Creggs senior women’s unbeaten start to the Connacht Senior Women’s League came to an end last Sunday when they lost to current champions Tuam by 25-13 in Creggs.
Creggs took the lead through an Eabha Dowd penalty after five minutes. The opposition took advantage of a Creggs mistake to score a try and then after a succession of penalties by the home side, which gave Tuam territory, they scored again to take a commanding 12-3 lead.
The Creggs girls went back on the attack with the last play of the half and after a great carry by Kelly Haugh, Stacey Corbally scored in the corner to leave the half-time score 12-8 to the visitors.
Both teams had their opportunities in the second half. The visitors scored first after a simple pick up from the base of the scrum punished the Creggs defence, stretching their lead to 17-8. Creggs went back on the attack, and scored after a great break by Susan O’Reilly and Kelley Haugh. A super offload by Shauna Fitzmaurice freed Seren Griffiths to score and reduce the deficit to 17-13.
Creggs received two yellow cards in the closing stages and in that period Tuam kicked a penalty to lead 20-13. Then in the very last play Tuam scored again in the corner to finish the game 25-13 winners.
We wish Rachel Kilcoyne a speedy recovery from an ankle injury received in the first half. The team need to regroup now as they travel to play University of Galway this weekend.
J1B LEAGUE: Creggs began the New Year with an away trip to Ballinrobe RFC for the twice-postponed J1B League fixture which finally got the green light last Sunday.
Creggs started brightly but then conceded tries in quick succession to winger Liam Burke and centre Sean Mullin which were both converted by out-half Dylan Keane for a rather flattering 14-0 lead. Creggs hit back with a fine try by scrum-half Chris Duignan which Cathal Feely converted before Ballinrobe crossed for a third try by Thomas Barrett which Keane also converted to lead 21-7 after 25 minutes of play.
A sin-binning reduced Creggs to 14 players in the run-up to half-time but a spirited effort almost resulted in a try following a brilliant run by Jack Fleming before Ballinrobe averted the danger.
ln the final play of the opening half Ballinrobe secured a bonus point 4th try by outflanking the Creggs defence to release dangerous winger Burke for a well-worked score.
Another Ballinrobe try, this one by Dara Lynch, put the game out of reach for a depleted Creggs outfit which has been badly hit by injuries this season.
A try by Cathal Feely, who brushed past several defenders on his run to the tryline, added to Creggs’ score before Ballinrobe substitute, Carrick Roberts, added a late try for the home team. This game featured a lot of honest endeavour and considerable skill from both sides.
Creggs now face UC Galway in a vital league game at the end of January which will determine vital placings in the battle to avoid relegation to Division 1C.
Creggs: Jack Fleming, Kevin Battles, David Gacquin, Peter Lohan, Jamie Ryan, Cathal Feely, Chris Duignan, Paddy Fitzmaurice, Ethan Glennon, Tommy Curley, Jordan Kennedy, Aodan Kelly, Lee Kilcoyne, Shane Maloney, Michael Feeley, Danny Arnold, Maurice Buckley.
WELL DONE: On Friday last at Ballina RFC, Creggs players Ryan Halligan, Austin Smith, Ciaran Cunnane and Calvin Beckett represented East Connacht U-16s vs West Connacht in a regional match. Well done lads – keep it going for 2026. Creggs players missing due to injury were Aydin Odemis and Cillian Fallon.
LOTTO: Our first draw of the New Year took place last weekend. There was no winner of the Jackpot. It now rises to €8,800 this weekend. The lucky dip winner was Mickie Maloney.
CELTIC CHALLENGE: Saturday saw a huge crowd in Creggs attending the Women’s Celtic Challenge game between The Clovers and The Wolfhounds.
This game had numerous Irish internationals playing with the best players from the provinces in action.
The Wolfhounds, made up of Leinster and Ulster players, ran out winners on a scoreline of 24-7. Try scorer for The Clovers, who are made up of Munster and Connacht players, was local Creggs star Jemima Adams Verling.
