Monthly Archive for April, 2011

U13′s attend the Pat Lawler Tournament at UL Bohs

Published on April 28, 2011 in Match Reports, News and Youth. Closed

Sligo RFC U13′s attended the Pat Lawler Tournament hosted by UL Bohs recently. They had a super weekend. There were 21 teams competeing from all four provinces. Sligo played and defeated Instonians, Ennis and Castle Island and were narrowly defeated by the host club UL Bohs. Having qualified for the Plate Semi Final, Sligo were beaten by Garyowen in the last seconds of extra time. Garyowen went on to comfortably win the Plate Final.

The full Sligo squad all played and can be very proud of what they achieved. Competing at a national level showed that under age rugby is alive and well up here in the North West. Congratulations to the coaching team of Mike McGrath, Niall Gray, Fergal Hickey and Mark Impey and all involved with the squad.

This coming weekend Sligo are hosting an U13 fun coaching blitz. Players from Dunmore, Claremorris, Ballina and Sligo will play in a mixed format commencing at 11am this coming Saturday April 30th.

See more photos from the Pat Lawler Tournament on Sligo RFC Facebook page – here.

U12′s travel to Seapoint

Published on April 28, 2011 in News. Closed

The Sligo U12′s recently visiting Seapoint Rugby Club for a one day blitz. It was a very enjoyable day at a very well organised event in the sunshine! The highlight was a draw with Blackrock A in a game that Sligo should have won.Sligo also put in a great performance resulting in a 4/4 draw with Naas A. The day finished on a low with a heavy defeat in the last game v Seapoint A. Sligo also played and lost (4/1) to Kilkenny. The lads have now witnessed a played at a higher standard than at their recent clean sweep at Connacht blitz in Tuam. Burger king on the way home and souvineer tee shirts were enjoyed by all! Well done to coach David Murray and his management team.

Tag Rugby – 1 week to go!

Published on April 28, 2011 in Events, Fixtures, Ladies Rugby, News, Senior and Tag. Closed

Lets hope this weather stays for a bit longer so that we can kick off Summer Tag 2011 with a blast!

By now your team captain will have registered your team and submitted the required registration fee, if not, please contact Justin Deegan immediately at tag@irishrugby.ie or email us and we will assist you in what ever way we can in regard to getting payment to the IRFU.

Anyone who is interested in playing but is not on a team, please email us and we will try to accomodate you as best as we can.

Captains:

  • Please email your team sheets to us ASAP if you have not done so already! (Please see Template attached at the end of this post)
  • For those captains who are new to tag; all team captains are required to come to the Tag Tent 20mins before your games starting time to fill in and sign your team sheet, this must be returned to the tent BEFORE your games begin.

Other things to note:

There are 2 pitches allocated to tag players for your training, those are:

  1. Doorly Park (Opposite Argos)
  2. Pitch beside the cemetry, opposite Sligo Race Course.

** Michael Condren of the Sligo County Council has informed us if any teams require other Sligo Borough Council training facilities, the facilities need to be booked and paid for in accordance with council’s conditions of pitch hire. Michael’s contact details are as follows - Phone: 0719114440, email: mcondren@sligocorp.ie

  • Shorts will be on sale at the Tag Tent each week for €20 for any taggers who require them.
  • Tags will be provided on the night, you do not have to bring tags with you.
  • You must wear tag shorts for the Tag matches.
  • Taggers are not permitted to wear any jewellery during tag games!

