corinthians RFC on Friday, the 30th. of March in the Curly Cup Final. The game will be played in Ballyhaunis 7.30pm.

Creggs Second Team in home League Semi-Final v Galwegians 

Creggs Second Team will play Galwegians RFC in the Connacht J2 League Semi-Final in Creggs on Sunday week (25/03) at 2.30pm. Back in early November, Creggs defeated Galwegians in a very tight game by 7 pts. to 5 pts. Creggs will have to prepare well for this big game.

 Creggs Second Team will also play Loughrea RFC in the Ard Na Cregg Cup Quarter-Final in Creggs on Sunday, April 8th. at 2.30pm.   

 Training continues on Tuesday and Friday nights. New and returning players alway welcome.

YOUTH RUGBY

Creggs Under-16’s to play Connacht Cup Quarter-Final on Monday

Creggs Under-16’s Travel to play Cup favourites Galwegians RFC next Monday 19th. (Bank holiday) in the Quarter Final of the Under-16 Connacht Cup. Kick off is scheduled for 12pm. Please support the lads in this important game. Training continues every Thursday night at 7pm.

Creggs defeat Westport in Connacht Under-17 Plate

Creggs RFC  20,    Westport RFC  12.

Creggs Under-17’s, minus a few regulars took on a strong Westport outfit on Sunday morning in Creggs and came out on top in a 20-12 victory. 

 Creggs began the game well and up front Eric O Doherty, Adam Donnelly, Rory Callaghan, Jack Tucker and John McDonnell were exceptional in their ball carrying in the early stages, taking the ball at pace and causing issues for the Westport defence and it was through their good work that they fed their backs.

 Cian Glennon fed Mark Purcell who released Lorcan Maher, and with still a lot of work to do, he beat two defenders to go over in the corner for the opening score. 

 Creggs increased their lead after 15 minutes when good work from Aaron Hannon, Ryan O Keefe in the backs was taken on further up front by Ronan Lambe and Rhoddie McGuinness and when Westport were penalised for offside at the breakdown Mark Purcell slotted the penalty for a 8-0 lead.

 It was after that Creggs score  that the bigger Westport pack took control for a period in the game and scored two tries to take a 12-8 lead after 10 minutes of the second half. 

 The Creggs boys regrouped and scored two tries. The first from Conor McNulty after good work from Ciaran Corcoran and Jonathan Whyte. The second was a very well worked try by Cian Glennon after excellent work from Eric O Doherty and Rory Callaghan, and a conversion from Mark Purcell sealed the victory.

 Creggs Under-17’s will now play a home Connacht Quarter-Final v Oughterard RFC on Sunday, April 8th. at 12 Noon in Creggs. Under-17 Training continues on Thursday nights at 7pm.

Creggs Rugby: Ryan O Keefe, Aaron Hannon, Lorcan Maher, Mark Purcell, Jonathan Whyte, Cian Glennon, Ben Finnerty, Micheal Beirne, Eric O Doherty, Rhoddie McGuinness, Adam Donnelly, Ronan Lambe, Jack Tucker, Rory Callaghan, John McDonnell, Ciaran Corcoran, Diarmuid Quinn, and Conor McNulty.

Under-18.5’s lose out away to Westport in the cup

Westport RFC 29,   Creggs RFC 17. 

Creggs went into this game as favourites but missing 5 players from their League Final starting team it was always going to be a difficult task away from home.

 Westport started strongly and raced into an early 15 points lead. Then Creggs full back Jack Hanley was harshly yellow carded and this match could have been effectively over before half time. 

 But the Creggs 14 men hit their straps and Aodah Hession sniped in for a good try just before the break.

 However the second half started like the first with Westport on top and they stretched their lead to 22 -7. It looked to be cruising to victory. 

 However with 15 minutes to go Creggs found their form and two quick tries from Tom Farrell and Eoin McDonnell had the visitors just 5 points behind entering the last five minutes. Creggs piled on the pressure for the winning score. It looked as it might come but an intercept on the Westport 22 saw the home team run the length of the pitch for the decisive converted try that sees them progress to the cup semi-final as deserved winners of this encounter.

 Creggs Under-18.5’s will now play Galwegians away in Galway in the Connacht Plate That game is on Sunday (March 25th.) at 12 Noon. Loughrea or old rivals Ballina will await the winners in the Semi-Final. This will be a tough competition but with a full squad back, this talented group of players can sign-off from Youth rugby with another Connacht title. Training on Friday nights.

Creggs Rugby: Matthew Curley, Aaron Glennon, Melvin Conteh, Brian Maloney, Adam Finnerty, John Martin, Conor Rohan, Eoghan Coyle, Danny Arnold, Jason Hoare, Mairtin Quinn, Eoin Mc Donnell, Amaury Duarte, Tom Farrell, Kaylem Holian, Aodha Hession, Jack Hanley, Tomas O Brien, Aidan Connolly, Tim Lambe. 

 

Under-14’s unlucky to lose Cup Qtr-Final to League champions

Corinthians RFC 17,   Creggs RFC 12.

Creggs Under-14’s put in a brilliant performance away from home in Galway last Sunday afternoon. The lads just came up short against the team that recently beat them in the Connacht League Final. The winning margin of a single score was 17-12. 

