Brave Sligo Make It Five From Five In Castlebar

Castlebar 16 – Sligo 20

Outstanding commitment and endeavour saw Sligo battle to a tense 20-16 victory in atrocious conditions away to Castlebar on Sunday in Cloondeash. Sligo came into the game unbeaten but with plenty to prove following last weeks abysmal performance in Creggs, and major improvement was required against a rugged Castlebar side, who had claimed a number of prized scalps this season and who boast one of JL1’s most impressive players in South African prop Eugene Butterworth. Sligo’s task was made tougher by the absence of their outstanding forward so far this season, James Wilson, who was replaced by Jamie Bowes, following his eye-catching performance for the seconds last week. Bowes was joined in the second row by the seasoned Peter Mullan while Martin Feeney returned at tight-head prop to add his considerable bulk to the Sligo pack in the only changes from the side that struggled in Creggs. With a fierce wind gusting across the ground, mixed with heavy showers, conditions were not ideal for Sligo’s high-tempo running game and with a large home support present, this game was expected to prove Sligo’s toughest task of the season so far.

The difficult conditions were quickly to the fore with an early Sligo handling error allowing Castlebar to seek an early score to press home their advantage of having the strong wind at their backs for the first half. This score came after only 3 minutes with the home-sides tricky outhalf, Robbie Cusack, slotting over a penalty following a Sligo infringement to hand Castlebar a 3-0 advantage. Unable to kick into such a gale, Sligo kept things simple, and used their strike runners to grind out the hard yards as they forced themselves into the game. Sligo’s first chance of note came from a brave charge-down by their big-hitting Tongan back-rower Mataele Fifita, hacking on, Fifita looked to have a chance but some good covering from the Castlebar fullback cleared the danger. Both sides exchanged attacks as Castlebar used the wind to pin Sligo back in their own half, however it was from this position that Sligo’s exciting fullback, Nick Reynolds produced an outstanding break through the Mayo team’s defence. Reynolds released his supporting winger, Ted Mulvaney, before a series of expert offloads from Mulvaney and then the robust Peter Mullan, led to Sligo scrumhalf Billy Leahy extending for the line, and touching down to open Sligo’s account. It was a breath-taking team score, and showed Sligo’s dangerous ability in broken play. Paddy Pearson was unable to add the conversion, and Sligo led 3-5.

Sligo looked to build on this score, with the elusive Pearson making another promising break from broken play before releasing the supporting Fifita just 20m from the line, who was only stopped by a desperate last-ditch ankle tap from the home side. From the resulting ruck, Sligo turned the ball over and Castlebar cleared downfield where Sligo were penalised for a transgression giving Castlebar an opportunity 30m out. Cusack’s penalty hit the post, but the loose play which followed resulted in another penalty straight in front of the posts for Castlebar and this time Cusack made no mistake to give the home side a 6-5 lead.

Castlebar seemed invigorated by this score, and with Cusack’s tactical kicking pinning Sligo pack, the game was now being played mostly in Sligo’s half. Castlebar attacked the line with a period of concerted pressure stretching Sligo’s defence before centre Nigel Byrne took a good line off a Cusack pop pass and glided across the Sligo line to score and along with Cusack’s conversion open up a eight point lead. Sligo were on the rocks and with Butterworth prominent in the loose and Cusack orchestrating things from ten, Sligo needed to respond. This they did immediately with the inspirational Peter Mullan the first to try and turn things around, the hardy second rower making a charge upfield through the home defence before offloading to burly prop Adrian McHale whose surge forced the Castlebar men to concede a penalty. Sligo, unable to kick at goal due to the wind, kicked to the corner, and had a lineout 10m out. From there Sligo pressed with Leahy sniping at the line, only being stopped inches short. The next phase saw Joe Sweeney charge forward and he was only denied by some desperate defending, before Castlebar slowed the ball down illegally and Sligo had a penalty in front of the posts. Despite the swirling breeze Pearson made no mistake to leave Sligo delighted to be going in at the break, trailing by only five points 13-8.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Sligo looked to start the half strongly and build on Pearson’s late first half penalty. However it was Castlebar who began brightly, when a poor Sligo kick handed the advantage straight to the home side which led to a penalty Cusack expertly kicked between the uprights to stretch the lead to eight once more. Sligo’s slackness continued in the opening minutes of the half, and Castlebar confounded the elements by taking the game to Sligo, encouraged by the vocal home support. Castlebar attacked and looked in control but a slack kick by the home side, led to a moment of genius from Sligo that turned the game. Fielding the kick deep in his own half, the influential Leahy spotted a gap, and broke through the Castlebar cover, before offloading to his half-back partner Pearson 40m from the line. Pearson looked sure to be swallowed up by the regrouping home defence, but he jinked and dummied his way through a number of tackles before forcing his way over for a sensational score. Not content with scoring a try that is a front-runner for try of the season, Pearson got up and added the extras to make it a one point ball game with Sligo trailing 16-15.

