Carrick RFC undone in promotion playoff

Carrick RFC Seniors made the trip to Creggs to play Loughrea RFC last Sunday, the outcome of which  would decide if the Shannonsiders climb to Division 1B of the Connacht league next season.

After an incredible positive start by the Carrick men which saw tries from the ever green Darrach Patterson and the hugely impressive Denis McCaffrey, Carrick took a 12 points to nil lead and were dominating the game. However the loss of Shane McGuinness to injury was a major turning point. 

Carrick entered the game without a number of key front line players to injury so the loss of McGuinness and later Ian Cullen had a major influence on the outcome of the game. With the first half coming to a close and against the run of play, Loughrea scored a try which they converted to leave only five points between the sides at the interval. 

Darrach Patterson crosses for a Carrick try Picture: Mark Kelly

However the long season would take its toll on the Shannonsiders with Loughrea taking the lead on 44 minutes and then extending the lead to seven points with their third try of the game. On 54 minutes, Carrick lost the experienced Stephen Guckian to the sin bin which resulted in a fourth try for the Loughrea men.

Carrick endured further damage when they lost the experienced Sean Hynes to injury but despite those losses, they found additional resolve to score another try from Denis McCaffrey after good work from Jason Carney and Noel McDermott.

Even though Carrick would score again on seventy eight minutes, the click would eventually beat them to leave the final score 31 to 22 to Loughrea thus keeping Carrick in the J1C Connacht League next season.

Team: Dermot Foley, Stephen Guckian, Jason Carney, Noel McDermott, Aaron Sharkey, John Healy, Justin Farrell, Ian Cullen, Brendan Flannery, Shane McGuinness, Sean Hynes, Peter Lavin, Patrick McKeon, Denis McCaffrey, Darrach Patterson. Subs: Declan Kelly, James Og Maguire, Robert McCaffrey, Kieran Murray, Conor Lyons, Dean Flanagan, Ian McGhee and Ruairi King

CARRICK U16S FALL SHORT AGAINST SLIGO 

Carrick U16’s made the trip to local neighbours Sligo RFC in the Quarter Final of the Connacht U16 Cup on Saturday. Carrick unfortunately had to give up home advantage as the Carrick pitch was unplayable due to the recent heavy rainfall.

Carrick entered the game as serious underdogs against one of Connacht’s powerhouses. However they started the game the brighter and were dominating the early exchanges with Jayden Bosomtwe and Oisin Molloy leading the way with some big carries and Carrick were extremely unfortunate not to take the lead with Niall Stenson being held up on the line.

However, the last play of the first half saw Sligo score in the corner with Carrick short on numbers covering. With the extras being missed, Carrick entered half time only five points behind their hosts.

The second half continued in a similar fashion with the game played at a particularly high intensity with both sides having big moments and threatening each other's line with Hoey and Rian Costello causing Sligo real difficulties. 

However the turning point in the game came on fifty three minutes when a highly contentious moment resulted in Sligo scoring in the corner and with the conversion added Sligo closed the game out to leave the Shannonside crestfallen. 

However Carrick can be immensely proud of their cup performance and their season in general having won the U16  Connacht B League earlier in the season.

Team: Peter Moran, Cathal Enright, Maxime Germer, Tristan Hoey, Rian Costello, Ben O'Connor, Luke Creighton, Jayden Bosomtwe, Andrew Deegan, Eoin O'Reilly, Alastair Hewson, Oisin Molloy, Alex Newcombe, Robert Hanrahan, Niall Stenson. Subs: Charlie Slevin, Marcos Fallon Alonzo, Riogain Joy, Jake Sharkey O'Donnell