Hamilton Park, Strandhill, Sligo, Ireland – Founded 1890
Sligo 19 :: Westport 15
A great turn out in Hamilton park on Saturday of the U13 squad and supporters in very wet and muddy conditions. The Sligo squad, made up of very new and seasoned players like Stephen Martyn worked extremely hard from kick off with the forwards Continue reading ‘U13s against Westport’
Sligo 19 :: Corinthians 5
Sligo U16 got their league hopes back on track after a hard earned win over Corinthians in Galway on Sunday last. On a day perfect for open rugby both teams served up a cracking display. This was the strongest panel Sligo had available all season with only three players unavailable, Sean Conlon, Gerard Keaney, Cathal Finneran. Continue reading ‘Sligo U16’s “Springâ€? back to Winning Ways’
Sligo RFC 36 :: Ballina RFC 7
Sligo’s U14 rugby team continued their winning run in the North Connacht League on Sunday last. On this occasion they played Ballina at home and notched up a creditable 36-7 victory in this their third competitive game of the season.
The Sligo boys started this game in a confident fashion and immediately exerted pressure on the Moysiders. Good forward play and a powerful drive by Sean Donnelly resulted in the No 8 getting the first try of the game after 5 minutes when he touched down in the right corner. Continue reading ‘Convincing win for U14s’
Sligo 2nd XV 0 :: Creggs RFC 17Â
Sligo’s 2nd XV lost by 17-0 to a strong Creggs side at Hamilton Park on Sunday last in the Connacht Junior 2 League.
Included in the Creggs side was Roscommon gaelic football star, Ger Heneghan, like some of his team-mates, a regular on Creggs 1st team. Sligo trailed by 17-0 at the interval, but although they dominated exchanges territorially in the second half, they failed to get on the score-board. Centre, Ralph Lucey seemed to have scored a good try in this period, but referee, Dave Roberts was unsighted, so he could not allow the score.
Sligo 3 :: Corrib 3
Sligo and Corrib shared the points in a dour Connacht Junior 1 League game at Headford on Sunday last. Despite the excellent conditions, neither side ever looked likely to score a try from a flowing back movement, so it was evident, certainly by half time, that the outcome would be decided by the respective kickers. Continue reading ‘Sligo Pay Penalty For Not Going For Goal’
Buccaneers are the visitors to Hamilton Park on Sunday next for Round 5 of the Connacht Junior 1 League [kick-off 2.30 pm]. The Athlone side are invariably very strong at this level, as Sligo discovered when they visited Dubarry Park last season. However, to date they are having an indifferent season. Continue reading ‘Buccaneers Come To Hamilton Park’
Sligo’s 2nd. XV are due to travel to Glenina to play Galwegians in Round 3 of the Connacht Junior 2 League on Sunday next. However, a number of the squad have a prior commitment to act as stewards at the week-end’s World Rally Championship. At the time of going to press, Sligo are negotiating with the Connacht Branch about a postponement of the tie. The outcome of this will be communicated to the players at training on Wednesday.
Sligo have been drawn at home against Coleraine in the opening round of the A.I.B. Junior Cup, and the game is fixed for January 5th. [kick-off 2.30 pm]. It is a particularly difficult draw for Sligo, as Coleraine reached the final of the competition last season, won the Ulster league, and were just pipped in the round robins for qualification into the AIL. However, Sligo will be greatly encouraged by the home draw, and this may well be the incentive they require to make a major impact in the competition.
The cup is contested by 16 teams [4 from each province], with the top four team in each of last season’s provincial leagues qualiying. Connacht is represented by Sligo, Monivea, Westport and Castlebar. Monivea have an away tie with Tullamore, while the luck of the draw paired Westport and their near neighbours, Castlebar.
Sligo’s U-13 side gave a very promising display as they were too strong for Carrick-on-Shannon at Hamilton Park on Saturday last. In a fine all round team effort, Sligo impressed in all departments. Centres, Daragh Burke and Sean Finnegan scored some excellent tries, while James O’Hehir was a power-house at No.8. Full back, Colm Feeney is a very talented player, while wingers, Aaron Mulligan and Cian Allen-Kiely also did well. Half backs, Conor Kerins and Cian Mulligan were a very impressive partnership.