Entertainment:

  • See attached our Save The Dates for the Sligo Tag Rugby’s weekly Entertainment
  • Week 1 - Live Music Night sponsored by JAKO – Lee Munn on Guitar
  • Week 2 - Table Quiz
  • Week 3 – Sports Day Games
  • Week 4 – Trad Night
  • Week 5 - FRIDAY Night Fancy Dress & Friendly Games
  • Week 6 – McHughs Night
  • Week 7 – Musical Bingo
  • Week 8 – Charity Vegas Night
  • Week 9 – McHughs Night
  • Week 10 – Sumo Night
  • Week 11 - FRIDAY Night FINALS

Sligo Weekender:

  • We are looking for players to do a player profile in the Sligo Weekender each week. If you or any members of your team would like to do this please let us know at sligotag@gmail.com

See you all on THURSDAY MAY 5th

Attachments and further information:
Mixed Social Beginners Tag Info (PDF)
Mixed Social Intermediate Tag Info (PDF)
Sligo Tag Rugby Team Sheet (Excel File)
Tag Entertainment – Save the Dates (PDF)

Sligo U19 lose out to strong Ballinasloe side in U19 Connacht Plate Final

Published on April 14, 2011 in News. Closed

Sligo’s U19′s travelled to Monivea on Sunday to compete in the final of the Plate competition. Unfortunately the result did not go in Sligo’s favour on the day, losing out to a Ballinsloe side who have been together all season and have put in a very good league campaign this year.

This is a very promising group of players for Sligo and they should not be disheartened by the result. For some of the squad they should look at moving on to senior rugby next year, which they are all very capable of playing for Sligo RFC in the A.I.L in the coming seasons.

Thank you to all the players for their hard work in training and on the pitch and to Ross Mannion, John Keegan and Eddie O`Hehir for their help with the team. We also wish Blyth McCormack a speedy recovery from a shoulder injury and hope to see him back on the pitch very soon!

Good Friday Sligo Spring Clean Day

Published on April 14, 2011 in News. Closed


Sligo has a new Tidy Towns Committee, the focus of which is to encourage the people of Sligo to improve the local environment and make Sligo a better place to live, work and visit.

This Good Friday, April 22nd is National Spring Clean Day, and in line with other Tidy Town committees throughout Ireland, Sligo Tidy Towns Committee is organising a big clean up for Sligo.  We hope to get a large number of volunteers to participate, and so kickstart the transformation of Sligo!!

Several organisations including sports clubs, voluntary groups, tourism groups, schools, colleges, residents groups, and businesses in Sligo, including retail outlets, restaurants, publicans and hotels,  are being contacted, in an effort to generate  as much support as possible and help on the day for this very positive initiative.  Sligo Rugby Club has been identified as being possibly interested in taking part.

The plan on the day is to have four meeting points around Sligo for volunteers to meet and begin the Clean-up. These locations are IT Sligo, Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo Showgrounds and Stephen Street Car-Park. The core activity of the Clean-up will be to gather litter and debris for collection and to remove and dispose of as many unwanted posters as is possible.  This Clean-up is timed to start at 10am and will last for 2 hours.

We would really appreciate if you could bring notice of this initiative to all members of your organization encouraging them to participate, so that a good turnout is achieved on the day. Gloves, bibs and bags will be provided.

To assist with co-ordination and organisation on the day please email us at sligotidytowns@gmail.com or text us on 085-8218888 if you are willing to volunteer just two hours of your time.  Please include your contact details and meeting point preference. Your participation will make all the difference!!

Sincerely,

Sligo Tidy Towns Committee
Check us out on Facebook  -  SligoTidyTowns  or Twitter @SligoTidyTowns

Monster Fundraising Auction Appeal

Published on April 14, 2011 in News. Closed
Sligo Rugby Club are appealing to all members and friends to donate items for the clubs fundraising Monster Auction to be held in the Glasshouse hotel on Sunday 15th May.

Items such as Unused Presents, Antiques, Small Furniture Pieces, Work Pledges, Vouchers etc

Check your attic, you just dont know, something you have forgotton about may be a treasure to someone else!

Collection of any item can be organised through Justin Harte @ 086 8162265.

