People Friday 27 January 2017 53 SportsPeople

Pictured at the Creggs RFC press night on Tuesday night last were Sean Brandon, Secretary of Pictured at the Creggs RFC press night on Tuesday night last were Alan Glennon, Michael Farrell, Kevin Brandon and Enda Creggs RFC and Kieran Dowd, Chairman of Creggs RFC. Picture: Andrew Fox Tully. Picture: Andrew Fox Creggs ready to shine in Junior Cup < DAN DOONER footballers, junior rugby to that. Captain Tom Cal- Creggs but that doesn’t stop players or Sunday League laghan jogs over. He’s an them being here midweek Bright fl oodlights illumi- soccer players is that there’s impressive unit and has the – the dedication shows that nate the approach road into no glamour or glory in shut- kind of experience that will the club is going strong,” he Creggs on most nights. tle runs on a muddy pitch in be vital in the heat of battle says. The location of the light the middle of January. this weekend. He shakes The former Sligo Gram- may alter slightly but they The reason brave souls hands and tries to keep lim- mar player knows that the are rarely switched off. have traveled from as far ber as he looks back on the punishing midweek work High electricity bills must away as Longford and Gal- journey so far. is vital in order to get a taste be the price a village pays way for a midweek training “We kind of had a slow of the real glory on Sunday for churning out success- session is the same reason start, we’ve a lot of stu- afternoons. ful sports teams. It brings Andrew Fox and I once dents and with exams it “A lot of the lads have to mind the US American again fi nd ourselves in was hard,” he says almost part-time jobs and we try Football drama ‘Friday Creggs. The masters of the apologetically. to work around that. We Night Lights’ except this is oval ball are preparing for a He provides a glimpse generally train on Friday a wet and windy Tuesday huge Junior Cup into the level of commit- nights but we try to be ac- night and the only cheer- Quarter-Final against the ment that exists among the commodating, it’s never leaders around are a hand- impressive Ballinasloe this squad. “We trained four or really a problem because ful of club offi cials. Sunday. That Creggs are fi ve nights over Christmas the lads are committed,” he One thing most amateur underdogs is accepted with and there was a big turn- says with a nod towards the sports people will tell you, a nonplussed shrug in these out for that. There are a cones where coach Liam whether they be senior parts, they’re well used lot of lads who aren’t from Callaghan is putting the Pictured at the Creggs RFC press night on Tuesday night last were Kevin O’Rourke, Tom and Liam Callaghan. Picture: Andrew Fox team through passing drills. Brandon join us on the side- ger picture in mind. As for Sunday, Tom line and President Dowd “There’s more to it than doesn’t seem like a guy tells us that plans are afoot winning cups. When you who worries about the big to expand the playing facili- have 200 kids out here occasion. ties at the venue. His hand that’s what matters! The “Yeah, we’re underdogs. sweeps across the land be- most exciting part for us We’re well used to that yond the training area as is that rugby is becoming and they are in the league he explains: “We own four stronger in the locality, in above us. We’re hoping to acres and we’re after buy- schools like CBS and Com- get a big turn-out and give a ing another seven acres. munity College in Roscom- good performance,” he says Our aim is to have four full mon and areas like Bal- as he shakes hands and jogs size pitches here.” lygar too,” he adds before back to his teammates. As for potential success in proudly describing some of Head coach Pat Cun- Connacht, Dowd is keep- the club’s biggest moments, ningham and his coaching ing his feet fi rmly on the including a famous victory assistants Liam Callaghan ground. over a Galwegians team and Kevin O’Rourke should “The aim is to get back to which featured Warren Gat- have no trouble motivating being one of the top junior land and Eric Elwood. their troops this Sunday af- teams and the Junior Cup Bigger picture there might ternoon at The Green. is a fantastic trophy with a be but what he and the rest While on the fi eld things great history,” he says. of the former All-Ireland are looking good for Creggs Winning on Sunday would League club wouldn’t give Rugby, this is more than obviously be a huge step in for another Polaroid mo- matched by the club’s am- the right direction for the ment on Sunday afternoon bition off it. club and would spark wild as the team from the half- Pictured at the Creggs RFC press night on Tuesday night last were Aidan Leech, Seán Óg Higgins, Brian Donohue and Peter Club President, Kieran celebrations, but the presi- parish go in search of more Lohan. Picture: Andrew Fox Dowd and secretary Seán dent is also keeping the big- Connacht glory. 