Sligo lost out to a strong Monivea outfit in their final Junior league encounter of the 2009/2010 season at the Castle grounds in Monivea on Sunday. The Galway side outscored their northwestern visitors by four tries to two in a fast paced encounter played in ideal conditions.

Sligo won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the breeze in the first half. Early pressure by the forwards looked to have reaped reward when a maul was driven over the Monivea line but the referee was unsighted and the try was not awarded. Sligo did manage to get off the mark with a Paddy Pearson penalty, kicked from the 22 metre line.

Monivea reacted immediately and a well worked move saw centre Dave Prior split the Sligo defence and touch down under the posts. Outhalf Seamus Fahy added the extras.

The home side increased their advantage after 10 minutes when Sligo failed to deal with a kick through and a penalty was conceded. Fahy easily added another three points.

Pearson and Fahy then traded penalties before Sligo were dealt a hammer blow. A scrum against the head was conceded on the Sligo 22. The Monivea backline quicky moved the ball wide giving winger Brian Mc Donagh an easy run to the line for his teams second try and closing the half with a score 18 points to 9.

Sligo started the second half with an air of determination and the pack, with Jason East prominent, were beginning to impose themselves on the Monivea 8. It was the home team however who were next to add to the scoreline when, against the run of play a loose chip was collected by Prior, and the centre released winger Ger Divilly who raced unopposed to the corner.

Despite this setback and the loss of influential full back David Geritty through injury Sligo continued to press and a trademark Pearson break allowed the outhalf break the Monivea defense and touch down to the left of the posts. Jordan Farrington added the conversion to bring the score to 25 points to 14.

Monivea again attacked and some strong running put them back into the Sligo 22. The Sligo defence was stretched and as a result a penalty was conceded and substitute Julian Rippon was sent to the sin bin. The Galway man made the most of the numerical advantage by opting for the scrum,moving the ball wide and scoring in the corner. Fahy added the conversion with a superbly struck effort.

Sligo were not finished and gamely battled on. A Peter Mullan line out take on the Monivea 22 was pushed wide and winger Ted Mulvaney looped around to collect and score in the corner for the final score.

Next week sees Sligo take on Tuam in their Connacht Junior Cup semi-final. The match kicks off at Hamilton Park on Sunday at 2.30.

Sligo: David Geritty, Ted Mulvaney, Niall O Hara, Gavin Foley, Jordan Farrington, Paddy Pearson, Billy Leahy, Adrian Mc Hale, Gary Conneely, Jason East, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Joe Sweeney, Cathal Culhane, Peter Mullan. Reps Martin Feeney, Julian Rippon, Trevor Sweeney.

A poster for the event can be found here – please consider putting this up at your place of work etc.

Sligo cemented second place in the Connacht Junior league with a bonus point win over Mayo rivals Castlebar on Sunday.

In a game played in sub zero temperatures Sligo’s second half performance in which they scored three tries proved to be too powerful for their western hosts.

Sligo kicked off with the aid of the light breeze and put early pressure on the home team. A free flowing move on ten minutes looked promising when Jordan Farrington was put into space but the move was called back by the referee for a forward pass.

The home team responded and started to use their kicking game to good effect pinning Sligo back into their own half. Their enterprise was rewarded when on 12 minutes they opened the scoring with a well taken drop goal from out half Robbie Cusack.

Sligo went back on the attack and were awarded a penalty on the ‘Bar 10 metre line. Outhalf Paddy Pearson opted to go for the posts but his well struck effort came back off the crossbar. The Sligo chasers put pressure on the home defence but Castlebar managed to clear their lines.

The opening try arrived after 19 minutes when following a Peter Mullan lineout take the ball was driven forward by Cathal Culhane. A quick ruck was set up before scrum half Billy Leahy broke around the side and raced clear to dot down to the left of the posts. Pearson added the conversion to make the score 7-3 in favour of the visitors.

Castlebar again fought back and were awarded a penalty for offside on the Sligo 22. Full back Rory Conway made no mistake with the kick to bring his side within one point of the north westerners.

Castlebar continued to press and were awarded another penalty on the Sligo 10 metre line on 29 minutes. The kick came back off the upright and a scramble ensued. Castlebar came up with the ball and looked destined to score but the ball was dropped and Sligo were allowed to clear.

Sligo went on the hunt for a second try before half time and a score looked likely following a Julian Rippon break but Castlebar infringed at the ruck and the move was halted. Castlebar full back Conway was sent to the sin-bin for the infringement but Sligo were unable to add to their total before half time.