 The Creggs lads battled very bravely against their bigger opponents and in the end, this game really came down to a bounce of the ball which went the way of the home side.

 Creggs defended very well throughout the game and Daniel Flynn, Edimar Fimho and Ciaran Purcell in the back row especially put in storming performances, time after time chopping their opponents and stopping their progress.

 However, it was Corinthians who took an early lead when they made a break in the centre and scored under the posts for a 7-0 lead. 

 Then it was Creggs who played the better rugby after that score with Ben Johnson, Michael Mcateer, Lee Kilcoyne, and Tomas Tiernan carrying very well up front and the backs moving the ball well through Cormac Dolan, Oisin O Beirne, Aodhan looby and Tadg Lyons. This lead to Corinthians being penalised at the breakdown after 15 minutes, and a quickly taken penalty from Ciaran Purcell saw him carry the ball into the 22″ and he fed DJ Hession, who released Jack Fleming who drew the final man to send in Ryan Conlon for the super score.

 In the second half Corinthians regained the upper hand with an early try when their bigger forwards picked and drove and although the Creggs boys stopped them on numerous occasions eventually they got over to leave the score 12-5. 

 The Creggs boys again showed  their great character and were now taking on their opponents upfront and releasing their fast backs but some good defending by the Corinthians back 3 kept the Creggs boys out.

 However, Creggs did get in for a score after 18 minutes when a fine individual effort from Ciaran Purcell. He intercepted a pass from between their 9 to 10 at the back of the line out on the 10 metre line and although two Corinthians backs tackled him, he kept on his feet and broke the tackles to go over for a try which Ryan Conlon expertly converted to leave the scores tied at 12-12.

 A draw looked likely at this stage but Corinthians regained the ball and went on the attack, Creggs twice turned the ball over but will rue the fact that their kicks did not find touch twice and the ball bounced kindly for the Corinthians attacker to go in unopposed for a score with 2 minutes left. 

 The Creggs boys never say die attitude showed again however when they regained the ball and moved it wide only for Tadg Lyons to get tackled into touch just 2 metres from the line with the last play of the game.  

 It was a great performance against the Under-14 Connacht League champions from this very promising Creggs team. We will be hearing a lot more about them in the years to come, and they now have a tour to Wales to look forward to at the start of April. Creggs Under-14’s training continues each Tuesday night at 7pm.

Creggs Rugby: Ryan Conlon, Oisin O’Beirne, Tadg Lyons, Jack Fleming, Aodhan Looby, Cormac Dolan, DJ Hession, Andy Quinn, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Sean Curley, Patrick Keane, Lee Kilcoyne, Michael McAteer, Tomas Tiernan, Ben Johnson, Aidan Hoare, Ciaran Purcell, Edimar Fimho, Danial Flynn, Logan Gore, Shane Walsh, Senan Lambe, Aindriu Oates, and Shane Maloney. 

Creggs Under-15’s lose out to Sligo in the cup

Sligo RFC 11,   Creggs RFC 3.

In Sligo on Sunday last, the Creggs Under-15’s team came up second best in a closely fought encounter with Sligo RFC. 

 Creggs, undefeated since Christmas, but short some players last Sunday, finally had their winning streak brought to a bitter end with a score line of 11-3 at the final whistle. 

 This talented team now have a tour to Wales to look forward to at the start of April. And next season, this fine group will expect to reach new heights as Under-16’s. Creggs Under-15’s training continues in preparation for the game in Wales.

Creggs Rugby: Luke Butt, Anthony Gorman, Michael Hoey, Jordan Kennedy, Aodan Kelly, Sean O’Roarke, Frankie Quinn, Shane Connaughton, Mark Dowd, Darren Gately, Robert Colleran, David Gacquin, Matthew Ryan, Eoin Ward, Mark Kilcommons, Dara Hughes, and Luke Gregory.

Creggs Under-13’s v Gort in Connacht Plate Quarter-Final

Creggs Under-13’s are down to play Gort away in Connacht Under-13 Plate Quarter-Final at 1.30pm.

The Under-13’s training continues every Tuesday night at 6pm on the Astro Turf in Roscommon.

MINI RUGBY

All Creggs Minis will have their last full training of the season in Creggs on St Patricks Day morning. 

A big turn-out is expected with treats after and also tea, coffee and biscuits in the clubhouse for parents and coaches. 

 The following weekend the Under-10’s will be at their Connacht Blitz on Saturday 24th of March in Sligo RFC.

 And on Sunday 25th of March Creggs Under-9’s have been invited to Blitz in Mullingar RFC.

 Also news that Creggs  Under-11’s will play in the Garryowen Rugby Festival on Saturday, April 7th. in Limerick.

 New players always welcome in each age-group from Under-7 up to Under-12. Also, we will have news on Girls Mini Rugby in the coming weeks.

CREGGS RUGBY LOTTO

The Creggs Rugby Lotto Draw numbers this week were: 2, 11, 21, 32. There was no winner of the jackpot, which now rises to €7,300 for the next weekly draw. 

The winner of the Lucky Dip draw this week was RONAN KILCOMMONS.

Please support the Creggs Rugby Lotto, as we develop our new training and playing facilities for all our Mini, Youths, Schools and Senior Players. Your support is much appreciated!