Creggs ………………………………. 25 Ballyhaunis ……………………….. 10 Creggs kept up their promotion push with an excellent 25 points to 12 win over Ballyhaunis last Sunday in a game that saw five great tries scored in the first half – four going to the home side. However after the excitement of the first half there was only one score in the second half, a penalty from Noel Flynn. Creggs started well but they were caught by Ballyhaunis for the first try of the game. A Creggs movement broke down and after good work from the Ballyhaunis pack, their hooker Noel Ryan ran unopposed from 35 metres to score under the Creggs posts and Colm Gallagher converted to give the Mayo side a seven-point lead. However Creggs were not too long responding and a few minutes later they scored an excellent try when Mark Hester ran 40 metres to score. The conversion was missed but five minutes later Creggs were ahead. A fine movement from the Creggs backline saw Emmett Collins score a good individual try. It got even better for Creggs a few minutes later when Bernard Kilcommins took advantage of a poor Ballyhaunis defensive kick to burst through and touch down in the corner for another Creggs try. Now the score was 15-7 for Creggs. The Creggs pack were doing well and the bonus point was secured when Conor Brandon got over for another try under the posts to give Creggs a 22-7 lead after Emmett Collins converted. However just before half-time Ballyhaunis converted a penalty under the posts to make the score 22-10 at half-time. The only second-half score was a Noel Flynn penalty to leave Creggs the easy winners and in a good position ahead of a vital game against Gort this Saturday. There were some very good Creggs performances on Sunday last. Mark Hester, Conor Brandon and Mike Fleming all did well but Bernard Kilcommins was the star of the show and he has the ability to become a top class rugby player if he continues to perform like he did in this game. Creggs: A Glennon, P Comiskey, P Heavey, P Turley, K O’Rourke, K Brandon, M Hester, T Fleming, G Brennan, N Flynn, M Fleming, C Brandon, J Hughes, B Kilcommins, E Collins. Sub used: P McNeill. Connacht Junior B League Loughrea …………………………… 18 Creggs ………………………………… 3 Creggs’ recent winning run came to an abrupt end when an understrength side was beaten by a strong and determined Loughrea team in Sunday’s junior B league game. Forced to travel without several regulars, Creggs battled bravely throughout this game but Loughrea pulled away in the closing stages to record an impressive victory. Creggs played with the advantage of a strong downfield wind in the opening half but could only score three points through a Dave Flahive penalty as Loughrea defended with great conviction. A penalty by Sean McGrath levelled the scores at 3-3 midway through the half, at which point Creggs lost powerful second row David Kilcommons through injury. Loughrea went ahead ten minutes after half-time when powerful centre Rodney Cullinane burst through for a well-taken try and this was followed by another try by flanker Keith Flanagan. Creggs kept tackling right to the end but eventually Loughrea winger Paul Wilson crossed for his side’s third try just minutes from time to put the issue beyond doubt. Creggs have a home game against West Offaly Lions next weekend, and this provides an ideal opportunity to bounce back after this defeat. Training continues at 8 pm Tuesday and 8.30 pm Friday. Creggs: Sean Ryan, Damien Cahill, Gerry Keegan, Paul Mahoney, Padraig McKeague, Dave Flahive, David Drury, Pat Coffey, Larry Mannion, Declan Conboy, David Kilcommons, Enda Kilcommons, Steven Neary, Alan Ward, Ciaran Osbourne.
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