Ballinrobe are outgunned by Creggs

Connacht Rugby Junior League 1A 

Ballinrobe 10 

Creggs 31 

Patrick Hennelly at The Green 

Having gained promotion last season, Ballinrobe were hoping to record a crucial Division 1A victory in what was their first home game of the new campaign on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Indeed, having used the Racecourse as a home venue for quite a number of years, it had been yonks since Ballinrobe last played top-flight Connacht junior league rugby at the Green, and the home faithful were hoping for a famous victory.

However, visitors Creggs didn’t read the script and left the South Mayo venue with the spoils.

Ballinrobe had garnered a commendable 21-21 draw in their opening league fixture away to Castlebar the previous weekend (which also doubled up as the Cawley Shield final, with Castlebar eventually winning 31-26 after extra-time).

Ballinrobe were eager to set the tone during the early stages of Sunday’s eagerly awaited clash and the hosts notched the first score of the afternoon on six minutes, courtesy of a Sean Mullin penalty.

Creggs though, are a seasoned outfit and they managed to silence the home faithful by fashioning a five-pointer on 13 minutes, with Ronan Dowd making the touchdown before Shane Purcell slotted over the conversion. Creggs were motoring along nicely and a penalty from the deadly Purcell on 25 minutes stretched the visitors lead to seven points, 10-3.

Ballinrobe’s Pierce Heffernan was desperately trying to find a vital pocket of space for his team, and a sustained period of home pressure led to a try for Peter Finlay after 33 minutes, with Shane Biggins coolness personified from the subsequent conversion.

But just when it appeared that Ballinrobe were making inroads, the South Mayo men were dealt a real sucker punch as Creggs upped the tempo once again and bagged a second try, courtesy of the energetic Purcell, who also successfully guided over the conversion.

Trailing 17-10 at the break, Ballinrobe were hoping for a positive start to the new half, but eight minutes in Creggs managed to claim another touchdown as James Brandon crossed the whitewash with Purcell once again accurate from the dead-ball.

A meandering run from Ballinrobe’s Jamie Treacy on 53 minutes almost ended in a try, but the Creggs defence was alert to the danger and the chance went a begging.

A resolute Creggs had too much in the tank for their opponents and the game was effectively ended as a contest on 62 minutes. A peach of a cross-field delivery from Shane Purcell was snaffled up by the raiding Tommy Devine and the latter gleefully claimed a five-pointer, much to the delight of the away supporters. Purcell duly slotted over the conversion and the East Galway men held an unassailable 21-point lead.

Try as they might, there was no way back for Ballinrobe.

Their next fixture will see them welcome Westport to the Green on November 12 for what should be an intriguing Mayo derby.

Ballinrobe: Marcin Mikolajewski, Peter Finlay, Jamie Treacy, Patrick Mylotte, John Carter, David Madden, Michael Walsh, Rory Murphy, Jack O’Toole, Craig Hansberry, Pierce Heffernan, Shane Biggins, Sean Mullin, Jarlath Mullin, Cathal Cronin. Replacements: Sean McTigue, Stephen O’Connor, Tom Lynagh.

Creggs: Thomas O’Brien, Danny Arnold, Eoghan Cahill, Mike Feeley, Jack Tucker, Lee Kilcoyne, James Brandon, Tom Callaghan, Mark Dowd, Shane Purcell, Chris Duignan, Mark Purcell, Eoghan Coyle, Tommy Devine, Ronan Dowd. Replacements: Tom Farrell, Ronan Cahill, Mark Brandon, Michael Farrell.

REF: Michael Reidy