A pair of hat tricks was the story of the day as our 15s had a convincing win over Galwegians Black on Saturday in the Green.Going into this first round cup tie it had been six weeks since our last league fixture so how the team reacted to the long break was anyone’s guess. However fears of rustiness were allayed from the kick off as the boys went about their business in a determined fashion and were rewarded as soon as the fourth minute when pack leader and number 8 Edward Clinton got over in the right corner for an unconverted try.Four minutes later the same player was up in support of a good handling phase to again touch down for his and the teams second try,with the conversion again been off target.Ten nil up after 8 minutes the boys attacked with wave after wave culminating in outside centre Adam Whyte getting over on the 13th minute for another unconverted try.The same player ran a stong line to take an offload off his centre partner and captain Brian Diffley to touch down on 22 minutes.Three minutes later outstanding open side Thomas O Byrne crossed for try number five and on the stroke of half time out half Michael Farrell got over with Conor Shanagher adding the two points leaving the half time score at 32 nil.
The second half saw Wegians getting stuck in and early pressure saw them breach our line for 5 points.Our boys responded in strong fashion with Dan Butt picking and driving from close in to burrow over and Whyte completing his hat trick from a long way out with substitute scrum half Shane Purcell adding the points.Clinton got in on the hat trick act crossing in the 25th minute.Wegians scored a second consolation try in the 27th minute but Creggs had the last word when Diffley got under the posts after one of his legendary barnstorming runs leaving an easy two points for Purcell.
The basis of this win was a committed rucking performance with Aidan Devine,Sean Doorly and Dan Butt leading the way in that so important depatrment.The defensive line was fast and the set srum was solid putting our excellent back row into a controlling role.Outhalf Michael Farrell mixed up his game well and importantly kept his pack going forward.
Next up is an away fixture to Cup favorites Castlebar in two weeks but if our boys can kick on from this performance,anything is possible.
Max Bannon,Rory Cunniffe,Dan Butt,Aidan Devine,James Fetherstone,Richard Thomson,Edward Clinton,Thomas O Byrne,James Mc Nally,Michael Farrell,Conor McNeill,Brian Diffley(capt),Adam Whyte.Sean Doorly,Conor Shanagher,Andrew Mannion,Mark Tarmey,Niall Cunniffe,Shane Purcell