54 Roscommon People Friday 27 January 2017 SportsPeople SSICKICK AASS A PPARROT/OVERARROT/OVER TTHEHE MMOONOON This ROSCOMMON & DISTRICT LEAGUE NEWS week’s Dooner’s weekend predictions awards The predictions last week- rowly. A win here can turn Prediction: Draw Killeen Sportsgrounds all three points. Diffi cult one to call and a end were similar to that that around. Skyvalley Rovers v Bal- Division 2 Prediction: draw looks most likely. Game of the Week of Man United’s chance Prediction: laghaderreen FC (2 pm) Dunmore Town B v Sky- United Prediction: Draw There were a couple of conversion rate; fairly United The visitors have looked valley Rovers B (11 am) Shiven Rovers B v Cas- games worthy of this average but we eventually Glen Celtic v Dunmore bright lately. Hard not to feel sympathy tlerea Celtic B (2 pm) award but I’m going to broke even! This weekend Town Prediction: Ballaghader- for Skyvalley Rovers as go with promises to be a bit better, The visitors have to be reen FC they continue to search for and Ballymoe’s thriller hopefully. slight favourites. Norio’s Takeaway Divi- a win. Soccer Results in Ballaghaderreen. The Prediction: Dunmore Town sion 1 Prediction: Dunmore The Herald Premier Division home side have been CP Ajax v Loughglynn Town B quite unfortunate in Sunday, Shiven Rovers 1 St. John’s Athletic 2 recent weeks but are United (11 am) Moore United B v Cam Ballaghaderreen FC 2 Ballymoe FC 3 Saturday, January 29th In most other years CP Celtic (11 am) defi nitely good value for Ahascragh United 0 Celtic 7 money. January 28th Ajax would be challenging The home side should win The Herald Premier Skyvalley Rovers 1 Ballinasloe Town 7 The Herald Premier Division for the title albeit as outsid- this comfortably. Win of the Week Division Brazukas v Ballinasloe ers. They should win on Prediction: Moore United Moore United v Shiven Town (11 am) home turf. B Norio’s Takeaway Division 1 Hodson Bay Athletic Prediction: CP Ajax Cloonfad United B v Ros- Cloonfad United 0 Lough Harps 1 travelled well this week Rovers (7.45 pm) The visitors are still in the and came away with three This could be a huge week- hunt and will expect to gain Dysart FC v Rov- common United (2 pm) Ballinasloe Town 2 Kilkerrin United 0 valuable points against end for Moore. They need ground this weekend. ers (11 am) Roscommon United have Dysart FC 4 Glen Celtic 1 Cam Celtic. They also kept to win this fi rst though. Prediction: Ballinasloe I fancy Dysart to remain impressed lately. Rahara Rovers 2 CP Ajax 6 a clean sheet which is Prediction: Moore United Town unbeaten for the rest of the Prediction: Roscommon quite rare! Norio’s Takeaway Divi- Ballymoe FC v Castlerea league campaign. United Killeen Sportsgrounds Division 2 sion 1 (7.30 pm) Celtic (2 pm) Prediction: Dysart FC Hodson Bay Athletic v Moore United 2 Shiven Rovers 0 ‘Contract’ of the Cloonfad United v Kilk- Before Christmas I would Lough Harps v Balli- Strokestown United (2 Strokestown United v Cloonfad United, postponed. week errin United have had this down as a nasloe Town B (2 pm) pm) Ballinagare FC 0 Moylough ’79 0 Cloonfad have been in poor home win. Castlerea have Harps will be hoping to This promises to be one of Phillipe Coutinho the keep in touch with Cloon- the games of the weekend. Cam Celtic 0 Hodson Bay Athletic 1 Brazilian will defi nitely form lately but they have slowly started to turn it Dunmore Town 2 Roscommon United 2 ve years been playing teams in the around but neither side can fad in second place. Strokestown should have spend the next fi Skyvalley Rovers 0 Castlerea Celtic 0 in Liverpool. Defi nitely. top four and losing nar- really afford to lose. Prediction: Lough Harps enough about them to claim