Sligo upped the pace for the second half and their driving game began to cause problems for their hosts. Following a series of drives Paddy Pearson expertly shot through the tightest of gaps on the home 22 before side-stepping the cover and finishing in the corner. The outhalf’s well struck conversion effort fell just short leaving the score at 6 points to 12 in Sligo’s favour.

Sligo increased their advantage 20 minutes into the second half when a series of penalties allowed them set up camp in the home 22. A maul formed from a James Wilson catch at a 5 yard lineout was driven over the Castlebar line allowing flanker Cathal Culhane touchdown for his teams third try. Pearsons conversion effort drifted wide of the posts.

The 4 try bonus point was now within reach and Sligo were on top in all facets of play. Powerful second row Jamie Bowes drove into the Castlebar defence before setting up a ruck on the halfway line. Leahy fed Pearson and the outhalf made another trademark break before the ball was transferred to winger Julian Rippon who sped into the Castlebar 22. The ball found its way back to Pearson who brilliantly linked again with Rippon, allowing the winger to round the cover before racing across to touch down under the posts. Pearson had to leave the action with a calf injury so Farrington took over the kicking duties and the centre duly obliged with a well struck conversion.

Sligo had to play with 14 men for the last ten minutes when hooker Gary Conneely was yellow carded for an offence at a Sligo ruck when many of the watching observers felt that the penalty should been awarded to the visitors. However, the fourteen Sligo men made light of this disadvantage and closed the game out without too much difficulty.

Pearson takes the man of the match plaudits but the performances of veterans Peter Mullan and Gavin Foley both deserve a mention. The duo have over 35 seasons of senior rugby experience between them and both are pivotal to the Sligo success story this season. Mullan is consistently strong at the line out and his work from the base of the scrum has ensured that his team are constantly working with go-forward ball. Midfield general Foley has shut the door on opposition backlines week after week and his big hits are an inspiration to all the players around him.

Following 4 big wins on the trot Sligo take a well deserved break next weekend before travelling to their final league match against table toppers Monivea at the Castle grounds on Sunday 7 th March. The following Sunday Sligo play their much awaited Heineken Connacht Junior cup semi final against Tuam RFC at Strandhill.

Sligo : D Gerrity, N O Hara, J Farrington, G Foley, J Rippon, P Pearson, B Leahy, A Mc Hale, G Conneely, J East, J Bowes, J Wilson, T Sweeney, C Culhane, P Mullan. Reps T Gormaly, A Feeney, D Cox.

Castlebar : K Conway, F Casey, P Coady, T Kirby, M Staunton, R Cusack, P O Malley, R Hughes, N Coyle, R Fox, S Wooton, T Mc Auliffe, P Connolly, P Gavin, D Staunton.

At Hamilton Park last Sunday Sligo brushed aside a Buccaneers side in a clinical display that showed forward dominance and back play of the highest calibre. They scored eight trys with six conversions in a wonderfully entertaining display that had quality written all over it. After last weeks superb display against high flyers Monivea  the confidence was high and this showed from the off giving there opponents nothing easy and putting pressure all over the park which yielded scores from an early stage.

This Sligo side  have a superb set of backs and given any half chance they will punish sides . In the process of winning they managed to score eight trys ,seven through their backs with one from prop Adrian McHale having got the scoring pass from Gavin Foley. On an afternoon when the rain held off and with a slight wind Sligo kicked off and they were immediately on the offensive. This yielded an early penalty chance for Paddy Pearson but the kick drifted wide. Sligo were immediately back on the attack and continued to apply pressure. Eventually the midlanders defence cracked with Pearson putting Jordan Farrington in under the posts. In fact the half became the Paddy and Jordan show with Farrington getting in next followed by a superb second try by Farrington as he waltzed past his opposite number. Buccs got back one score in the half when their heavyweight forwards engineered a try close to the posts. This left the half time score at 21 to 7 but at this early stage Sligos relentless work up front and their powerful defence was going to tell on their opponents as the game wore on.

The second half  started like the first and soon became a procession as the Sligo backs ran riot and the forwards got totally on top of their opponents. Trys from Adrian McHale Ted Mulvany David Gerrity and Andy Feeney left Buccs reeling and it could have been more only for some brave defence from the midlanders.

This squad has a fine mix of youth and experience and with a dry pitch and good conditions they are joy to watch. As in any good rugby team you firstly need a sound forward foundation and Sligo have a group of forwards at the moment that when they switch on can give anyone a game. With a superb lineout featuring the giant James Wilson and the naturally talented Peter Mullan they are definitely the best in the province at this level. The scrum is equally dominant with the likes of the superb twenty year old Jason East backed up by Adrian McHale Dara Cox and the rising star 19 year old Thomas Gormley.

