U13s sole Carrick winners in Connacht action

Carrick underage teams were involved at the business end of four Connacht Cup competitions and after some pulsating and entertaining cup rugby were on the receiving end of three close defeats with the U13s scoring a last gasp try to defeat visitors Sligo.

U18.5: Carrick 35-20 Buccaneers

The U18.5s entertained Buccaneers (Athlone Ballinasloe) at home last Friday with the winners qualifying for the Connacht semi final. It all started well for Carrick when Colm Burke intercepted a visitors attack to score a try converted by Peter Moran. After 20 minutes Buccs Charlie O'Carroll scored  with a wonderful trademark scrum half sniping run, converting his own try. 

On 30 minutes Peter Moran converted a penalty and five minutes later Oisin Quinn went over for Carrick with Moran hitting the post with his attempted conversion. However on the stroke of half time, after relentless pressure, Buccs got in for a John Casey try converted by O'Carroll leaving the half time score 15-14  to Carrick.

Buccs attacked again on resumption in the second half and with two great line out steals Carrick seemed to have weathered the storm only to concede a David Gavin converted try on the 45th minute. Carrick then upped the ante with a Jayden Bosomtwe try which left Carrick trailing by a point and all to play for.

Buccs weren't having any of it though and using their strength in depth, they pushed clear in the last ten minutes with two tries by Sean Rohan and Conor Dowling both of which were converted by the ever versatile Charlie O'Carroll. 

The final scoreline flattered the visitors and the result now leaves Carrick in the Plate.

Team: P Moran, D. Holmes, G Murtagh, E Occhi, C. Burke, B O Connor, R Hanrahan, J Deegan, A. Deegan, O Quinn, L McNamee, A Devine, G. Barry, J Bosomtwe, C McDonagh, Subs: O. Singleton, C Gavin, L Dunne, E Costello and C. Creighton. 

U16: Carrick 12-19 Buccaneers

The U16s played host to Buccaneers too in their Connacht Cup semi final. Buccs started the better team with the first twenty minutes of the match being played mostly in the Carrick half. Carrick were holding out defensively until Jack Moolick had a kick charged down by Owen Egan who followed through to touch down. 

The rest of the half was a typical tight cup affair but a telling point was the Buccs defence towards the end of the first half when Carrick attacks were stopped on the try line. The half time score was five nil to the visitors. At the start of the second half Carrick came out of the traps with gusto and were rewarded with a fine try by Tadhg Rogers converted by Moolick, 7-5 to the hosts.

This try made Buccs double down in their endeavours but the Carrick tackling was ferocious but in the end Buccs got the upper hand with a second try by Egan converted by Rory Dolan and then another by Hugo Hannon leaving the score 19 points to 7. Carrick fought back with a try from Cody O'Brien with ten minutes to go and try as they might they were unable to breach the Buccaneers line again leaving the final score 19 points to 12.

Team: L. Charles, C. Dorr, R. Costello, I. Martin, R. Connolly, J. Moolick, O. Beirne, P. Morahan, M. Ffrench, J. Keville, A.Beirne, J. Kieran, T.Rogers, A. Hewson, C. Slevin Subs: S.McGreevey, K. Kopczynski, A. McNiff, J. Mee, Cody O'Brien and C. McDermott

U14: Carrick 17-24 Creggs

Carrick U14s lost their Connacht Cup semi final to Creggs last Saturday and will rue their slow start when conceding two tries by Mark Fox and Austin Smith both converted by Cathal Nerney.

When Carrick eventually settled they got back in with a try by Colton Quinn converted by Alex Kirrane. However Creggs were well drilled and Carrick were unable to get level and towards halftime they conceded another try by Fox which left the half time score 19-7.

The first try of the second half went to Creggs complements of Nerney. Carrick responded with a Gavin Hewson try leaving the scoreline 24 -12. Carrick were now chasing the game and came within seven points of the visitors when Quinn scored his second try (24-17). Creggs though knuckled down and Ryan Halligan touched down leaving the final score 29-17.

Squad: C. Reynolds, F. McWeeney, C. Quinn, D. Beirne, R. McElhone, G. Hewson, A. Kondratowicz, S. Kieran, O. Griffin, A. Kilrane, R. Sheahan, S. Murtagh, K. Moran, R. McGuinness, J. Faughnan, P. Flynn, D. Heslin, J. Cox, D. Carr, R. McGloin, M.Moloney, R. Hoey, O. Koziatek, K. Stokes, A. McCormack, C. Russell.

U13: Carrick 24-21 Sligo

The Under 13s hosted Sligo in the quarter final of the Connacht Cup and what a local derby cup match the large crowd witnessed. Carrick were playing some great team rugby scoring three tries in the first half against one for Sligo and led 19-7 at half time.

In the second half Sligo, with their strength in depth, sent on a number of fresh players and what a difference they made. Sligo scored two tries, both converted, to put them in the lead by 21 points to 19.

With five minutes remaining on the clock the pressure on Carrick was relentless until a long clearance kick by Carrick was gathered slowly by Sligo that allowed the chasing Carrick backs to charge down the kick. This had Carrick deep into the opposition half and with Sligo unable to clear their lines Carrick got in for a match winning try to leave the final  score at 24-21.