Mayo rugby club draw some comfort in horrific conditions

ATROCIOUS conditions didn’t deter a good crowd turning up at Cloondeash for Castlebar’s 2nd’s opening game against league leaders Monivea in the Connacht Junior Div2 league.

It ended all square at 19 apiece and both sides are to be commended for their efforts in what were savage and very testing conditions due to heavy rainfall at the weekend.

Castlebar started well but an unfortunate error was capitalised on by Monivea who went over for the opening try and added the conversion to lead 7-0.

Undeterred, Castlebar battled back and pushed their way towards Monivea’s try line but were held up just short of the line.

However, persistence was soon rewarded and Fergal Durkan with the help of some powerful work by the Castlebar forwards got over the line, the conversion added by Orann Burke to square the game at 0-7 apiece.

The rugby was fiercely competitive for the next 15 minutes but another slip by Castlebar allowed Monivea in for a second try which went unconverted to leave the visitors 12-7 ahead at half-time.

Castlebar began the second half in determined fashion and were soon in the lead, Christopher Cusack getting over for the try with the unerring Burke adding the conversion.

But Monivea renewed their efforts and got over for a third try which was converted to lead 19-14.

Castlebar were determined to take something from the game and the pressure was intensified by Richard Sweeney, Fergal Durkan, Matt Goodwin and Christoper Cusack and that pressure on the Monivea defence yielded Castlebar’s third try and a well-worked one at that.

Damien Togher spotted the gap and passed to Fergal Durkan who drew two defenders before off-loading to patient winger, James Lynskey who showed great skill and strength to get over the line. Burke was narrowly of the target with the conversion attempt to win the game but overall a draw was perhaps a fair result

Castlebar: Donovan McHale, Christopher Cusack, Ian Evans, Keith Devaney, Paul Heverin, David O’Donnell, Richard Sweeney, Bryan O’Flaherty, Damien Togher, Orann Burke, James Lynskey, Matt Goodwin, Fergal Durkan, Mihle Mabuza, Fintan Casey.

Replacements: David McNulty, Hayden Murphy, Liam Sweeney, John O’Brien, Charles Daigre, Sean Donohue.