Creggs RFC Report THE GAIN LINE Creggs reach Junior Cup last eight Connacht Junior Cup: the visitors with a coun- Creggs 24 Dunmore 11. ter attacking opportunity, Creggs advanced to the again a penalty ensued, quarter-fi nals of the Junior this time Walsh spurned Cup but it took a converted the posts opting for a kick try three minutes from time to the corner and from the to see off Dunmore who line-out his pack rolled to- were very much in conten- wards the line with Ryan tion to that point. Cummins crossing for a Played in perfect condi- try. The game was now tied tions, Creggs roared into and only an amazing block the game from the kick- down of Walsh’s conver- off and within ten minutes sion attempt by Creggs were eight points ahead, scrum half Chris Duignan thanks to a Brian Cleary presented his side falling penalty and a try from behind. Buoyed by this let Aidan Leech in the left off Creggs quickly regained corner from which Cleary the lead thanks to full-back saw his conversion attempt Kevin Gavin who, chasing rebound off the near post. his own long kick out of Creggs continued to press defence, tackled his oppo- but some sloppy handling site number in front of the allowed Dunmore to break Dunmore posts securing a Pictured is the Creggs U-16 panel which played Ballina last weekend. out of defence and while penalty which Brian Cleary Tom Fleming tracking converted to leave the score time this season so getting to make it 10-7 and hand try in the 35th minute but the current table toppers. a league fi nal this season. back half the length of the 14-11 at the interval. game time for everyone Creggs the win. Creggs rallied with two fi ne Training continues on Fri- Creggs U-14s will play fi eld prevented a try against The third quarter saw was always going to be im- Connacht Junior 2 tries from impressive cen- day night at 8 pm, new Ballinasloe RFC on Satur- the run of play, Dunmore’s Creggs moved further portant. League: Creggs 2nds 10 tre Tommy Devine to bring players always welcome. day in Creggs at 1.30 pm consolation arrived through ahead with a fourth Cleary Creggs began the game Oughterard 16. Oughter- the score to 16-10 midway Youth Rugby: Due to a Creggs U-13s and U-14s a penalty converted by out- penalty after fi fteen min- better and took the lead af- ard arrived to The Green through the 2nd half. frozen pitch, Creggs U-13s train Wednesday nights at half Darragh Walsh. utes. Tom Fleming then ter 15 minutes when Mark for Saturday evening’s J2 Creggs did get a few and U-15s had to call off 7 pm. Creggs pulled away again capped a tremendous per- Purcell rounded off a great league game as strong con- half chances in the clos- their league games last Sat- Mini Rugby: Creggs Min- with a second penalty from formance, with a try while team move to score in the tenders for the league title ing stages but Oughterard urday. The U-15s will trav- is will travel to Carrick-on- Cleary on nineteen minutes Cleary added the conver- corner. but a youthful Creggs team with former Creggs player el to Ballina next Saturday Shannon for a blitz next and continued to dominate sion to take Creggs into the Following changes at put in a spirited display be- Aidan O’Flynn making a for a league game. Time to Saturday with a 10.15 am both territory and posses- quarter-fi nal against Balli- the break Ballina took a fore losing out in a lively successful return to his old be confi rmed. kick-off, players to be there sion but another Dunmore nasloe at The Green this 7-5 lead ten minutes into contest, played in ideal club, used their power and Creggs U-18s will play at 9.50 am. break-out from defence Sunday at 2 pm. the second half. Creggs conditions. experience to close out the Galwegians RFC in the Creggs Mini Girls went to presented Walsh with a sec- U-16 League: Creggs 10 responded well and con- Oughterard carved the game for a deserved but semi-fi nal of the U-18 last Saturday and ond penalty chance which Ballina 7. Creggs U-16s tinued to attack before re- Creggs defence to shreds hard earned victory. league in Creggs next Sun- had three very competitive he converted to leave the played Ballina last Sun- gaining the lead with fi ve for an early converted try Creggs 2nds travel to Gal- day at 12.30 pm. After los- games against Claremorris, score at 11-6. day morning in Creggs in minutes to gor when Mark before Creggs gradually got way to play NUIG next ing narrowly to the same Galwegians/Portumna and A case of déjà vu minutes a very competitive league Purcell kicked cross-fi eld to the tempo of the game. Sunday in Dangan and can opposition recently (25- Sligo RFC, well done to later when another handling match. Creggs were back for Aaron Hannon to dive Oughterard went further take a lot of positives from 20), Creggs will need to be all the girls and great to see error by Creggs presented at full strength for the fi rst on the ball in the corner ahead with a well worked this battling display against at their best to get back into good numbers on the day.