Carrick U.15s qualified for the final of the Connacht Cup after a 36 points to 12 defeat of Galway Bay RFC in the semi final match played in Carrick on Sunday.
In difficult rugby conditions with a strong wind and showers, Carrick won the toss and elected to play against the wind in the first half. Galway Bay started strongly but were unable to breach the Carrick defensive line and instead it was Carrick, on fifteen minutes, who scored the first try after their first foray in the opposition half complements of Aidan McNamara, converted by Harry Hanrahan.
Ten minutes later Shane McGirl knocked over a penalty making it 10 nil to Carrick but Galway Bay came back with a bang with a fine try by Paul Gilmartin converted by Dan Molloy. On the stroke of half time, Rory O’Shaughnessy finished off a great Carrick effort to score a try, again converted by Hanrahan to leave the half time score 17-7.
Carrick started the second half on the attack and Dan O’Connell broke Galway Bay hearts with a fine try with Hanrahan converting.
It was all going so well for Carrick who played the elements very sensibly but then they were reduced to 14 players after a yellow card. Galway Bay sniffed the chance of a comeback and Niall King crossed for an unconverted try making the score 24-12.
Carrick had their second player yellow carded and again playing with 14 players, Galway Bay kept attacking the Carrick line knowing that if they scored next it was game on.
Carrick had cleared their lines and Galway Bay started another attack just inside their own half and ran the ball out wide only for Kevin Óg English to time an intercept to perfection and then showed great confidence to side step the entire Galway Bay cover and score a fine individual try giving Carrick the breathing space they required at 29-12.
Just before full time Shane McGirl scored Carrick’s 5th try, converted by Hanrahan to leave the final score 36 points to 12 and a trip to the Dexcom Stadium in Galway for the U.15 Connacht Cup final on Sunday 26th of April against Buccaneers.
This was an enthralling cup tie with Galway Bay showing great character and determination. Carrick managed the game well but again, need to improve further if this team are going to bring home Connacht Cup silverware for a third consecutive year.
Carrick Squad:
A. McNamara, I. Mulvey, L. Durkin, N. Guckian, E. McKeon, S. McTeigue, D. O’Connell, N. Zondagh, Q. Joubert, H. Hanrahan, H. Kiliszek-Sromek, S. McGirl, R. O’ Shaughnessy, J. McGarry, N. Taylor, A. Sheridan, D. Barber, C. Lunney, S. Boyle, R. Murphy, K. Òg English, E. Gallagher.
