Sligo Rugby Football Club

Sligo 22 Cavan 0

Sunday 22nd January was going to be a mucky affair following the heavy rain in the early hours of the morning and Cavan ladies were going to put up a fight with both teams out to prove their worth coming from defeats from the weekend before. Sligo started on defence with Cavan coming at them. A tackle from Sligo caused a fumble from Cavan and it was a scrum for Sligo and here began Sligo’s onslaught, defending their home territory. Sligo’s power and pace opened up gaps on the wing and Nicole Fowley returning at outhalf, feeding the wing some great ball, allowing Claire McManus to out run the Enniskillen defense from the 10metre and slide home with a try to the right of the posts. Fowley converts and the score is 7-0 to Sligo.

Cavan continued to threaten the Sligo try line when they got a scrum on Sligo 10metre but Sligo’s defence held them off, kicking it clear for a lineout outside Sligo’s 22. Sligo’s defensive line out was strong throughout the game, with the return of Laura Feely lifting at the front, and Lisa Moore, lifting at three, Grainne Mcguire was getting great air, creating a constant threat to Cavan’s attacking lineouts. 30 minutes in to the half on a Cavan line out, McGuire managed to force a fumble from Cavan, so prop Lisa Duffy could get the loose ball and win the ball back for Sligo. With some assertive rucking, Sligo managed to move through several phases, which created space on the left wing so backs could do some damage and allow full back Lauren McGee through for the second try. No conversion so the score was now 12-0 to Sligo.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Sligo remained strong and hit Cavan hard, pushing them on to their try line. Mairead Keane was eventually rewarded with a try when she burst through the Cavan defense to secure a 17-0 lead going into half time.

Cavan came into the second half strong, they hit Sligo like a tonne of bricks. Within 10 minutes they threatened a try in the left corner, only to knock it on, presenting Sligo’s scrumhalf Jackie Caraway an opportunity to kick for touch off the scrum. Pressure was off Sligo again.

Sligo showed some great attacking play, with a maul driven over the try line which was held up by Cavan. Laura Feely was also held up on the line when she ran from the back of a 5m scrum minutes later in an attempt to burst through the Cavan defense. Sligo’s forwards really did showcase their strength, both mentaly and physically, constantly going for the big hits, getting up and going for it again. Of particular note was forward Lorraine Lynch’s catch and run in to contact, crashing the ball and presenting great ball for the scrumhalf. Also, around the 25th minute, Fleur Kinsella at left wing showed some deft manourverability, leaving 4 Cavan player in the mud, before being taken to ground just before the try line. She aint tall, she aint small, but she’s handy and not to be messed with!

30 minutes in Caraway got some quick ball of a ruck just right of centre to Fowley who got it 2 jacqui mulligan, making her patented dash for the gap and make it for the final try of the match bringing the final score of the game 22-0. Let’s just say after that performance, Sligo will want to show City of Derry in their away game in Derry next Sunday that they may be a young club, but don’t under estimate us.

Team:
Forwards – Therese Cosgrove, Michelle Byrne, Lisa Duffy, Grainne McGuire, Lisa Moore, Niamh Connolly, Imelda McNulty, Laura Feely, Olive McTague, Siobhan Kilcoyne, Steph Savage, Lorraine Lynch and Orlaith Furey.
Backs – Jackie Caraway, Nicole Fowley, Mairead Keane, Jacqui Mulligan, Fleur Kinsella, Claire McManus, Ruth Feeney, Carley Leyden, Rachael Gordan and Lauren McGee.

Sligo 12 Limavady Grammar 0

After two weeks of pressurized League action, our preparation for the Cup commenced with a friendly against a visiting side from Limavady. In difficult conditions, a largely experimental side, which included seven of our U-17′s who were getting their first taste at this level, played well to overcome their opponents by 12 – Nil at the final whistle.

One try in each half was enough to secure victory even though the second wasn’t secured until the final 10 mins. We took the game to the visitors from the off and once again our pack ‘bossed’ it even if they weren’t perhaps as committed as we have seen during recent league fixtures. This dominance paid off when Eddie Connell crossed for one of his trademark tries which was converted by Gary O’Hehir.

All our 17′s took the field at half time and we reshuffled the team completely. Our back-line had a completely new look to it and while it took a while for the side to settle – which gave Limavady a foothold – and only a super tackle by Matt Mulvaney kept them out after a great break by the visitors. You could see the understanding build as the half progressed. As our confidence grew, the ball was spread wide on a number of occasions and Enda Roche found himself “haring for the line” on three different occasions – the final one he
converted for a well deserved score.

This was a great learning experience for all our players and gave us a chance to try out a number of positional switches. The versatile Sean Donnelly started at scrum-half and began to look more like Stringer as the game progressed! James O’Hehir at hooker, Patrick Saba at blind-side, Karol Devaney at open, Enda Roche at out-half, Gary O’Hehir second centre and James Clarke at full-back were all in new positions with the big St. Pat’s man probably the most impressive as he played well throughout.

Team:
Melly, O’Hehir, McGovern, Davey, Tansey, Saba, Devanney, Connell, Donnelly, Roche, Mullvaney, Finneran, O’Hehir, McGloin, Clarke.
Subs used: Gerrity, Dunne, Zukowski, Burke, Weaver, Cullinane.