Castlebar were shocked by the score, and were further rattled by the harsh sin-binning of their flanker, Paddy Connolly. The next score was sure to prove crucial and Sligo sought to make the most of their numerical advantage, taking up possession deep in Castlebar territory. Sligo had a number of attacking phases, and excellent ball retention saw the away side batter the Castlebar defence. With 15 minutes remaining Sligo were awarded a penalty as Castlebar desperately tried to stop the onslaught and Sligo opted kicked to the corner. From the lineout the forwards packed down and a controlled drive saw them inch towards the line, before peeling left and crashing over the line. The referee signalled for a try, much to the delight of the away support, and the man who emerged from the ruck with the ball, was the excellent Cathal Culhane, whose performances this season deserved a score. Pearson missed the conversion and Sligo led 20-16.

With the game delicately poised Sligo continued to press to find the score that would not only kill off the brave home side but also secure an invaluable away bonus point. Fifita was stopped juts short after some fine drives by the pack, and when Sligo went wide both Taurerewa and Reynolds went close. With eight minutes left some great passing from the Sligo backs looked to have given Reynolds a chance to secure the bonus point, but play was called back for a questionable decision by the referee, penalising Sligo for an apparent forward pass.

Trevor Sweeney was introduced for the hard-working Culhane as Sligo tried to close out the game. Pearson had a penalty attempt from nearly half way drop just short, and some controlled phases saw Sligo run down the clock. The gallant Castlebar side were not going down without an almighty struggle and with seconds remaining they made one final assault into Sligo territory. Desperately seeking a score, they knocked on in their efforts and Sligo kicked the ball dead to signal the end of the game and secure a hard-fought, deserved victory.

This was a performance of real character by a Sligo side which battled throughout, with the conditions as well as the tough home side, all the while keeping their heads and playing some strong, incisive rugby and scoring two sensational tries. The malaise of last weeks performance was banished as every Sligo player worked tirelessly to grind out another priceless away victory. Sligo coach Joe Walsh will be delighted with his players, with both their commitment and work-ethic superb. Credit to must go to the coaching team, whose first half game plan was effective and well executed as they stifled the home side, who were backed by such a stiff breeze. Walsh will also be pleased that his decision to rest some key players in last weeks game at Creggs was vindicated completely by this result, especially in the performance of the peerless Peter Mullan, who fresh from his weeks rest was outstanding throughout in both the loose and the tight. Mullan’s second row compatriot Jamie Bowes was also prominent, and his carries and battling spirit made many a hard yard. Behind the scrum Paddy Pearson was majestic, his tactical kicking, distribution and break-making excellent allowing his team a solid territorial platform from which to attack. At scrum-half Leahy had his best game of the season, with the threat of his sniping breaks always visible, and his passing crisp. Nick Reynolds continues to look like one of the most dangerous open play runners in the league, with his defence and positional play also top class. Every Sligo player can take great heart in their performance as they answered the hardest question posed of them so far and in doing so moved four points clear at the top of the table. A victory in their next league encounter at home to Tuam will make this their best league start for ten years, and if continuing the intensity and work-ethic on show this weekend, will continue to mark them down as the team to beat this year.

[ Match Photos ]