McVann double helps Ballina to Cawley glory

Connacht Rugby Cawley Cup Final 

Ballina 24 

Creggs 17 

In Crowley Park, Galway 

There was brightness for Ballina amidst the dreariest of conditions at Galway’s Crowley Park last Saturday, as a pair of first-half tries by Billy McVann helped send them on their way to lifting the first major piece of provincial silverware available to them this season, thanks to a seven points victory over Creggs in the Cawley Cup final.

Creggs have been something of a standard-bearer at Connacht junior level in recent seasons, particularly during Ballina’s spell in the All Ireland League which ended in 2023, but it was the Moysiders who deservedly lifted the cup and rewarded the journey made to the land of Corrib by their large travelling support.

In truth, Ballina were more convincing winners than the scoreline suggests but Creggs, to their credit, doggedly stuck to their task and made their opponents fight every last inch of the way. Creggs were never in front, with Ballina hitting the front for the first time as early as the opening minute, however, and the boys in green actually moved as much as fourteen points ahead at one stage before a late converted try brought Creggs right back into the game.

Entering this final having won their opening three leagues games of the season, Ballina hit the ground running Billy McVann decorated fine forward play by cross the line for an excellent try inside the opening minute. Out-half Cian Anderson kicked the conversion and the Mayo outfit were already 7-0 to the good.

It wasn’t long until Creggs had pulled themselves all square. Out-half was pulling the strings for them and with the wind at his back, kicked intelligently into opposition territory. His teammates moved the ball through the forwards until a gap was created and Dowd got on the end of the move to dive over for a try, which was converted by Shane Purcell.

The see-saw nature of the contest continued when Ballina advanced into the Creggs half with Ronan Molloy making hard yards through the middle. They won a line-out in the Creggs red-zone and when McVann found Conor Boyce with a well-placed dart, the Moysiders mauled their way over for McVann to touch down. It was the second try for the Knockmore man and when teenage kicker Conor Connolly converted from the left touchline, the men in green led 14-7 at half time.

Ballina had the wind behind them after the resumption and camped in the Creggs '22. Thomas Hannigan, Pat Howley, Dylan Rice and Luke Sweeney were hugely prominent up front while the tireless tackling of Gary Kavanagh, Sean O'Connell and Brian Donohoe was pivotal. However, Ballina couldn't find the scores their dominance deserved and the outstanding defensive effort of Creggs frustrated the leaders.

Luke Divilly, Ciaran Purcell, Lee Kilcoyne and Brian Diffley were exceptional at times as the Creggs men survived the Ballina surges.

Then, midway through the half, Ballina were awarded a penalty two steps inside the Creggs half. It was a long way out but Ballina captain Luke Sweeney called Connolly forward for a shot at goal. The Leaving Cert student answered the call and sent the kick straight between the sticks to extend the lead to 17-7.

Creggs needed to respond and did so when Purcell converted a penalty to close the gap to seven with twelve minutes left to play. That gave the chasers huge impetus but Ballina were in no mood to be overtaken. Calum Quinn, Liam Jones, Ian West and Paul Brennan ran the ball back at the Galway men time and time again as Hannigan continued to impress up front.

Donohoe, Danny Donegan, Dan Molloy and Craig McCormick made massive impacts off the bench as the excellent Cian Quinn and Connolly kept the greens moving forward.

They exerted huge pressure on Creggs near their own line and when the ball ran loose in the 78th minute, Molloy seized his chance and powered over. Connolly converted and Ballina were almost out of sight, 24-10. However, Creggs refused to fade away and when winger Mickey Dunne streaked down the right and touched down under the posts, Purcell converted and they were within seven again. The chasers knew a converted try would force extra-time, but Ballina refused to panic and when the final whistle sounded they were Cawley Cup champions.

Ballina: P Brennan, I West, Calum Quinn, R Molloy, L Jones, C Anderson, Cian Quinn; G Kavanagh, B McVann, S O'Connell, T Hannigan, P Howley, C Boyce, D Rice, L Sweeney. Replacements: D Donegan, B Donohoe, D Molloy, C Connolly, C McCormick.

Creggs: D O'Reilly, M Dunne, C Feely, M Purcell, C Duignan, S Dowd, C Dolan; T Farrell, E Glennon, T O'Brien, C Purcell, L Divilly, L Kilcoyne, J Brandon, B Diffley. Replacements: T Tiernan, E Cahill, E Kelly, B Cleary, G Comer.

REF: E Staunton