Castlebar come unstuck on cup trip to Limerick
Castlebar RFC gave a good account of themselves away to St Mary's in Saturday's Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup game on Shannonside.
Castlebar RFC travelled to Limerick on Saturday to take on local side St Mary’s in the Energia All Ireland Junior Cup. On a beautiful sunny autumn afternoon, Multiflow Park was a splendid venue for this unique clash.
Castlebar’s young side had it all to do against the more experienced Munster team, but the visitors started brightly and attacked the home line in the opening minutes and were unlucky to have nothing to show after some excellent play.
A penalty relieved the home side and after the resultant lineout, winger Jake Madigan made a great break on the clubhouse side, only to be bundled into touch by Castlebar’s Peter Basquille. Castlebar won the lineout and cleared but Madigan was making another break shortly afterwards and was stopped on the five-metre line when he ran into forward cover. St Mary’s kept up the pressure and some silky hands opened the door for out half Adam Guerin to go over for a try which he converted himself.
From the restart, St Mary’s came back at Castlebar with the excellent Adam Kiely going over in the corner for a second try which went unconverted.
Castlebar responded well and brought the game to St Mary’s with strong forward play. Brian O’Flaherty, who was excellent all day, made a strong break from the 10-metre line and offloaded to Enzo Rago who went over near the posts for a try converted by Peter Basquille.
A penalty well struck by Adam Guerin in the 25th minute extended the home lead and encouraged them to more effort. In the 31st minute after excellent forward play, Guerin was released near the posts for a third try which he converted himself.
Castlebar fought back well, playing some excellent rugby which forced a 35th minute penalty that was excellently converted from the 10-metre line by Basquille.
The good work continued and when Castlebar were held up on the St Mary’s line, Sean O’Grady kicked a cross-field pass to the waiting Richard Sweeney who went over in spite of the physical attentions of the St Mary’s defence for an unconverted try which left the half time score 22-15 in St Mary’s favour.
The second-half was a far more open affair with excellent rugby played by both sides. Adam Guerin missed a penalty in the 45th minute to extend their lead. Castlebar, with their young side’s lack of experience having played some fine rugby, failed to breach the St Mary’s line, however. St Mary’s responded and in the 50th minute scrumhalf Ross Kelly found himself on the end of an excellent phase of play to go over for a try again converted by Guerin.
St Mary’s added another from centre James O’Brien in the 69th minute converted by Guerin to extend their lead. Castlebar spent the last 10 minutes camped in the St Mary’s half and were rewarded for their efforts when Sean Tonra went over for an unconverted try.
St Mary’s had excellent operators in Adam Guerin, Jake Madigan, Darragh Farragher and Paddy Ryan. Castlebar were well served by Sean O’Grady, Perer Basquille, Sean Tonra, Brian O’Flaherty and Richard Sweeney.
Castlebar’s next outing is at home to Ballina this Saturday evening in Cloondeash in the Bank of Ireland J1A Connacht League.
Castlebar: Carl Jackson, Sean Collins, Sean Tonra, Aaron Wooton, Kieran Doocey, Bryn Graham, Richard Sweeney, Brian O’Flaherty, Damien Togher, Seán O'Grady, Conor McInerney, Matthew Flannelly, Luke Staunton, Enzo Rago, Peter Basquille. Replacements: Donnacha Flynn, David O’Donnell, Cathal Fahey, Connor O’Neill, James Lynskey.
St. Mary’s: Nathan Walsh, Paddy Ryan, James McCarthy, Ed Kelly, Kian O’Brien, Cian Clohessy, Devlen Price, Darragh Farragher, Ross Kelly, Adam Guerin, Jake Madigan, Adam Kiely, James O’Brien, Paul Curtis Paul Loughran. Replacements: Darragh Fitzgerald, Ian Cullen, Stephen Hayes, Nicky Hogan, Shane Mullally.
