Hamilton Park, Strandhill, Sligo, Ireland – Founded 1890
Sligo face Ballina this coming Sunday (Jan 9th) in a crucial away Junior League fixture. Come along and support the lads – there will be a supporters bus leaving from the car park beside the Harp Tavern at 12:00pm on Sunday. Please book your place by calling Michael Storey (086 8198540) or Brendan Leahy (087 7995020).
Please note that online sales and dispatch are being handled by Shooting Stars (who also did the photography and design). Please contact Ross Mannion at Sligo RFC if you have any questions about distributing or helping with sales. Use the Buy Now link above to place your order!
History was created at Hamilton park on Saturday when Sligo defeated Armagh to take their place in the semi final of the all Ireland junior cup for the first time since the inception of the competition.
Sligo’s will to win and determined approach won out against last years beaten finalists in the country’s premier junior club competition.
Armagh won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the slight breeze in the first half. This advantage was rewarded 2 minutes into the game when a penalty award on the home 22 was easily dispatched by the visitors to open their account.
Sligo restarted and immediately attacked their hosts. Some super pressure, in particular by Cathal Culhane and Paddy Conlon resulted in a penalty award inside the Armagh 22 and the excellent Mark Butler made no mistake with the kick to level the scores.
The restart from Armagh was poorly dealt with by the home team and the northern outfit wasted no team in regaining the initiative. A speculative chip through was recovered by the visiting chasers and crisp passing yielded a try in the corner to put 5 points between the teams. Continue reading ‘Seniors make history’
Calling all Rugby Supporters! Get yourselves out to Hamilton Park this Saturday at 2.30 for what should be a cracker of a game between Sligo and Armagh in the All-Ireland Junior Cup Quarter Final – come on and get behind the boys!
Sligo RFC 24 :: Castlebar RFC 12
Sligo gained revenge for last seasons Cawley cup final defeat when they toppled holders Castlebar in their first round encounter at Hamilton Park on Sunday.
In ideal conditions for running rugby Sligo scored three trys without reply on their way to a hard fought victory. Castlebar kicked off and were quickest to settle with some well judged tactical kicking giving them a foothold in Sligo territory. Sligo were penalised for an infringement at the ruck and Castlebars Robbie Cusack made no mistake with the resulting kick to give his side an early advantage. Continue reading ‘Seniors advance in Cawley cup’
Sligo’s second 15 went down by three points in an ill tempered league encounter at Creggs road in Ballina on Sunday. The referee issued a number of yellow cards before sending off Ballina’s full back but Sligo were not able to capitalise on their numerical advantage. A Stephen Kilgallon try and a Brian Hynes penalty yield 8 points for the visitors but it was just not enough and the Mayo sides try and 2 penalties was enough to ensure victory.
Sligo’s cause was not helped by the loss of influential second row Dermot Kiely with a shoulder injury two minutes into the game and all at the club wish him a speedy recovery.
Corrib RFC 17 :: Sligo RFC 52
Sligo’s high scoring Connacht Junior league campaign continued apace with an eight try demolition of Corrib at Headford on Sunday. Sligo had the 4 try bonus point secured by half time and repeated the dose with four more trys after the interval.
Sligo won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the slight breeze in the first half. The opening minutes were dominated by a kicking duel with Corrib gaining the upper hand in the territory stakes. A well worked back line move saw the Galway outfit take the lead when centre Thomas Lee burst through for an early score which he converted himself. Continue reading ‘Another high score for Sligo’
Photo courtesy of ShootingStars.ie
Congratulations to the Ireland U20′s side who beat Italy today 29-10 at Donnybrook. Sligo RFC senior team member Aaron Spring gained his first cap for the Ireland U20′s today when he came on as a replacement in the 64th minute of the game.
Aaron is the first player from Sligo RFC to be capped for Ireland at U20 level while still playing with Sligo RFC and everyone at the club congratultes Aaron and his family. Continue reading ‘Aaron Spring capped for Ireland U20′s as Ireland beat Italy’
Tullamore RFC 11 :: Sligo RFC 19
Sligo advanced to the quarter final of the All Ireland junior cup with an eight point defeat of a strong Tullamore outfit at Spollanstown on Saturday. The visitors outscored the home outfit by three Trys to one on their way to an impressive victory.