Ards RFC 16
Sligo RFC 20

Sligo’s resurgence in the Ulster bank league continued in earnest with a well constructed away win at the aptly named Hamilton Park in Newtownards on Saturday. A powerful performance from the Sligo pack coupled with an excellent defensive back line showing ensured that Sligo came away with a precious 4 league points from the days encounter.
Played in calm conditions it was Sligo who took the early initiative and enjoyed the lions share of the possession in the opening exchanges. Sligos front row of Adrian Mc Hale, Gary Conneely and Shane Mc Guinness were solid in the scrum and Peter Mullan and Paddy Conlon were secure at line out time. 
The first scoring opportunity arrived after 15 minutes when Sligo were awarded a penalty following a ruck infringement on the Ards 10 metre line. Daniel Hawkins elected to go for the posts but his effort drifted wide. Four minutes later another penalty award gave Hawkins the opportunity to redeem his earlier miss and the out half bisected the uprights with a well judged effort from wide on the left side. 
Sligo continued to apply the pressure and their well worked maul was causing a lot of difficulty for their hosts. The back row of Rory Kerins , Paddy Conlon and Aidan Mc Nulty were on top at the breakdown and scrum half Billy Leahy was controlling things well from the base. Sligo’s back three of Hugo Laffitte, Cathal Finneran and David Gerrity were dealing well with any arial threat and were countering with purpose.
The opening try arrived on the half hour. A penalty on the 22 was expertly despatched into the corner by Hawkins. Conneely linked with Mullan at the lineout and the maul was immediately constructed. The pack drove over the line and Conlon was on hand to secure the touchdown. Hawkins added the extras.
Ards responded, and a McLean penalty opened their account but Sligo immediately responded  with another well struck Hawkins penalty to move the half time score to 13 points to 3 in favour of the visitors.
The second half saw renewed vigour from the hosts and Sligo’s defensive system was put to the test but good work from Gavin Foley and Matele Fifita ensured that the midfield door remained locked. 
The visitors moved further ahead half way through the second half. An excellent scrum break from Mc Nulty opened up the home defence and the number 8 expertly linked with Fifita. The giant centre brushed off the would be tackler and used his pace to beat the remaining cover to the line for a well worked score. Hawkins again added the extras. 
Ards were stung into life and looked to assert their game on their visitors. Two penalties in quick succession followed by a well taken McLean try brought the match to an exciting conclusion, but Sligo were not to be outdone and it was the travelling support that cheered loudest when the referee brought the game to a close. 
Next Saturday Sligo play host to table topping Cashel RFC. Cashel are unbeaten in the League this season but on current form Sligo are a match for anyone so an exciting game is expected. The match kicks off at 2.30 at Strandhill.
Ards. G Wilson, M McLean, M Taylor, A Hazzard, N Beggs, P Cox, M Banford, M Weir, C Piper, J Wylie, D Calvert, J Mc Carvey, M Harrison, N McMillan, S Minnis. Reps B Diver, M Busby, J Dawson, J Dowey, A Foster.
Sligo. D Gerritty, H Laffite, M Fifita, G Foley, C Finneran, D Hawkins, B Leahy, A McHale, G Conneely, S McGuinness, J Bowes, P Mullan, P Conlon, R Kerins, A Mc Nulty. Reps. R Mannion, B Keane, D Heath, A Williams, G O’Hehir.
Ref K Barry (IRFU)

Over the Christmas break the most important event in Sligo RFCs calendar is  the much anticipated Town V Country match. The match, traditionally held on St Stephens day, is always a fiercely contested affair played out between two teams made up from players with residential or family connections from inside or outside of the Sligo borough boundary.

Any rugby playing Christmas visitors to Sligo, or ex club players,are always welcome to play in the now legendary match, which gives everyone an ideal opportunity to meet old friends whilst also working off the Christmas indulgences.

The Town team have had the edge over the last few seasons, but with the potential talent available to the country team, it is very difficult to call a winner in this years match.

The game kicks off at 2.30 at the clubhouse at Hamilton park. All players must meet at the club at 1.00pm

The after match of the Town v County match is always a huge social occasion and this year will be no different with ex players travelling from as far away as Australia and New Zealand to meet their previous club mates.

A new initiative by Sligo RFC will see this  years event preceded by an U19 Town v County match ,with the winners lifting a trophy sponsored by The Belfry Bar, and judging by the talent available at this age group, a fantastic day of rugby is in store!

Sligo 5
Dunmore 6

Sligo’s bid to make it six wins in a row in the Connacht Junior league division 1C fell short by the narrowest of margins with a 1 point defeat to Dunmore RFC at Hamilton park on Sunday.
An Andrew Williams try, following a fine break by Stuart O’Brian was outdone by two well struck Dunmore penalties.

Despite the low score the game was a highly entertaining affair. Sligo’s scrum was solid with prop forwards Aaron Tansey and Brian Kane providing a good platform. Hooker Nick Ryan combined well with second rows Kieran Meehan and Dermot Kiely at the line out. Sligo’s hardworking back row of Williams, Terrence O’Connor and Sean Glackin contained Dunmores pick and drive game.

O’Brian and Stephen Butler combined well at half back. Centres Brandon Harvey and Clive Morris combined well throughout and wingers Brian Mullan and Gary Boland showed excellent pace when brought into the play. Full Back Dermot O’ Connor plied his trade well. subs Martin Feeney and Colm Keane made telling contributions when they joined the fray.

Sligo now take a break from competitive action until they play in the Connacht Junior cup on the 21st of January. Sligo have been drawn at home against the winners of loughrea v Portumna in what should be a competitive encounter.