Another weekend has come and gone, and it’s now Monday evening, as I write. What a weekend for Creggs Rugby Club! On Sunday in Glenina, the pitch where city club Galwegians ply their trade, we had our own Mullinalaghta moment, when we claimed a major Connacht junior trophy for the first time in 25 years.
In a hard-fought game played in tough weather conditions, our lads beat a game Castlebar outfit by 19 points to nil, scoring three absolutely wonderful tries – which would have graced any rugby stage. When the Cawley Cup was presented to our captain, Kevin Brandon (my nephew), it was just great to realise that the barren years had finally come to an end.
I’m sure there is a full report somewhere else in the Roscommon People, so all I’m going to say is congrats to Pat Cunningham and his management and coaching team, to all the players, most of whom are in the very early 20s, or even their teens, with one or two elder lemons to provide the all-important bit of experience. Hopefully, we are looking at a very bright rugby future here in Creggs.
At this point in time we are very involved in the Division 1A League, in which we are currently in second place, and we are playing Sligo in Creggs later in the season in the Connacht Junior Cup.
Sport is notoriously fickle, but no matter what happens in the rest of the season, we have had a very successful campaign, with many more big games to come. Can’t wait.
Meanwhile, a milestone at our club grounds on Friday evening, as we had the first ever training session at our new 3G or 4G pitch. I am not sure which it is, and don’t ask me any technical questions about its make-up, but by God, is it impressive.
The new lights are just unbelievably good, and there isn’t a trace of a shadow anywhere. When I had my first look at the completed pitch I had to pinch myself to think that this was Creggs.
A large number of past stalwarts, including quite a number of those who started the ball rolling (forgive the pun) in Dowd’s pub more than forty years ago, had gathered for the occasion, and for all of us who had played on the field behind the Church, and up in Kilmore where the ESB wire across the pitch caused many a kick to change direction, it was hard to believe that the journey had come this far.
I won’t even try to describe the pitch to you, but if you find yourself passing through Creggs, I would beg you to take five minutes out, walk down to the pitches, and I guarantee you – you will be amazed.
Not a wild goose chase…
It’s Friday evening in Creggs – and the rain is bucketing down on our little border village – but no-one is taking a blind bit of notice, and if you were a stranger who accidentally strayed into the Main Street you would wonder to yourself as to what is going on. The place is packed, with cars parked the length of the village on both sides of the road.
It reminded me of the carnival days (maybe that should be nights) back in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, when the crowds would flock from all over, and when great showbands like the local Rhythm Stars, the Premier Aces, and Johnny Flynn, amongst others, would have the marquee hopping, with the huge numbers entertained until the early hours.
There was no music last Friday night, but the Cookery Demonstration in the school hall – hosted by husband and wife duo, Tom and Jeeny Coleman – was an enormous success. It was attended by many would-be chefs, who I’m told, as part of the demo, were taught how to cook a goose. As my goose is cooked for a long time now, there was no need for me to be there! That, of course, is a joke, because I was at the other end of the street, where, in a manner of speaking, we turned on the Christmas lights, because Friday night saw the first official training session on the new 3 or 4 G pitch!
Shane and the speed limits
Shane Ross is once again annoying the people – particularly country people. This time, it’s his new proposals on speeding which are causing concern. They are well enough documented, so I won’t go into the minute details. However, as someone who recently fell foul of an €80 fine, and a Christmas present of three points on my driving licence, I firmly believe that the entire road network needs to be re-examined and reassessed with a view to devising acceptable and proper speeds.
Everywhere we look there are ridiculous speed limits imposed – usually too low, but occasionally too high – or like the one where I was caught where the speed dropped from 100 to 60, and a few metres further on to 50, all on a perfectly straight road with no real obvious reason for the sudden drop. I was doing 59 in the 50, and I feel I was just an easy target. Everyone would like to see road deaths reduced to zero, if possible, but there must be realistic speeds applied to all our roads, and I don’t think that is the case, at least not at the moment.
And finally…
Finally for this week, don’t forget the Mass on Christmas Day in Donamon Castle, with music and singing by the fabulous Annette Griffin, John Staunton and Frances Griffin. As it starts at 10 am there is no reason why you can’t attend your own local Mass as well. All going well I will see you there.
That’s it for this year, so have yourself a wonderful Christmas, stay safe, enjoy it, but not too much…hopefully I will do the St. Stephen’s Day Walk in Creggs, and I will talk to you again in the New Year.
Till next week, Bye for now!
