The October meeting of the club takes place in Bree’s Bar on Tuesday, October 10th at 8p.m. Members of the Committee will receive formal notice from Hon. Secretary, Michael Storey, and a full attendance is required, as a number of important items are on the agenda.
Monthly Archive for October, 2006
Page 3 of 3
Anyone interested in applying for tickets for the autumn Internationals i.e. v. South Africa, Australia or the Pacific Islands, or for the historic Six Nations games in spring v. France and England in Croke Park should lodge their application with Brian Mullan, Lisalanna, Strandhill Road by October 27th.
They are reminded that only applications on the official order form, contained in the 2006-’07 membership booklet, will be considered.
Priority will be given in the allocation of tickets to paid up members who are also members of the club’s monthly draw, and who work in the club. All applications must be accompanied by either a signed cheque or the exact amount of cash for the ticket(s) required.
The sponsorship sub-committee have been busy over the past few weeks finalising sponsorship arrangements for this season.
At a special pre-match function in the Clubhouse prior to the Sligo v. Monivea game on October 22nd, the complete list of sponsors will be unveiled. The sub-committee are now finalising arrangements with some sponsors, and this work will be completed by the week-end.
They have agreed that the main sponsor of Sligo RFC for the next three years, i.e. until the end of the 2008-’09 season will be Martin Reilly Motors. The President and entire memberhship are extremely grateful to Martin who has been a staunch supporter of the club and a keen follower of rugby over many years, and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.
The President and membership are also indebted to Gerry Healy, Kevinsfort Ltd. for very generously providing a house for the remainder of the season for our oversees and rugby scholarship players.
All other club sponsors will be announced at the launch on Sunday October 22nd at 1.30p.m.
Corrib, with three victories from three outings, visit Hamilton Park on Sunday next (kick-off 3p.m.) for a very important league tie.
Sligo will be reasonably confident that the Connacht Branch will declare the Galwegian fixture as void, and award them the five points to retain their position at the top of the league table.
However, they are likely to encounter spirited resistance on Sunday from the Headford based side who have already overcome Ballinasloe, Tuam and U.C.G.
In last season’s game between the sides Sligo were victorious on a 24-3 scoreline and also scored four tries. The visitors will probably attempt to keep exchanges tight and try and take Sligo on in the forwards. Although they struggled last week against the exceptional Galwegians pack, Sligo’s pack are capable of rising to the challenge.
There will be doubts about the fitness of loose head, Martin Feeney and open side, Warner Wilders, who were both forced to retire last week, and if they are out, it is likely that Neil Williams will come into the front row, with Joe Sweeney making the switch from the wing to his more favoured position of wing forward.
The final scoreline of 31-16 did scant justice to Connacht against Leinster’s full side at the Sportsground on Friday last, as the sides had been level 16-16 with just four minutes remaining.
From a Sligo perspective, there were two interesting performances! At No. 8 for Leinster, Jamie Heaslip, nephew of Damien, gave an accomplished display, while Connacht’s outstanding player was undoubtedly, full-back, Dan Riordan. Dan is a nephew of Gerry Riordan who is resident in Calry for many years, and is a native of Galway.
The President and members wish to congratulated the Sligo Ladies on their historic victory in Croke Park on their historic victory in Croke Park on Sunday last. Well done to the entire squad and their captain, Angela Doohan, manager Paddy Henry and his backroom staff.
Rose Cawley, who is the mother of our underage stars, Keelan and Gary. Congratulations also to forward Ethna Flanagan wife of former Sligo RFC player Conor and present sponsor, and to panel member Amy Gerrity, sister of our senior full-back, David, U-20 captain, Sean, and U-12 star Mark.
On a personal note, the President extends congratulations to the ten panel members who are past pupils of Banada Abbey.
GALWEGIANS 45 – SLIGO 12
AS the scoreline suggests, an outstanding Galwegians side proved much too strong for Sligo Round 3 of the Connacht Junior 1 League in Hamilton Park on Sunday last.
However, it has since emerged that Galwegians have agreed to concede the game to Sligo.
However, Galwegians’ victory was shrouded in controversy, and Sligo will now bring the matter before the Connacht Branch, as they allege that there were several breaches of the Connacht Branch regulations by the winners.
Galwegians did not submit a team list to the referee prior to kick-off, but they did furnish Sligo manager, Aidan Buckley with a list of fifteen players. This list of players differed substantially with the fifteen who actually took the field for Galwegians.
As for the rugby, Galwegians put on an outstanding performance, and were the best team to appear in Hamilton Park for many a long day. Inspired by the brilliant No. 4, their pack dictated matters, while at half back, the outstanding O’Toole and former UL Bohs A.I.L. Division 1 player, Tommy Ellard formed a classy partnership. The winners had a star-studded back-line. Right winger John Cleary, who was selected on the Irish Times A.I.L. Team of the Year in 2005 scored three brilliant tries. Elsewhere, the aforementioned unidentified No. 17 scored a smashing try, with the equally unknown No. 4 also crossing, and converting his try for good measure. O’Toole, who gave a master class in out-half play, kicked a penalty and five conversions.
Sligo will take some consolation from the fact that they are unlikely to encounter a side in this League even remotely as strong as the side fielded by their opponents on Sunday. They will be nonplussed by the fact that in their two previous outings Galwegians lost by 29-10 at home to Monivea, and also at home to Ballinasloe, when they reportedly fielded a mainly U-20 side. Certainly Sligo did no expect to encounter such a quality side, with players such as O’Toole, Ellard, No. 4, No. 17, No. 2 and Cleary who are more than capable of performing very well in Division 1 of the A.I.L., which is a major step up from Connacht J.I.
Sligo lined out without the injured Julian Rippon and the unavailable Gary Boland and Trevor Sweeney. They were hard h it by injuries to both Martin Feeney and Warner Wilders.
They gave a league debut to eighteen year old David Gerrity at full-back, and he performed well in the trying circumstances. Elsewhere, half-backs Billy Leahy and Gavin Foley did their utmost to stem the tide, while the pack battled gamely against a very experienced and talented Galwegians eight.
Sligo scorers were Billy Leahy (1 try) and Gavin Foley (1 pen and 1 con). For Galwegians winger John Cleary scored 3 tries, the unidentified No. 4 scored a try and a conversion, No. 17 also unidentified scored by No. 8, who was named in the list as Pat Quinn, but Sligo players and some supporters are adamant that the No. 8 was not Pat Quinn.
The list of names provided for Sligo manager, Aidan Buckley by his Galwegians’ counterpart is as follows – Martin Mulerrins, John Cleary, Barry Liddy, Kieran Hickman, Eamon Dowling, Cormac O’Bearne, Tom Ellard, Pat Quinn, Colin Waters, Sherif Mazouk, Derek Boyd, Liam Scahill, Denis O’Brian, Ross Fitz, Spencer Perkins.
Sligo: David Gerrity, Roger Burrows, Andrew Feeney, Cathal Culhane, Joe Sweeney, Gavin Foley, Billy Leahy, Martin Feeney, Ross Mannion, Adrian McHale, Jamie Livingstone, Andrew Williams, Gary Conneally, Peter Mullan, Warner Wilders. Subs – Joe Kelly for M. Feeney (inj.), Neil Williams for W. Wilders (inj.), Jordan Farrington for J. Sweeney.
Referee: Mr. M. Honan (Ballina).
