Sligo progress in All Ireland Junior Cup

Clonmel RFC 0 :: Sligo RFC 11

Sligo RFC made history by becoming the first Connacht club to win outside the province in the All Ireland Junior Cup when they travelled to and defeated Munster Junior challenge cup finalists Clonmel RFC on Saturday.

Sligo made light of difficult weather and underfoot conditions when they scored 11 points without reply on their way to a well deserved victory.

Sligo kicked off, and their hardworking pack immediately imposed themselves on the Clonmel eight. Pressure on the home scrum and lineout gave the north westerners a foothold in the Clonmel half and this pressure was rewarded on 13 minutes when Clonmel were penalised at the breakdown on their 10 metre line. Full back Jack Macklin stepped up and bisected the posts with a well struck kick to put his side three points to the good.

Clonmel’s restart kick did not travel the required 10 metres and Sligo opted to take a scrum on the halfway line. The Sligo backline lined up as if to go left but scrum half Billy Leahy fed Jordan Farrington down the right side. Farrington chipped ahead and sped past the turning winger before brilliantly regathering and crashing over for the only try of the game. Macklin was wide with the difficult conversion attempt.

This score prompted a resurgence from the home team and their well judged kick and chase game forced Sligo to concede a scrum 5 yards from their own line. Clonmel launched a series of attacks at the Sligo line but big tackles by Cathal Culhane, Jamie Bowes and Trevor Sweeney ensured that their line remained intact. Eventually, the home outfit conceded a penalty which allowed Sligo outhalf Niall O Hara the chance to relieve the pressure. Sligo then applied pressure of their own but were unable to add to their tally before half time.

The second half began much as the first ended with the visitors looking to increase their advantage. James Wilson and Peter Mullan were beginning to dominate the lineouts and Sligo’s front row of Jason East, Gary Conneely and Adrian Mc Hale were giving their opposite numbers a difficult time in the scrums.

Fifteen minutes into the half Sligo were awarded a penalty for offside on the home ten metre line. Macklin opted to go for the posts and his ambition was rewarded when his kick successfully crossed the bar, despite the ball brushing the left hand post.

Sligo tried to add to their 11 point lead and were almost successful in the 65th minute when a well judged Niall O Hara cross kick was expertly plucked from the air by David Gerrity . The winger was hauled down a metre short of the line but the ball was lost forward in the resulting ruck allowing the home outfit the chance to relieve the pressure. Another promising move almost came off when Cathal Culhane collected a Clonmel clearance kick on the 10 metre line. The flanker carried forward before releasing veteran centre Gavin Foley with a perfectly timed pass. Foley sped down the wing but was stopped five metres short of the try line with a last ditch tackle.

Clonmel again went on the attack and threw everything at the visitors to try to get a score on the board but some super Sligo tackling, with one particularly noteworthy effort from winger Gary Collins , coupled with fine kicking by Niall O Hara ensured that the Sligo line was kept intact.

Sligo now go on to meet Leinster side Tullamore in the quarter final. This match is scheduled for the 21st of November. Tullamore are the current holders of the All Ireland Junior cup and will provide stiff opposition for the visiting Sligo team.

Sligo: Jack Macklin, David Gerrity, Jordan Farrington, Gavin Foley, Gary Collins, Niall O Hara, Billy Leahy, Adrian Mc Hale, Gary Coneelly, Jason East, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Peter Mullan, Cathal Culhane, Trevor Sweeney. Subs Thomas Gormaley for Mc Hale, Ross Mannnion for Coneelly, Simon Coulter for Bowes, Ted Mulvaney for Macklin, Joe Sweeney for Culhane

Clonmel: Greg Carroll, Paddy Long, David Joyce, Kieran Lyons, Robbie Carroll, Brian Lonergan, Brendan Leo, Owen Anderson, John Gallagher, Brendan Mullan, Krzyfztof Wojciefzak, Stephen Pyke, Enda O Connor, Padraig Leahy, John Long.