May Ball Tickets Available

Published on April 11, 2011 in News. Closed

Tickets are now available for the annual club May Ball. The event is always one of the highlights of the rugby calendar and will take place in the Glasshouse hotel on Friday the 13th of May. The guest speaker this year is Ireland and Leinster legend Malcolm O Kelly. Tickets are now available from Niall Dreaper (0872598206) Marion Rolf (087 2188663) and John Kane (087 6212414). Numbers are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Sligo complete the double

Published on April 11, 2011 in Match Reports, News and Senior. Closed

Sligo RFC 19 :: Ballina RFC 10

Sligo’s total dominance of Connacht Junior rugby for the 2010/11 season was cemented at the sporstground in Galway when they defeated north west rivals Ballina in a superbly contested encounter on Sunday.

Sligo’s stellar season looked to have come to a halt with a defeat to Ballina in the Cawley cup last Sunday but the Yeats county outfit bounced back and brushed aside their neighbours with an all action powerful display to complete the Connacht Junior league and cup double.

Ballina kicked off with the aid of the slight breeze but it was Sligo who layed down their intention first. Fine drives from Jamie Bowes and Paddy Conlon coupled with good tactical play from half backs Mark Butler and Paddy Pearson gave Sligo territorial advantage in the opening minutes. Sligo,s pressure was rewarded with penalties after 12 and 15 minutes but Mark Butlers attempts drifted wide on both occasions.

Despite Sligo’s continued pressure it was the Mayo outfit who struck the first blow. Following some loose defence Ballina Outhalf Cory Brown floated an excellent pass for Judd Ruane and the second row burst through the cover to dot down left of the posts. Brown added the extras to move the score 7-0 in favour of the moysiders.

Sligo immediately responded and fine work by Matele Fifita and Aaron Spring resulted in a penalty award and Butler made no mistake in opening his teams account. Sligo continued to press and doubled their account 5 minutes before the break. Superb pressure at the breakdown resulted in a penalty on the opposition 22 and the sin binning of Ballina flanker Phiilip Timoney. Butler slotted the kick to put the narrowest margin between the teams.


Sligo kicked off the second half and immediately put pressure on the Mayo outfit. It was Ballina however who were first to score and another Brown penalty moved the score to 10 points to 6 in favour of the Mayo men.

Sligo were not to be outdone and continued to impose their superior physicality on the game. A fine break by Paddy Conlon resulted in another another Sligo penalty and Butlers well struck kick narrowed the gap to a single point.

With 15 minutes left on the clock Sligo struck the killer blow. A scrum on the Ballina 10m line was moved to the right by Conlon and Pearson. Fifita carried and perfectly timed his pass to Spring on the 22. The powerhouse winger collected and drove through three tackles before dotting down to the right of the posts. Butlers conversion pushed Sligo into a 6 point lead.


Sligo were now on top in all facets of play. Wesley Maxwell, Ross Mannion and Adrian Mc Hale were dominating the scrums, James Wilson and Peter Mullan were in control of the lineout and Jamie Bowes’ trademark runs were causing havoc in the Ballina defence. Cathal Culhane and Paddy Conlon were winning the battle at the breakdown and centres Gavin Foley and Fifita expertly closed down the space in midfield.

With 8 minutes left on the clock Sligo moved the all important 2 scores ahead with another Butler penalty. Ballina gamely tried to respond but Sligo were not to be outdone and the scoreline remained 9 points in Sligo’s favour when referee Joe Doyne blew the final whistle.

Jubilant scenes followed and team captain Pearson lifted the cup much to the delight of the large travelling support to cap one of Sligo’s most successful ever seasons.


Sligo: David Gerrity, Aaron Spring, Gavin foley, Matele Fifita, Billy Leahy, Mark Butler, Paddy Pearson, Wesley Maxwell, Ross Mannion, Adrian Mc Hale, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Cathal Culhane, Simon Coulter, Paddy Conlon. Reps Martin Feeney, Gary Conneely, Peter Mullan, Brian Hynes, Frankie Feeney.

Photos by Rory Raftery – see full match gallery here

U15s Crowned League Champions!

