Carrick storm into two Connacht Finals
Carrick RFC’s rise in provincial rugby continued to gather pace last weekend as the club’s U18.5 and U14 teams won their place in Connacht League Finals but there was disappointment for the seniors in their clash with Creggs.
Carrick's U18.5 team won their semi-final against Westport 36-5 at home on Sunday. Played in front of a large crowd, Carrick were made to work hard by Westport. For long periods of the first half, the game was an arm wrestle with Carrick's attacking endeavour matched by Westport's strong defence.
The first try of the game came from a tap penalty near the Westport line that saw Diarmuid O’Connell barrel over from close range. This was followed on 21 minutes by a try from Carrick tighthead Oisin Quinn who crossed after multiphase possession. Westport came back strongly, scoring a try from a well worked attacking move to leave the home team ahead 12-5 at half-time.
The second half saw Westport threaten on several occasions but the home team were more clinical, scoring three tries courtesy of Tristan Hoey, Cathal Enright, and Peter Moran. The victory sets up a League Final against Ballinasloe on Sunday next at Galway's Sports Grounds.
Team: P Moran, C Burke, G Murtagh (c), T Hoey, C Enright, B O’Connor, R Hanrahan, J Deegan, G Barry, O Quinn, L McNamee, A Devine, C McDonagh, J Bosomtwe, D O’Connell, A Deegan, D Holmes, C Creighton, S Mooney, O Singleton, E Costello, C Gavin, L Dunne, E O Reilly, M Fernandez Santiago, E Occhi.
U14: Carrick 24 Connemara Oughterard 22
Carrick U14s are through to the league final after an exhilarating 24-22 win over Connemara Oughterard squad. This was an enthralling battle played by two evenly matched teams which could have gone either way right up until the final whistle on Saturday.
Carrick opened the scoring with an excellent finish by Alex Kilrane. The visitors responded to take a 12-5 lead. Carrick fought back with two tries in the closing minutes of the first half from Sam Kieran and Kilrane, both converted by Cavan McGourty, to leave 19-12 at the break.
The physical battle continued into the second half as Carrick extended their lead with McGourty finishing for Carrick's 4th try. Connemara Oughterard fought back with two late tries from Devaney and Earley both of which went unconverted to leave the final scoreline 24-22.
At the final whistle there was jubilation from the extensive home support as the squad continued their unbeaten run this season. Carrick will now play either Corrib or Dunmore in the final in two weeks time.
Seniors: Carrick 15 - 34 Creggs 2nd XV
Carrick Seniors suffered a hard defeat away to Creggs on Sunday in their Connacht J1C League campaign First points went to Carrick with Ruairi King kicking a penalty over but Creggs fought back with a converted try. The first half, which ended 10-14 to Creggs, was very hard fought with Creggs scoring a second try and Darrach Patterson scoring Carrick's first try.
Creggs experience on the Astro then proved too much for Carrick and with great back line play Creggs scored four more tries with Carrick responding with one, complements of Ian Cullen. The final score was 15-34 to Creggs.
U13: Carrick RFC 36 Monivea RFC 22
Carrick’s U13s first League game of 2024 at home against Monivea saw them win 36-22 on Sunday.
With some strong individual running, solid defence and turnover ball by Monivea, Carrick were under pressure for the first ten minutes of the game. But Carrick managed to defend well and relieve the pressure with a combination of well-placed kicks and good follow up work and scored the first try of the match after thirteen minutes.
The first try was soon followed by a series of tries to put Carrick in a comfortable lead, but Monivea kept themselves in the game with a converted try to make the half time score 19-7.
Carrick had a much stronger start in the second half with better protection of the ball at the breakdown point, but had to wrestle to gain momentum against a side that were defensively strong. Carrick scored the first try of the second half, but Monivea was quick to reply with a try of their own. However, Carrick scored two quick tries thereafter, one of which came from a beautifully executed cross kick to put Carrick in the lead with 36-12.
But it was Monivea who had the last laugh with two tries from open play in the last five minutes of the game to make the final score 36-22.
Even though it ended up being a comfortable win for Carrick, they played against a well accomplished side who tested Carrick’s defence throughout the game and this made it a great test for this Carrick side.