In ideal conditions for Rugby the opening minutes were dominated by tactical kicking, with both teams trying to gain territorial advantage. Tullamore put together the first attack of note on 10 minutes when a sweeping left to right backline move broke down close to the Sligo line when the ball was dropped by winger Colin Hughes. Sligo cleared their lines following the resulting scrum.
The opening score arrived after 20 minutes when Sligo were penalized at the breakdown on their own 22. Outhalf Johnny Maloney slotted the kick to open his teams account. Continue reading ‘Sligo win in Tullamore’
Corinthians RFC J2 20 :: Sligo RFC J2 20
Sligo’s second team fought back from behind to earn a last minute greatly deserved draw against a well organised Corinthians outfit in Galway on Sunday. In their first match of their J2 league campaign a last minute penalty kicked by man of the match Brian Hynes,following great work by prop forward Darran Wilson,earned a richly deserved draw for his side.
Hynes racked up a personal tally of fifteen points as he had already scored a try,2 conversions and an earlier penalty. Steve Kilgallon also chipped in with a well worked try.
Coach Steve Alley and Manager Aaron Tansey will be delighted that their charges earned valuable points against a side that always perform well at this level.
The 2010/11 ticket application form is now available for download. The autumn series sees Ireland play South Africa (6th), Samoa (13th), New Zealand (20th) and Argentina (28th) in November.
Text your interest in tickets immediately to 0872613011 giving your name and ticket requirements stating the game and number of tickets you require.
Sligo RFC 85 :: Westport RFC 0
Sligo’s quest for Connacht junior league glory took another huge step forward when they decimated the challenge of Westport RFC, traditionally a junior league title contender, with an exhibition of complete dominance at Strandhill on Saturday. The visitors had no answer for Sligo’s all action game as the hosts ran in 13 trys without reply.
The home team dominated from the kick off and registered their first score after 2 minutes when following a set scrum on the Westport 5 metre line, scrum half Paddy Pearson ran a well rehearsed line which culminated in powerful centre Matele Fifita crashing through to open his teams account. Outhalf Mark Butler slotted the conversion to give Sligo the perfect start. Continue reading ‘Sligo dominate ‘port’
OLBC 18
Sligo 22
Sligo won the clash of the table toppers when they defeated Our Lady’s boys club from Galway in a much anticipated Junior League division 1 encounter at the back pitch in the sportsground on Sunday.
OLBC had recruited strongly in the close season and were seen by many to be well equipped to launch a title challenge this season.
Sligo kicked off with the aid of the strong breeze but it was the local outfit who struck first when a penalty award for an infringement at the ruck was despatched by Greg Flaherty to give his side an early advantage.
Sligo reacted and made their way into the ‘club 22. Strong work by Wesley Maxwell at the scrum gave the ref no option but to award the penalty and outhalf Paddy Pearson stepped up and slotted the kick to equalise.
OLBC again came looking for points and earned a penalty in front of the Sligo posts which Flaherty again converted to put his team back in front.
The first try of the match was a superbly crafted individual effort. Following a sweeping left to right movement, the ball was brought into contact by the strong running Matele Fifita. A quick recycle was moved to Pearson who brilliantly changed the angle and wrong footed the defence before racing clear of the cover to dot down to the left of the posts. The outhalf converted to put the score at 10-6 in Sligo’s favour.
‘Club again came storming back and a well rehearsed moved from a 5 metre scrum saw full back Donnacha Carey crash over in the corner to give his side a one point lead into the break.
Sligo upped the tempo in the second half and were starting to edge the possession battle. Hard work was rewarded when pressure on the home defence resulted in a 5 yard scrum award for the north westerners.
A good drive by the pack allowed Paddy Conlon feed Frankie Feeney and the scrum half quickly released the backline. Fifita recieved in midfield and powerfully burst through the cover to touch down beside the posts. Pearson converted to move the scoreline to 11-17 in favour of the visitors.
