Castlebar RFC prepare for visit of Tuam of Mayo county town

Castlebar RFC are putting in final preparations ahead of the first home game in the J1A League against Tuam this coming Sunday (October 6) at 2.30 p.m. in Cloondeash.

It follows on from the league opener away to Connemara last week, a game the home side won by 22 points to 8 in Clifden.

Castlebar travelled to the Monastery Field with a degree of trepidation. Their last visit to Clifden in the Connacht Junior Cup during March saw them well beaten, 31-17, having played well but been overpowered by a highly confident local side.

In last years J1A games, Connemara put seven tries past Castlebar, so it was always going to be a mammoth task for the Mayo men in enemy territory.

Retirements and new faces also complicated things, and a huge effort and plenty of luck was required to get a result in Clifden for Castlebar.

The match was hindered throughout with a gale force wind coming in over the Salt Lake, which was too strong to be of benefit to Castlebar in the first half, upsetting passes and lineouts.

Castlebar were put under pressure from the off, with Ian Heanue orchestrating the Connemara effort from out-half. Connemara opened the scoring with an unconverted try following a sustained assault on the Castlebar line.

The visitors took the fight to the home team for long periods but the loss of Sean Tonra to a hamstring injury impaired their effort. Stephen Rogan struck for Castlebar in the 35th minute with a well-taken penalty from the right-hand side.

Connemara responded strongly and Eoin Burke made a strong break down the wing in the 38th minute to release Ethan Griffiths for the second unconverted Connemara try.

The home side continued their physical approach and just before half-time David McDonagh crossed for their third unconverted try. It left Connemara leading 15-3 at the break.

Connemara had the strong wind in the second half but in that period Castlebar met their best efforts with might. That said, Ethan Griffiths crossed the Castlebar line under the posts for Connemara's bonus point try, converted by Michael O’Toole.

Castlebar dominated the last half-hour and were it not for a few handling errors, would have come very close to the victors. Keepa Cherrington crossed in the 35th minute for an unconverted try following great work from Luke Staunton, Ronan Ipek and Rory Murphy, who was Castlebar’s best player on the day. Others to impress were Conor O’Neill, Barry Walshe and Zack Wright, whose tackling kept Castlebar in it at times.

Connemara: I. Staunton, M. O’Toole. A. Keogh, C. O’Malley, D. McDonagh, D. Roche E. Bourke, E. Griffiths, F. Heffernan, A. Heanue, M. Conneely, N. Staunton, O. O’Neill, H. O’Toole, M. Aspell.

Replacements: C. Laffey, D. Staunton, D. Manning, J. Keaney, M. Gorham, M. Ryan, O. Coneys, S. Sweeney, T. Berry, B. Lyons.

Castlebar: S. Tonra, L. Hegarty, R. Ipek, A. Wooton, K. Cherrington, M. Goodwin, D. Flynn, R. Murphy, D. Togher, O. Bourke, C. O’Neill, L. Staunton, B. Walshe, Z. Wright, S. Rogan.

Replacements: D. McHale, J. Balaski, R. Sweeney, P. Flannelly, J. Balaski.