Sligo advanced to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup with a comfortable 0-22 away victory over Ballyhaunis on Sunday. Ballyhaunis who are a league below Sligo in JL1B never threatened a Sligo side, who sit atop JL1, and while the home side played with plenty of spirit the gulf in class was always going to be too much to overcome.

With the game played on a dry but freezing afternoon, the cold made it a tough afternoon for players as well as supporters. Sligo played into the fierce wind in the first half but they started the better with their pack getting to grips with their Mayo counterparts upfront. Sligo star David Gerrity opened the scoring after 14 minutes when he finished off an excellent move involving Tongan powerhouse, Mataelae Fifita, veteran outhalf Gavin Foley, and centre Andrew Feeney. Gerrity soon added a second, when number eight Peter Mullan broke from the back of the scrum before releasing Kiwi centre Andre Taurerewa who picked out Gerrity’s incisive line, and the fullback cruised under the posts for a try. Ballyhaunis settled after Sligo’s initial onslaught and using the wind began to play their way into the game without really threatening.

Sligo were dealt a blow just before the break when scrum-half, Billy Leahy had to retire with a facial injury, and was replaced by Warner Wilder. Assistant coach, Roger Burrows, who was at the helm in the absence of the coach, Joe Walsh, made three substitutions for the second half, bringing in Julian Ripon, Martin Feeney and David Greene for Brian Hynes, Daragh Cox and James Wilson respectively. When club captain, Ross Mannion, received a yellow card in the 10th minute, hooker Gary Conneelly, joined the action, with Cathal Culhane being forced to take a temporary break. It wasn’t until halfway through the 2nd half that Sligo added another score with the impressive Jamie Bowes charging over for another score. Sligo were in complete command, despite playing well within themselves, and added a final try with minutes remaining when the excellent Andre Taurerewa touching down to make it 20-0 before Gavin Foley added the extras to leave the final score 22-0.

Fullback Gerrity was excellent throughout, while Peter Mullan and Adrian McHale produced some sterling work upfront. Fifita was the game’s dominant influence and his trademark big hitting and ball carrying were evident throughout. The Sligo coaching staff will be happy with the ease in which Sligo negotiated the tie, and most importantly all players appear to have come through the game unscathed. Sligo had one eye on next weekends crucial title decider and as a result were never at full intensity against their lower-league opposition. Sligo will face Ballina in the quarter finals and this away tie against their arch-rivals promises to be a mouth-watering clash of high intensity rugby. The tie is scheduled for March 1st.

[ Match Photos ]