First XV
Last Saturday, our Senior team recorded a superb victory over Sligo RFC in Rosbrien by 37 points to 5. Whilst our opposition were 2nd in the table , we performed to a standard that belied our current standing in the league. The away team started the contest with huge aggression and piled significant pressure on our forwards, culminating in the awarding of a penalty to Sligo after 10 minutes. This was duly converted to leave the score 3-0 to Sligo.
After this laboured start, our forwards, marshalled by scrum-half Gareth Quinn Mc Donagh, started to exert real pressure on the Sligo scrum and lineout. Prop Liam Mc Mahon scored from a maul to leave the score 5-3 to crescent. The conversion was missed but out half Shane O Brien made up for this by converting a penalty just before half time to leave the score 8-3 to Old Crescent.
The second half saw an enormous defensive effort from Old Crescent that withstood a barrage of attacking possession from Sligo, Our scrum and lineout continued to function superbly and our tackle count continued to rise and this effort resulted in keeping Sligo scoreless for the remainder of the game .
Another maul close to the sligo line saw prop Sean McGee crash over for a try which was converted by Shane O Brien to leave the score 15-5. Another try from centre Larry Hanly converted by Shane O Brien left the score at 22-5 to crescent.
We were now in bonus point territory an 10 minutes from time u20 winger Jack O Neill kicked a loose ball deep into the Sligo defence and won the race to touch down under the posts and this was converted by scrum-half Gareth Quinn Mc Donagh. Leading 29-5 with a few minutes to go we scored a penalty from substitute Brian Clancy and another try through No.8 John O dwyer leaving the final score 37-5 to Old Crescent.
Man of the match was Liam Mc Mahon. The team lined out as follows.
15.Kevin Meade 14. Steven O Carroll 13. Marty Ryan 12. Larry Hanly. 11. Jack O Neill 10. Shane O Brien 9. Gareth Quinn MC Donagh. 8. John O dwyer 7. Sean Monaghan 6.Darragh Arthur 5. Karl Hanly 4. Padraig Monaghan (C). 3. Liam mc Mahon 2. Luke Malone 1. Sean McGee. Subs.
Underage
Just to highlight the great work that our underage coaches do within the club, 13 of our starting xv have played underage rugby with the club. This is a very young senior side with an average age of just 23 years. They deserve immense credit as do all the coaching staff and management team for the hard work they put in on a weekly basis. Please come and support them if you can.
Fixtures
In fixtures next weekend, our Senior side take on Shannon RFC in the Cyril Fitzgerald Plate . The game kicks off at 2.00pm, Coonagh. Our U20 side face Glaswegians in the South west Conference, Kick Off 4.30pm.
