Another Connacht title for Carrick as U18.5 hold off fierce Ballinasloe challenge

In their first year competing at this grade, Carrick RFC created their own bit of history when they held off Ballinasloe last Sunday to win the Connacht Rugby U18.5 Division 3 Final on a 20-18 scoreline at Galway’s Dexcom Stadium.

In a venue that is notoriously windy, the weather was actually quite kind to both teams with a moderate breeze blowing toward the Lough Atalia end of the Stadium and it seemed as if the Galway lads had got off to a perfect start when they crossed for a try after just two minutes of play.

Carrick, however, responded quickly to this harsh welcome to a provincial final as a period of sustained pressure ended with Jack Deegan touching down for a try after just five minutes in a hectic opening to the final.

Buoyed by that success, Carrick kept the pressure on and a similar set up to their first try saw Cathal McDonagh go over for Carrick's second try. There were no further scores in the first half as Ballinasloe pressed hard, but failed to score in the face of dogged defence from Carrick in the red zone. 

Carrick led 10-7 at the break but the second half was a stop-start affair with defences on top. Ballinasloe, playing with the breeze, were edging the territorial battle and were rewarded after 13 minutes with a penalty which was converted to tie the scores.

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Carrick were struggling to put a cohesive attack together but 15 minutes in, they finally clicked and Dara Holmes was set free down the wing to run in under the sticks for a decisive score. Two further penalties were exchanged by the teams, to leave the score 20-13 entering the final few minutes. 

Cue the drama that would see this game to its nail-biting finale. Ballinasloe, in search of an equalising try, upped the pressure and unrelentingly attacked the Carrick line. With players out on their feet, the pressure told, and with the clock in the red, Ballinasloe got over for a try out wide. 

Needing the conversion to tie the game, the difficult kick that followed shaved the wrong side of the post for Ballinaloe and signalled the end of a pulsating game. 

Great credit to Ballinasloe for never giving up, and keeping the game in the balance up to the final kick. Finals are hard to win, but Carrick showed great character in winning this one, something that is as important as the result itself.

Thanks to the large support that cheered on both teams creating a special atmosphere. 

Team: Peter Moran, Dara Holmes, Gerard Murtagh (C), Tristan Hoey, Cathal Enright, Ben O’Connor, Robert Hanrahan, Jack Deegan, Cathal McDonagh, Oisin Quinn, Liam McNamee, Ambrose Devine, Gareth Barry, Jayden Bosomtwe, Diarmuid O’Connell, Andrew Deegan, Senan Mooney, Ordhan Singleton, Niall Stenson, Evan Costello, Cian Gavin, Leo Dunne, Eoghan O’Reilly, Marco Fernandez Santiago, Elia Occhi, Colm Burke

U16 Girls: Carrick Girls U16s played their first competitive game ever on Saturday against Gort Monivea in Gort. The opposition were winners of Division 2 league this year and were well drilled and confident on their own patch. 

Carrick took on an onslaught in the first 15 minutes before they established themselves in the game. The Carrick team gave a fantastic account of themselves on a very wet and muddy pitch. The stand out score of the game coming from some beautiful linked up continuity play in the second half where Carrick got in for their score from Julianne Moore who also converted the try. 

The match was won well by Gort who were excellent hosts. But this was a great stepping stone for the new Carrick girls team, the history girls.