CREGGS 19 BALLINROBE 15

Creggs recent good form continued with a vital win over Ballinrobe in Sunday’s game played in perfect conditions at The Green. Creggs got off to a great start,with two tries within the opening five minutes. The first came in the third minute when Ger Heneghan sliced the Ballinrobe cover to shreds to touch down for a fine try,following good work by the home pack.Heneghan also added the conversion from the right wing to put Creggs 7 – 0 ahead. From the restart,Creggs attacked again,and a sweeping backline move created an overlap for impressive winger,Aidan Geraghty,who powered over for a superb try in the left corner.The Ballinrobe forwards recovered from a slow start to dominate possession in the second quarter,and Creggs had to soak up considerable pressure,before a break downfield resulted in fullback David Brandon weaving his way past several attempted tackles to touch down for another excellent try in the 33rd minute,which Ger Heneghan also converted. Ballinrobe finally got on the scoresheet shortly before halftime,with outhalf Steven Conroy landing an easy penalty after Creggs were penalised for an infringement at a ruck.

Creggs did have a number of try-scoring opportunities to close the game out in the early stages of the second half,but,frustratingly,the final pass went astray on more than one occasion and this gave Ballinrobe renewed belief that they could get back into the contest. They duly did so when winger Michael Walsh availed of a rare moment of hesitancy in the Creggs defence to crash over for a well-taken try,when he collected a crossfield kick by outhalf Conroy.

In a frantic final quarter,Creggs had two players sinbinned,and were hanging on grimly when the increasingly influential Jack Winters finished off a strong driving maul with a try under the posts which scrumhalf Oisin Gill converted to reduce the deficit to a mere four points. However,Creggs regrouped to hold on for a victory which was fully deserved but not easily attained against this strong Ballinrobe side.

The Creggs backs impressed with ball in hand,while some of their defensive work was top class. Halfbacks Conor Brandon and Noel Flynn combined well to release the threequarters at every opportunity,while Tom Callaghan played a captain’s part in defence. Up front,Tom Fleming was a strong influence in the frontrow,while Brian Donoghue,Kevin Brandon and Mattie Corcoran also impressed in a Creggs pack which stood up manfully against the powerful Ballinrobe eight.Ballinrobe’s most effective players were fullback Peter Cosgrove,centre Robert Holian and forwards Pat Moylette and Jack Winters .

Creggs next game is a difficult assignment,away to League leaders Buccaneers on Sunday next, but the team has improved considerably over recent games,and will be looking to keep on a winning run .

Creggs :

David Brandon,Aidan Geraghty,Ger Heneghan,Tom Callaghan,Dave Flahive,Noel Flynn,Conor Brandon: Tom Fleming,Mattie Corcoran,Paul McNeill,Brian Donoghue,Bernard Kilcommons,Peter Lohan,Kevin Brandon,
Niall ORourke,Matthew Brandon,Sean Higgins,Eoin Kelly,