More photos from this game are available on our facebook page. Courtesy of Rory Raftery.

Sligo progressed to the quarter finals of the Heineken Connacht Junior cup when they defeated pre-tournament favourites and current title holders Monivea in a superbly contested encounter at Hamilton park, Strandhill on Sunday. The home team produced a performance full of character and determination to impose themselves and ultimately dominate the visiting Galway men. A large crowd of supporters from both camps witnessed a hugely physical,
but always sporting , battle between the  teams currently occupying the top two positions in the Connacht Junior league.

Playing into the stiff breeze, Sligo kicked off and immediately tried to gain a foothold in Monivea territory, but some good kicking by Monivea put the home team under pressure and a penalty was conceded inside the Sligo half after 6 minutes. A quick tap from Monivea scrum half Darren Blade earned his side an extra ten metres before out-half Ger O Connor elected to go for the posts and put his team into an early lead. Sligo’s Paddy Pearson restarted and a clever kick forced a knock-on from the Monivea catcher. From the resulting scrum number 8 Peter Mullan picked and quickly moved infield before setting up the ruck. Scrum half Billy Leahy quickly moved the ball to Pearson who made a half break before being hauled down on the 22. Monivea infringed at the breakdown, the referee awarded Sligo the penalty, and Pearson made no mistake in securing the three points.

Sligo again responded and some fine driving play by Jason East and Adrian Mc Hale put them in a good position inside the visitors 22, however, over-exuberance at the breakdown caused the concession of a Penalty and Monivea were able to clear. Sligo again fell foul of the referees whistle after 24 minutes when another penalty was conceded at the ruck 4 metres inside the Sligo half . O Connor elected to go for posts and was rewarded when his huge effort crossed the
bar to put his side back into the lead.

Monivea were now up to full speed and were starting to get the upper hand in the forward exchanges. Things looked very ominous for the home team on the half hour when during a sustained Monivea attack Pearson was penalised for joining a ruck from the side on the Sligo 22. To the horror of the home crowd the referee produced a yellow card and the outhalf was banished to the sin bin for a 10 minute break. O Connor converted the penalty to put
his side 6 points ahead.

The next 10 minutes proved to be defining ones for the outcome of the game. With Sligo reduced to 14 players the pendulum was surely swinging in the visitors favour. The locals however had not read the script and as one they raised their game superbly and made light of the absence of their colleague. Gavin Foley kicked the restart which was superbly fielded by Joe Sweeney. The Sligo forwards piled in and drove towards the Mona 22. James Wilson
carried before being halted 30 metres out. Leahy moved the ball quickly away before centre Jordan Farrington made a half break. The visitors illegally prevented the attack and Farrington having taken over the kicking duty coolly chipped the penalty kick through the uprights. Sligo’s confidence continued to grow and with Wilson and Mullen combining well with hooker Ross Mannion at the line out and flanker Cathal Culhane
starting to control the breakdown the tide was starting to turn in their favour. Pearson returned from the sin bin just before half time and was quickly called back into action when his team earned another penalty to the right of the posts inside the Galway sides 10 metre line. A well executed kick set the half time score at 9 points all.

The second half begun much as the first half ended with the home team gaining the upper hand in most areas and cleverly using the wind to keep the visitors pinned back in their own half. Monivea gamely tried to run the ball out of defence but time after time huge Sligo tackles put paid to their efforts. One noticeable effort from Foley on the hard running Monivea number 8 Eoin Rooney drew a huge cheer from the home support. Sligo continued to press and finally edged in front after 50 minutes when the Monivea backline rushed offside to try to stifle a promising Sligo backline move. Pearson again opted to go for the posts and expertly kicked his team into the lead.

The home side now had their tails up and continued to hunt for a try which would put the game beyond doubt. A sweeping right to left move saw Farrington put into space. The centre sped towards the line before cutting back inside, winger Gary Collins had positioned himself perfectly to receive the try scoring pass but Farrington was caught and the opportunity was lost.

With seven minutes left on the clock more fine work saw Sligo awarded a penalty on the Monivea 22. Pearson lined up the kick but to the dismay of the home support the kick drifted narrowly wide. The holders were not going to let their title go without a fight and threw everything at Sligo in the closing stages. Their pressure was rewarded with a penalty inside the Sligo half with time up on the clock. O Connor lined up the kick to try to bring the game into extra time but his effort fell short and wide allowing reliable full back David Gerrity to collect and touch down. The long blast followed much to the delight of the jubilant home supporters.

