On Saturday next in Hamilton Park, Sligo play Crosshaven RFC in the quarter final of the AIB All-Ireland Junior Cup. The kick-off officially was fixed for 2 pm, in a direct clash with the live telecast of the Ireland V Italy game in Croke Park, but both clubs have agreed to bring the starting time forward to 12.00 pm, to enable the teams and their supporters to view the International on television in the Clubhouse.
Crosshaven scored a clear-cut 20-0 victory over Kanturk in Kanturk in this competition on Saturday last, and come to Sligo with an enviable reputation. Currently Munster league holders, they are also very well placed in this season’s campaign to retain their title. They reached the AIB Junior Cup semi-final last season, before narrowly losing to the eventual winners, Seapoint. The club fields two adult sides and has a very strong under-age section. Among the graduates from their youths’ department is Frank Murphy, who is making a big reputation for himself at present in the English Premiership as scrum-half with Leicester Tigers.
However, while the Crosshaven players, alickadoos and supporters are assured of a very warm clubhouse welcome on their first visit to Sligo, they will discover that impressive records count for nothing within Hamilton Park’s touch-lines and goal-lines. The defeat to Tuam notwithstanding, morale is high, and a ‘can do’ attitude pervades the team and the management at present. As in the Coleraine game, this is a journey into the unknown, but as Sligo proved on that occasion, reputations and the alleged higher standards in the other provinces are of little consequence in the white heat of cup rugby. Sligo also have an envious record in cup games in Hamilton Park, which they will jealously strive to maintain.
The home side will welcome back experienced second row, Peter Mullan, who missed the game in Tuam, and he will certainly provide leadership to the side..
It is an historic fixture for the club, so it unfortunate that it clashes with the International, and that so many members had arrangements made to travel to Dublin. It is essential that as many supporters as possible are present, so that their vociferous encouragement acts as the 16th man for Sligo. In a game in which they have nothing to lose, Sligo are capable of another giant killing act in fortress Hamilton Park.
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