Published on April 4, 2011 in Match Reports, News and Youth. Closed

Sligo RFC 14 :: Corinthians RFC 8

Sligo’s U15s wrestled back the provincial bragging rights when they avenged  last weekends one point Connacht cup final defeat by Corinthians after they superbly overcame the Galway outfit in an excellently fought league final encounter at Glenina on Sunday. Sligo scored two converted tries to nullify a Corinthian try and penalty in a game which was in the balance right to the final whistle.

Sligo kicked off into the strong breeze and immediately put pressure on their Galway opponents. Strong driving by the pack with Daire Byrne and Ryan Bright to the fore went unrewarded and it was the Galway outfit who were first to score. A series of rucks in the Sligo half culminated in a sweeping backline move which was rounded off with the concession of an unconverted try.

Sligo regrouped and immediately attacked the tribesmen. Outhalf Stephen Kerins took control and positioned his team in the attacking half. Pressure by the pack was rewarded with a penalty 15 metres from the Corinthian try line. Sligo decided to run the penalty and following a well set up ruck, powerhouse prop Conan O Donnell, burst through the cover and dotted down left of the uprights. Evan Mc Grath struck an excellent conversion to nudge his team ahead at the break.

Corinthians started the second half at a high tempo and their perseverance was rewarded with a well struck penalty 10 minutes into the half to regain a one point advantage.

Sligo were up to the task and their pressure game was starting to tell. Scrum half Ryan Feehily was giving his opposite number a torrid time at the scrums, centres Matthew Cosgrove and Mc Grath were winning the midfield battle and Full Back James Hampson was capably dealing with everthing thrown at him.

With ten minutes remaining on the clock Sligo struck the killer blow. A powerful Byrne drive was halted 7 metres from the Corinthian line before O Donnell picked, burst through the cover and crashed over for his, and his teams, second of the day. Mc Grath again converted to move his side 6 points clear.

Corinthians responded but excellent Sligo defence ensured the scoreline remained in Sligo’s favour when the referee blew the final whistle.

Sligo; James Hampson, Jack Tillion, Evan Mc Grath, Matthew Cosgrove, Jackson Smith, Stephen Kerins, Ryan Feehily, Thomas Moran, Francis Walsh, Conan O Donnell, Sean Hurley, Jake Sexton, Ryan Bright, Daire Byrne, Joe Conway. Reps Cian Cassidy, Ben Rooney, Luke Morrison, Jason Greer, Ronan Elliot, Diarmuid Mulligan, Darran Harte.

Sligo lose out in Cawley Cup Decider

Published on April 4, 2011 in Match Reports, News and Youth. Closed

Sligo RFC 19 :: Ballina RFC 20

Sligo’s bid to create an unprecedented Connacht Junior double fell short by the narrowest of margins when they lost out to Mayo neighbours Ballina in the Cawley cup final at Glenina on Sunday. In a superbly fought contest Ballina’s hunger proved the deciding factor in a contest worthy of any final.

Ballina kicked off playing with the aid of a strong gale and soon Sligo were put under pressure with some fine use of the wind by the Ballina half backs. The early pressure was absorbed with some fine defensive work particularly by centres Matele Fifita and Gavin Foley but Ballina moved into a six point lead with two penalties from Outhalf Cory Brown. Continue reading ‘Sligo lose out in Cawley Cup Decider’

Sligo RFC U15′s win the Connacht league

Published on April 3, 2011 in News. 1 Comment

Sligo RFC U15′s have beaten Corinthian’s in the league final. The game was played as a curtain raiser to the Cawley Cup final between Sligo and Ballina. Cheered on by a big crowd Sligo defended magnificently and managed to hold on to a slim lead to secure the title and avenge the heartache of losing to the same side in the Cup final the week before.
Full match report to follow.

Ballina win Cawley Cup final

Published on April 3, 2011 in News. Closed

In the tightest of fashions Ballina have won the Cawley Cup final in Galwegians.
Sligo had managed to come back from 13 – 5 down at half time and went 13 – 19 up but an injury time try by Ballina scrum half Michael Murphy, converted by Corey Brown put pay to Sligo’s hopes of success.
Full match report to follow.