Sligo coninued to press and began to move the ball wide where they had an obvious advantage, however over eagerness in this policy proved costly when a loose play was latched onto by OLBC and the ball was hacked down field. The retreating Sligo cover failed to deal with the situation and illegaly prevented the olbc attack,resulting in the concession of a penalty try. Flaherty added the extras to put his team back in to a one point lead.
Sligo regrouped ,went back on the attack, and camped themselves in the ‘club 22. Fifita’s poweful running was causing the home defence difficulty and following another trademark drive the ball was moved wide to Ted Mulvaney who broke two tackles before crossing the tryline for the final score of the game.
Sligo contiued to press to try to earn the bonus point try, but OLBC were not in the mood to give up and threw everything at the visitors defence. However , Sligo held firm and some great work by Simon Coulter and a fine kick from Aaron Spring ensured that the points were secured.
Next up Sligo face newly promoted Loughrea, on Sunday at Hamilton Park, Strandhill with a 3 o Clock kick off.
Sligo; Gavin Foley, Ted Mulvaney, Matele Fifita, Jordan Farrington, David Gerrity, Paddy Pearson, Frankie Feeney, Wesley Maxwell, Ross Mannion, Adrian Mc Hale, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Aaron Spring, Simon Coulter, Paddy Conlon. subs Martin Feeney, Gary Conneely, Cathal Culhane, Roger Burrows, Trevor Sweeney
Sligo cemented their place at the top of division one of the Connacht Junior League when they scored 107 points without reply against Ballinrobe at Strandhill on Sunday.
Sligo scored 17 trys on their way to a dominated one side victory.
As the score line suggests Sligo scored early and often and after 4 minutes quick thinking by man of the match Frankie Feeney released Simon Coulter who broke through for the first try of the game.
Sligo doubled their total three minutes later when power house Matele Fifita broke through the cover before releasing speedster David Gerrity who raced away from the cover to give his side a 10 nil lead.
Sligo continued to press and following a scrum in mid field Roger Burrows burst towards the line and following the covering tackle expertly popped the ball to Gavin Foley who touched down left of the posts. Jordan Farrington converted to give his side a 17 nil lead.
The bonus point try arrived after 20 minutes when a poor Ballinrobe clearance kick was collected by Gerrity. The ball was spun wide to Burrows who chipped ahead, Farrington collected and touched down under the posts. The centre converted his own try to put his side 24 points ahead.
Sligo were now starting to go up the gears and Farrington and winger Ted Mulvaney both added trys following some fine open field running.
Mulvaney, Gerrity and the excellent Paddy Conlon all added to Sligo’s try total before the break.
The second half began much as the first half ended with Sligo continuing to notch up the scores.
Fine work by Fifita saw him make tries for Gerrity and Mulvaney before the strong running centre doted down for a try of his own.
Sligo continued to press and substitute Aaron Spring added two tries and Fifita added another one of his own.
Roger Burrows and Ted Mulvaney both added to their total and with Feeney in go kicking form Sligo’s final score reached 107 points.
Coach Simon Galvan will be pleased with his side’s performance but will know that harder days lie ahead in their quest for Junior League glory. However the team deserve great credit in the manner that they put their opponents to the sword and if they keep this level of performance up good days will lie ahead.
Next week Sligo travel to O.L.B.C. in Galway to take on what many pundits feel are strong contenders for this year’s Junior League title. Kick off 3.00 pm at Galway Sports Grounds.
Sligo:
David Gerrity, Ted Mulvaney, Jordon Farrington, Matele Fifita, Roger Burrows, Gavin Foley, Frankie Feeney, Wesley Maxwell, Jason Coulter, Adrian McHale, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Cathal Cullane, Simon Coulter, Paddy Conlon, Reps. Aaron Spring, Trevor Sweeney, Simon Galvan, Billy Leahy, Gary Connelly.
Connacht Junior League Div 1A table – here
Sligo got off to a great start in the Junior League on Sunday with a bonus point away win over Galwegians at Glenina.
Ted Mulvaney tackle
Connacht Junior League Div 1A table – here
