Sports
Connacht Rugby host Exeter in Challenge Cup
Connacht Rugby face Exeter at the Sportsground on Sunday (3.15pm) in the first of two games in six days, which will define their season in Europe.
Pat Lam’s men face La Rochelle in France on Saturday week but this weekend’s match against the English Premiership outfit is pretty much a ‘winner takes all’ clash in Pool 2 to qualify for the quarter finals.
Still smarting from last Friday’s 16-13 defeat to Edinburgh, the wounded pride of Connacht Rugby should be enough to produce a backlash, regardless of the strength of the starting XV that is announced at noon today.
The Challenge Cup has lost its lustre, as automatic qualification to the Holy Grail of Champions Cup cannot be achieved even by winning it. But Connacht Rugby will still be anxious to get back to winning ways at the Sportsground, where they were unbeaten in eight games (seven wins and one draw) until Edinburgh brought that record to a shuddering halt last weekend. Another defeat on home soil could lead to a slippery slope.
The loss to Edinburgh was bitterly disappointing but not surprising given that Connacht Rugby didn’t approach the game with the passion and energy that has defined their displays, particularly at home, this season.
They were bullied in the scrum and at the breakdown – where they coughed up far too many penalties – and they lost a few vital line-outs on their own put-in.
Getting back to basics of scrummaging and lineout drills must have been a priority in training this week.
The Edinburgh game proved costly in terms of injuries. Centre, Bundee Aki, damaged his ankle in the closing stages of the match and has been ruled out until at least February. There was better news midweek with the return to action of Nathan White, who played for Connacht Eagles in their win over Leinster A at the Sportsground on Wednesday; while out-half Craig Ronaldson was back training this week after suffering a concussion.
Connacht lost the away leg to Exeter in October, 33-13, but the Englishmen’s form has dipped considerably since then, and they are there for the taking, having lost their last four games.
After the La Rochelle game on Saturday, January 24, Connacht have a much-needed break until February 15 when the league resumes for them with an away trip to Scarlets.
In the All-Ireland league, Galwegians record an 18-15 win away to UL/Bohemians to stay top of the Division 1b table, but city rivals Corinthians are experiencing life at the other end after a 39-10 defeat at home to Garryowen saw them slip to last place.
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Galway 4-27
Westmeath 1-12
Ivan Smyth at Cusack Park
GALWAY hurlers fired in 2-8 without reply in the final 15 minutes of this National League tie as they secured a flattering 24-point victory over a gutsy but outclassed Westmeath outfit.
On Sunday, Conor Cooney looked sharp as he fired over five points from play for the second game running. Daithí Burke was solid once more at centre back and even though Westmeath moved Davy Glennon on him in the second half with the aim of dragging the Turloughmore man away from goal, Burke went about his business in a typically quiet and efficient manner.
With brothers Davy and Ronan Glennon facing off on opposite sides, this was a unique occasion for the pair. Davy did fire over a point but was starved of quality ball. From a Galway perspective, Padraic Mannion and TJ Brennan were the next best in defence as the pair both grabbed a point apiece. Evan Niland was reliable from the dead ball and when he moved out from the full forward line, he was more effective in linking the play.
Galway clearly possessed the superior stickmen and never trailed but after a promising start they faded out of the game, going 11 minutes without a score. They finished the first-half strong to see their lead increase from three points after 27 minutes to nine at the break. The third quarter was sloppy from a Galway perspective as they were outscored by six points to four in the first 20 minutes of the final period before the reinforcements arrived against a tiring Westmeath.
Galway then rattled in 3-9 and conceded just a solitary point thereafter with Declan McLoughlin and Jason Flynn grabbing goals before wing back Tiernan Killeen added another late on. After a poor start in Ennis seven days prior, Galway raced out of the blocks notching five points in as many minutes.
Cianan Fahy opened the scoring after eight seconds while Brian Concannon, Liam Collins, Niland (’65) and Conor Cooney gave Galway the ideal start. Cooney could have had a goal before arrowing over but Tommy Doyle produced a brave block, one which saw him retire injured moments later.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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WEXFORD CBS 3
HOLY ROSARY 2
Daire Walsh in Clonshaugh
THERE was heartbreak for Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh last Wednesday as Micheal O’Donnell’s side fell to a last-gasp defeat against Wexford CBS in the FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill National Cup decider.
Despite being 2-0 adrift with just 25 minutes gone on the clock, Holy Rosary subsequently forced themselves back into the reckoning either side of the half-time break. The momentum appeared to be with the Connacht outfit when Ryan Nolan superbly grabbed an equaliser moments after Wexford netminder Shay O’Leary had been red carded, but their Slaneyside counterparts dug deep with 10 men.
Introduced with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, Rory Gilbert fired home a stoppage-time goal that ultimately secured the title for the Leinster champions.
This was a cruel way for Holy Rosary – who, like their opponents, were seeking a maiden title in this competition – to lose out, but it remains a memorable year for the school. Their spirit and never-say-attitude was on full display throughout and it was a game that could easily have swung in their favour.
Originally set to take place at Home Farm FC in Whitehall on Dublin’s northside, the pitch was eventually deemed unplayable a short while before the expected kick-off time of 1pm. Following a frantic scramble to find an alternative venue – rather than delaying the final for a future date – it was decided to switch the game to AUL for 3pm on the same day.
The start time was subsequently brought forward to 2.45pm and while the lack of cover meant supporters from both schools were caught up in the rain, the pitch’s all-weather surface ensured the final could go ahead.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
St Kieran’s College 3-13
Pres College, Athenry 0-12
Paul Keane at Croke Park
THEY can console themselves at Presentation College, Athenry with the fact that they tried just about everything within their power to bring the Croke Cup back west.
From sweeper systems to big men on the edge of the square, from squeezing every last ounce of potential out of transition year students to careful man-marking manoeuvres, it wasn’t for a lack of effort or ingenuity that Cathal Moore’s team came up short on St Patrick’s Day.
In the end, it was two pieces of genius from a terrific St Kieran’s team that cost them. Firstly, there was Anthony Ireland Wall’s quite stunning 24th minute solo goal into the Hill 16 End, a score that put significant daylight between the teams for the first time.
Then, eight minutes into the second-half, there was Donagh Murphy’s sumptuous goal for the Kilkenny side, the midfielder craftily playing the ball into the loose space ahead of him to avoid being hooked or penalised for overcarrying, before doubling on the ball to the net.
Those two strikes separated the two teams for the most part and it was only deep into stoppage time, when Athenry were chasing the game and were committed to all out attack, that they conceded the third goal which gave the scoreline a slightly crooked appearance.
“We came up and delivered a performance and for long stages of the match we put it up to Kieran’s but look, we just weren’t strong enough in the end and we just fell away,” conceded Moore.
As he spoke, the cheers and Oles rang out from the nearby St Kieran’s dressing-room. It will be a difficult loss to take but, as Moore also said, it is up to those younger players now to draw on all that experience and to go again.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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