Sligo’s reward for this victory is a home quarter final against Buccaneers next sunday and they will be hoping to retain their fine form for that encounter.

Sligo Team: David Gerrity, Andrew Feeney, Jordan Farrington, Gavin Foley, Gary Collins, Paddy Pearson, Billy Leahy, Adrian Mc Hale, Ross Mannion, Jason East, Trevor Sweeney, James Wilson, Joe Sweeney, Cathal Culhane, Peter Mullen. Subs : Gary Conneely , Martin Feeney, Jamie Bowes, Dara Cox, Frankie Feeney.

View more photos from the game courtesy of Rory Raftery here.

After last weeks unexpected loss away to Corinthians Sligo needed to get back on the horse and this was exactly what they managed on a cold crisp day at their home patch . Not only did they win but they managed a four try bonus point which keeps them in the hunt for overall honours in the Connacht Junior league Div 1.

In what was an entertaining match they did not always get it their own way as the plucky Tuam pack were not about to lie down and have their bellies tickled. Sligo achieved this win because their backs were far superior to the opposition and anytime they got fast ball they had the Tuam defence in serious trouble. While they scored four trys they could have had a few more only their accuracy let them down.

On closer analysis Sligo can be disappointed with some of the forward play which was sloppy at times and the concession of penalties particularly at the breakdown has to be a worry for the coach. If this pack could supply quick clean ball to the backs they are capable of beating any side in the league with their backs. Any back line with Paddy Pearson and Jordan Farrington can do you serious damage. Both players possess the basic skills of rugby allied to athleticism and speed of thought that sets them apart. Paddy at out half had a fine game in his management of affairs and he scored sixteen points with two trys and three conversions. Farrington operating at outside centre made several clean breaks and capped his performance with a fine try late in the match for the bonus try.

The other back to catch the eye was right wing Ted Mulvany. Every time he got possession he was positive shrugging off defenders and making lots of meters and keeping his team going forward.

In the pack the two stand out performers were the veteran Peter Mullan and the young gun Simon Coulter. Peter reigned supreme in the line out not only securing his own ball but managing to snaffle several opposition balls and he capped a great day  with a fine try in the first half. Simon Coulter is now becoming Sligos most important loose forward  and he is all over the park in support. He was operating at No 8 on this occasion but he is even better as an open side where  he can use his all round pace and skill.

Sligo elected to play with a slight wind and were very quickly into their stride putting Tuam under all types of pressure. It wasn’t long before this pressure told and trys from Peter Mullan and Paddy Pearson both converted by the out half had them 14 nil up . As the half wore on Tuam got more into the match and they were rewarded with the pressure late in the first half when their hard working pack got a pushover try from a close in maul. They failed to convert and this left the score at 14 5 at the break.

The second half followed in much the same vein with the Sligo backs looking dangerous with the ball and mid way through the half they were rewarded with a fine try on the left corner after the ball had been cleverly moved through many pairs of hands with Paddy Pearson wrapping around the defence to touch down. The conversion drifted wide but Sligo were in a strong position at 19 5 and they went hunting for the bonus point try. Again this came courtesy of the back line when Gavin Foley threw a clever short side pass to Farrington. Even though he had a lot to do the Kiwi centre stepped through a tired opposition to score near the posts. Pearson converted to give a final score of 26 5.

This result will please the coach and management and is a much need confidence boost for next weeks massive encounter at home to Monivea in the Junior Cup. This game also highlighted some areas that need to be looked at but I think the players will need no motivation for next week against high flyers Monivea. The main area where Sligo will have to look at is the breakdown. On this occasion they gave away so many penalties and this will have to be addressed if they want to progress . Every referee has a different interpretation of this area but it is also up to the players on the pitch to adapt to this and not get frustrated with it. It can make all the difference  between fast and slow ball.

Sligo still lie second in this league to a rampant Monivea outfit and it is not over until the final game. With the Cup game next week Sligo can lay down a marker and show what they are made of and a win at home against the league leaders would be huge . Roll on next Sunday.

Sligo team. Gavin Foley, Ted Mulvany, Jordan Farrington,  Andy Feeney, Joe Sweeney, Paddy Pearson, Martin Feeney, Ross Mannion, Jason East, Jamie Bowes, Peter Mullan, Trevor Sweeney, Simon Coulter, Gary Conneely. Subs. Adrian McHale, Frankie Feeney, James Wilson.

Next Fixture; Sunday Sligo v Monivea Junior Cup quarter final.