Connacht J1C League

Creggs Development 13, Carrick-on-Shannon RFC 12.

Creggs Development clawed back a 12-3 deficit to record a dramatic last minute victory over Carrick-On-Shannon in Saturday’s closely contested game in Creggs.

Creggs opening the scoring when outhalf Brian Cleary landed a well-struck penalty in the 23rd minute but Carrick scored a try shortly before halftime to lead by 5 – 3.

Carrick dominated the forward exchanges in the third quarter and added a second try which was converted from under the posts to leave Creggs trailing by nine points before Brian Cleary kicked a second penalty with just eight minutes remaining .

Creggs threw everything into attack in the closing stages and they were rewarded when centre Colin Canny broke several tackles to crash over for a great try.

Cleary was the coolest player on the pitch as he landed the difficult conversion to steer his team to victory. Carrick were shell-shocked at the finish, having seen a comfortable lead slip away, but great credit is due to the never-say-die attitude displayed by Creggs in eking out an unlikely win with a storming finish.

Creggs must travel to Ballinasloe to take on the Junior 1C pacesetters on their own patch next Saturday, and while this will be another difficult assignment, morale should be high following a second successive League win by this rapidly improving squad of players.