The Sligo pack were a well drilled unit and were well in control. The front row of Aaron Donnellan, Dylan Feeney and Karl Devaney was very solid. Second rows, David Connell and Matt Davey were strong in the line-outs, while Cillian Filan and Tyrone Wrynne were vey busy wing forwards. Sub Stephen Martyn also made an impact with a fine catch when introduced.
Two new coaches, Niall Gray and club captain, Jamie Livingstone, have made themselves available to assist in Youth coaching, and these are being allocated to U-16 coach, Peter Brady. With Sligo also fielding a very successful U-15 side, the coaching staff from that squad are not available on a regular basis to help with the U-16′s, so Jamie and Niall will provide back-up to Peter, who is one of the club’s longest standing and most dedicated coaches.
The U-13 coaching staff has been bolstered by Finbar Filan, a former star Sligo prop, who renews a partnership with his former playing colleague, Michael O’Hehir. The club is particularly pleased to welcome the first female to Youth management, as Ber Dunne, who has vast experience in administration in Munster rugby, will assume a managerial role with the U-18′s, where the coaches are Simon Galvan and Ciaran Foley.
Sligo RFC’s online shop, the brainchild of Sponsorship Chairman, and Youth rugby sponsor, Jonathan Hill, is now open for business, and the uptake to date is very encouraging. All club gear and merchandise is available, including playing kit, supporters’ jerseys etc. with more items coming into stock shortly. The new club ties will be available within the next few weeks.
The Event Organiser, Justin Harte, is now busy organising the Alcohol Free teenage disco, which will be held in the Clubhouse, Hamilton Park, on Friday December 21st. at 9 pm. Tickets will go on sale from the usual sellers in early December. This event will be strictly all ticket, and the Committee have decided that only patrons in possession of a ticket will gain admittance, and that there will be absolutely no exceptions to this. Full details later.
This year’s annual Christmas Draw, is again being organised by Joe Burgess, and very valuable prizes are on offer. As in former years, the bumper hamper for the 1st. prize will contain virtually everything a family will require for the festive season, while also included in the long list of prizes are Vouchers for sports shops, Week-ends away, International tickets, Dinners for two, a case of wine, and a host of other valuable prizes. Tickets for the draw are now being distributed and the raffle will take place at the club’s annual Christmas party in the Glasshouse Hotel on Thursday December 20th.
On Tuesday [Nov. 13th], Summerhill College play Garbally College in the Connacht Schools’ Senior League in Hamilton Park. This will be a great test for Summerhill against the school with the record number of senior cups in Irish Schools’ rugby. Coach, Adrian Barrett, is certain to have his team in top shape, and he can select from such excellent players as Conor Brady, Rory Kerins, Aaron Spring, Daniel Bergin, Niall Kenneally, Brendan Glynn and Gary Cawley so a closely contested game is in prospect.
In this year’s Schools’ Senior Cup, Summerhill play Loughrea in the opening round, and Sligo Grammar School travel to play Portumna C.S. If both Sligo schools emerge victorious, they will meet in the quarter final in Hamilton Park in late January, and this local derby should certainly excite all Sligo rugby enthusiasts and attract a big crowd to the venue.
Meanwhile, Grammar School’s very talented junior side, coached by the club Hon. Treasurer, Jimmy Staunton, were extremely impressive in their annihilation of Strabane Grammar School at the Mall on Wednesday last, and they followed this with a clear-cut victory over St. Joseph’s, Galway [the bish.] in the Connacht league on Saturday last. They are certain to be strong contenders for silverware in the New year.
Applications for tickets for the 2008 Six Nations’ Internationals [both home and away] are now being accepted. As in previous years, all applicants must be fully paid up members of the club. As the number of applicants invariably greatly exceeds the club’s allocation of tickets, preference will be given to members who are workers in some capacity in the club, and who are members of the club’s monthly draw. The club President has appointed the following International Tickets Sub-Committee for this season: Michael Storey [Chair.] [Hon. Club Sec.], Rory Raftery [Membership Sec.], Jonathan Hill [Sponsorship Comm. Chairman], Brian Mullan [Club Trustee], Vincent O’Brien [Club Trustee].
