Monthly Archive for January, 2009

Clinical Sligo Battle Past Creggs

Published on January 26, 2009 in Match Reports and Senior. Closed

Sligo 20 Creggs 3

A clinical performance from a determined Sligo side saw them battle to a 20-3 victory over Creggs on Sunday last, in the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup preliminary round. Although the final score-line might suggest a comfortable Sligo victory, the winners were made to work hard for their victory, and it took two tries in the last five minutes from speedy wingers, Brian Hynes and Ted Mulvaney, to put a more flattering look on the final score. Continue reading ‘Clinical Sligo Battle Past Creggs’

Sligo Face Ballyhaunis In Cup Action

Published on January 26, 2009 in Fixtures, News and Senior. Closed

Sligo travel to Ballyhaunis on Sunday next to play the home side in Round 1 of the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup. Fresh from their victory over a useful Creggs outfit, Sligo will go into the game as warm favourites, as the Mayo side operates out of Division 1 B of the Connacht league, where they have struggled to make an impact this season. Anything other than a comfortable Sligo victory would be regarded as the shock of the season. The game has a 2 p.m. kick-off.

Tight At The Top As Corinthians Close Gap

Published on January 26, 2009 in News and Senior. Closed

Corinthians closed the gap at the top of JL1 on Sunday with a narrow and vitally important 7-3 away victory at Ballina in a game which had been delayed by two weeks due to bad weather. The win puts the Galway side into second place in the table just three points behind Sligo but crucially with a game in hand and two clear of Monivea who while having a game in hand on the leaders have it all to do after their draw away to Sligo. Sligo’s game against Corinthians, scheduled for the 15th of February in Crowley Park now has the look of a straight shoot-out for the JL1 title. It promises to be an exciting few weeks ahead with both sides in good form and looking to close out the title.

U14s Suffer Narrow Defeat in Semi-Final

Published on January 26, 2009 in Match Reports, Photos and Youth. Closed

Sligo U-14s traveled to Athlone to face a tough Buccaneers outfit last Saturday in the Connacht U14 League semi-final. Sligo finished the pool stages of the league as runners up in the Northern section while Buccaneers ran out winners of the Southern section. A titanic struggle was expected in grueling conditions and the game didn’t disappoint. Sligo settled the better early on and some good attacking moves from their dangerous backline saw them take the game to the home side. Continue reading ‘U14s Suffer Narrow Defeat in Semi-Final’

Heavyweight Battle Ends In Dour Draw

Published on January 15, 2009 in Match Reports, Photos and Senior. Closed

Sligo 0 Monivea 0

The highly anticipated clash between the top two in JL1 ended in a fiercely contested 0-0 draw in dreadful conditions in Hamilton Park, Strandhill on Sunday.

A massive crowd saw too excellent junior sides battle the elements as well as each other to produce a gritty but entertaining contest. Monivea came to Sligo intent on delivering a first league defeat to the home side, signaling their intent by traveling down the night before the game. Continue reading ‘Heavyweight Battle Ends In Dour Draw’

U18s Successful in Galway

Published on January 15, 2009 in Match Reports and Youth. Closed

Sligo 73 Corinthians 0

Sligo under 18s brought in the New Year in Style and last Sunday in Corinthian Park Sligo put one hand on the Connacht League Cup trophy following a very impressive 11 try demolition job on Corinthians. From Pat Hughes’s try in the 4th minute to Peter Laffeys try in the last minute Sligo simply outclassed their Galway rivals. Corinthians unfortunately were missing a few key players and Sligo did not get the close battle they were relishing. Despite this Sligo kept their focus and concentration and did not let their performance drop until the final whistle went. Continue reading ‘U18s Successful in Galway’

Sligo Face Monivea In Top Of The Table Clash

Published on January 7, 2009 in Fixtures, News and Senior. Closed

While this weekend’s clash at Hamilton Park will not see league champion’s crowned, it will go a long, long way to deciding the fate of this season’s Connacht JL1 league title. Table-toppers Sligo welcome Monivea, the dominant club in Connacht junior rugby in recent seasons, to Strandhill in what promises to be a titanic encounter. A packed crowd is expected as these two powerhouses of Connacht junior rugby do battle.

Sligo sit atop the JL1 table, unbeaten, a 0-0 draw away to Westport the only blemish on an otherwise faultless season. Eight wins and one draw, as their watertight defence and strong pack achieved result after result if not always with a spectacular performance. Continue reading ‘Sligo Face Monivea In Top Of The Table Clash’

St. Stephens Day Game Ends In Thrilling Draw

Published on January 7, 2009 in Match Reports and Senior. Closed

The annual St.Stephens Day game between a Sligo Town XV and a Sligo Country XV ended in a thrilling draw this year with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle. The Town went into the game as red-hot favourites as they looked to make it three victories in a row and retain the trophy. On paper they appeared to boast a far superior team, with a razor-sharp backline boasting four AIL stars, two sets of brothers in the Butlers and the Gillespies, and Sligo senior fullback David Gerrity. However the country had welcomed back Karl Gilligan from AIL duty with DLSP to add some guile to a physical side which featured an amazing twelve players from that Sligo rugby stronghold, Skreen/Dromard. The game was an entertaining affair with both sides playing some great attacking rugby with some great skills on display. The Town began the brighter with Mark Butler orchestrating events at out-half as he looked to release his dangerous backline at every opportunity. It was the Town who struck first with an early converted try as they tried to overwhelm the Country side. However the Country were not be as easily brushed aside as other years and led by captain James Wilson they struck back before half-time with a well-taken score to leave the score at the break 7-5.
Continue reading ‘St. Stephens Day Game Ends In Thrilling Draw’

Spring Earns Ireland Call-Up

Published on January 7, 2009 in News and Youth. Closed

Sligo RFC would like to congratulate one of its brightest youth stars, Aaron Spring, on his call-up and participation in the Ireland U18s schools team against Italy in Viadana just before Christmas. Spring was the sole Connacht representative in the team, and appeared as a substitute midway through the second half. He helped his team to a narrow three point victory by 18 – 15 in the Stadium “Luigi Zaffanella� against a useful Italian U18 outfit. This is a huge achievement for Aaron who has played a major role in the Sligo RFC youth section over the past few years. Everyone involved in the club wishes Aaron every success during the rest of the season, and hopefully this will be the first of many appearances in the Irish jersey.

U18s Crowned League Champions

Published on January 7, 2009 in News and Youth. Closed

Everyone involved with Sligo RFC would like to congratulate the U18s on their superb campaign which saw them crowned league champions this week. Coached by the Sligo first-team duo of Gavin Foley and Ross O’Boyle the side powered their way through the league with some memorable victories and excellent displays. The focus now turns to cup competitions and with Sligo in such fine form they will surely have a great chance to add some more silverware.

U14s Power To Creggs Victory

Published on January 7, 2009 in Match Reports and Youth. Closed

With the festive period most youth sides were enjoying a well deserved break, with very few games played during the Christmas break. Only Sligo U14s were in action when they took on Creggs at Hamilton Park on 28/12. Sligo went into the game on top of the U-14 north division and would be looking to stay there with victory over a physical Creggs side. The match was played in perfect conditions in Strandhill and both sides started brightly looking to attack. Continue reading ‘U14s Power To Creggs Victory’