Monthly Archive for January, 2011

Sligo U 17 34 Ballinasloe U17 7

Sligos U17 side powered past the East Galway team and as a result have secured a place in the Connacht final against the winners of Galwegians and Westport. While the coaches will not look past the next game the real carrot of winning the Connacht title is a place in the All Ireland semi final.

On the evidence at Strandhill on Sunday this very accomplished side are well capable of going all the way and winning the Connacht league. This team have been together for a few years with a lot of success especially last season when they won the U16 and u 17 b titles.

They have a fine squad with quality right across the team and a very strong bench something that will be very important as they go forward to the bigger battles. They are capable of scoring through the backs or the forwards and in the key position of out half they have a fine player in the form of Enda Gavin. Any side that wants to progress at this level need a good set piece and this team have a solid scrum and an excellent lineout. In fact on the day they scored two trys straight from set moves off the lineout.

On Sunday they started with the aid of the wind and were very soon on the offensive and after some excellent back line play speedy winger Enda Roche touched down for the opening five pointer . Enda Gavin struck an excellent conversion from out wide to make it seven nil. The next score came again after sustained pressure and several phases . Sligo took the attack deep into enemy territory and a beautiful inside pass from Gavin sent Shane Boyle over for a 12 nil score. The next score was a classic front of the lineout move with James OHehir coming around to take and dive over. Next from a solid scrum man of the match Eddie Connell powered over from the base to leave the score 22—0 at half time.

In the second half Sligo had to play into the wind and thus had to work much harder to gain territory against a big Ballinasloe pack. Matters were not helped when they conceded an easy try to the opposition. From a scrum on the 22 the Ballinasloe number eight waltzed in near the posts for a try which was converted to leave the score 22—7. For the next fifteen minutes the Sligo lads had to withstand a lot of pressure to keep their line intact. During this period they conceded too many soft penaltys but to their credit they did not concede any more scores. As the game moved into the final ten minutes Sligo once more attained dominance and the pressure yielded two more trys from Eddie Connell and Shane Boyle with Enda Gavin converting won to leave a final score of 34—7.

This result at the playoff stages of the league was very comprehensive with 6 trys to 1 for the visitors. With the intereuption of Christmas and the weather the side is still a bit rusty but the potential was there for all to see.

Up front Sligo have some excellent ball winners in Shane Boyle and Niall ORourke. The back row of Diarmuid ODowd Hill, James Ohehir and the hugely athletic Eddie Connell are an excellent unit. The front row of Fabian Zwanda Matt Davey and Jamie McGovern are very solid in the tight and work hard in the loose.

The half backs of Ross Gordon and Enda Gavin are very sharp with Gavin showing some lovely touches with the ball in hand. The centres Mark Gerrity and Jason McGoldrick are strong in defense and attack. The back three have loads of pace with full back Sean Finnegan in particular catching the eye with good basics and a fine counter attacking game.

The next outing for this side will be a Connacht final and they will benefit from a good tough and competent display today. With a bit more work and more game time this particular group of players have the ability to bring some more silverware back to the North West

Sligo Team; Sean Finnegan Enda Roche Mark Gerrity Jason McGoldrick Darragh Burke Enda Gavin Ross Gordon Jamie McGovern Matt Davey Fabian Zwanda Shane Boyle Niall ORourke Diarmuid hill James OHehir Eddie Connell

Subs Aaron Donnellan(45 mins)Conor Kerins(50 mins) Calum McLoughlin (52mins) Karol Devaney Eoin Kilroy Talbot Gabriel Knect James McGwinne Patrick McGloin

Next Sunday sees Sligo’s much anticipated trip west to Ballina. Although Ballina currently lie third in the League, they still have a mathematical chance of taking the title. Matches between these clubs have always been intense affairs, but next Sunday’s game will be one of the most important meetings in the long history of epic battles between the two clubs. The prize at stake could not be greater and neither team will need any motivation for this encounter. Kickoff is at 3pm at Creggs road.

Sligo 30

Monivea 20

The long awaited season defining battle between Sligo and Monivea lived up to its expectation in a superb encounter at Standhill on Sunday. The match was scheduled to kick off at 2.30 pm however due to the inclement weather conditions the kick off time was switched to 3.00 pm on the instructions of the referee to allow the frozen pitch to thaw.

Come kick off time the main pitch at Standhill was still frozen so the referee decided to play the game on the second pitch.

Monivea won the toss and elected to play towards the club house in the first half however against the advantage of the slight hill Sligo were first to put points on the board with a Mark Butler penalty after 10 minutes.

Monivea immediately reacted and camped in the Sligo half. A sweeping move by the Monivea back line gave dynamic centre Dave Prior the opportunity to round the Sligo defence and the Monivea speedster made no mistake in scoring his side’s first try. Ger O’Connor made no mistake with the conversion.

Monivea were now on top and their pressure defence was forcing Sligo into uncharacteristic mistakes.

Try number two for the visitors arrived on 35 minutes when an offensive kick by Sligo was collected by Monivea winger Rory O’Connor and the Galway man showed a clean pair of heals and beat the covering defence to put his side into a 17 – 3 point lead.

Sligo continued to press and were unfortunate not be awarded with points before the half time whistle blew.

The second half was a different story, Sligo moved up the gears and quickly got themselves back into the game. Early pressure was immediately rewarded when a sweeping back line move found its way to winger Jordan Farrington and the kiwi made no mistake in touching down in the corner.

A superb Mark Butler conversion put his team within one score of the opposition.

Monivea again reacted and were rewarded with their only points of the second half with a penalty from out half Ger O Connor.

Sligo again reacted and from a line out take from James Wilson the ball was moved in field, Butler fed the powerful Mata Fifita and the centre used all his strength to force his way over the line to touch down for a five pointer for Sligo. Butler converted to equalise.

Sligo were now in top gear and the front row of Maxwell, McHale, and Mannion were giving the visitors a torrid time in the scrums, Wilson,Mullan and Conlon were lording the line outs and Pearson and Butlers tactical kicking ensured that the visitors were pinned back.

Sligo’s third try resulted from a superbly crafted individual effort by dynamic winger Aaron Spring. A line out steal by Wilson was quickly moved to Pearson. The scrum half released Spring and the youngster broke three tackles before racing from the 22 into the corner to put the game beyond Monivea’s reach. Butler again converted and followed up soon after with a well struck penalty moving the score line to 30 – 20 in Sligo’s favour.

Monivea gamely responded but the Sligo defence with flanker Paddy Conlon to the fore were never going to be breached and final whistle sparked long awaited celebrations for the Sligo faithful.

Sligo

David Gerrity, Jordon Farrington, Gavin Foley, Mata Fafita, Aaron Spring, Mark Butler, Patrick Pearson, Adrian McHale, Ross Mannion, Wesley Maxwell, Jame Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Paddy Conlon, Simon Coutler, Peter Mullan. Reps. Frankie Feeney, Gary Conneely, Darragh Cox, Billie Leahy, Brian Hynes.

Photos by Carl Brennan and Rory Raftery

Next Sunday sees the long awaited Top of the table league Clash between Sligo and Monivea. With both clubs on equal points and both unbeaten to date this season, the result from next Sundays clash will have a huge bearing on where the league title will reside come the end of the season. Coach Simon Galvan will be hoping to have a fully fit squad to chose from with Peter Mullan, Frankie Feeney and Cathal Culhane all carrying slight injuries. Kick off at Strandhill is at 2.30 on Sunday.

Sligo 41 Loughrea 7
Sligo’s 4 quest for silverware in four competitions continued when they advanced to the semi final of the Cawley cup with a comfortable defeat of Loughrea in Galway on Sunday. Sligo scored seven trys to the home teams solitary effort on their way to victory.
Sligo played into the teeth of the very strong breeze in the first half and this, combined with a lack of game time due to the recent cold snap, meant the first twenty minutes were error filled with both teams taking time to shake off the cobwebs. The visitors however, stuck to their task and were rewarded on the half hour. A Paddy Conlon line out take was moved right to left across the backline. A ruck was formed five yards from the Loughrea line, scrum half Frankine Feeney switched the play and powerful second row Jamie Bowes broke through the defence and touched down right of the posts. Outhalf Mark Butler added the extras with a well struck effort.
Sligo scored a second try five minutes before the interval when a clean strike from a five metre scrum was picked by Conlon who broke wide to the right before releasing flanker Simon Coulter on the inside. The openside made no mistake in going over the line to finish off the move. Butler added a superb conversion kick.
Sligo picked up where they left off after the interval. Clever use of the breeze set up field position in the Loughrea 22. From the ensuing lineout the forwards drove towards the Loughrea line, before the ball was moved wide. Full back Jordan Farrington superbly joined the line and his well timed pass allowed Aaron Spring the chance to race for the line and the dynamic youngster made full use of his opportunity to score in the corner.
The visitors were now on top in all facets of play. The scrum was causing the locals a lot of difficulty and the line out was secure and some fine work ensured a high percentage of the oppositions ball was being poached . Fifteen minutes into the half Sligo scored their fourth try. Open field running from the Sligo half resulted in a ruck inside the Loughrea 22. The ball was moved wide and veteran centre Gavin Foley timed his pass perfectly to release second row James Wilson, who crashed over wide on the right.
Wilson repeated the dose five minutes later when the quick thinking Farrington threw a quick line out to himself before setting off on a trademark mazy run. The fleet footed full back linked up with Foley who exchanged passes with Spring before Wilson received and burst through to pick up his second of the day. Butler converted to move the sore to thirty one nil.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock Loughrea picked up their only score. A loose pass on the Sligo 22 was intercepted by Paul Wilson and the winger raced to the line to touch down for his side. Full back Stevie Creaven added the conversion.
Sligo immediately reacted and instantly won the ball back from the kick-off. The ball was shifted infield to the onrushing Matele Fifita and the giant centre burst though two attempted tackles before racing clear to add another five pointer to his teams total.
The final score of the game arrived with 2 minutes left on the clock. Quick ball from a scrum inside the loughrea 22 was moved to Butler. The Outhalf floated a perfect pass to Farrington, whose superb running line allowed him the space to breach the defence and race clear to score out wide. Butlers unsuccessful conversion attempt was the last action of the day.
Sligo; Jordan Farrington, Brian Hynes, Gavin Foley, Matele Fifita, Billy Leahy, Mark Butler, Frankie Feeney, Aaron Spring, Ross Mannion, Adrian Mc Hale, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Gary Conneely, Simon Coulter, Paddy Conlon. Reps Roger Burrows, Wesley Maxwell, Cathal Culhane, Martin Feeney.