They came, they scored, they conquered …just.

John Colleran and the Galway Corinthians landed at Glenina’s Crowley Park on Saturday morning with the Glynn Cup and Langan Trophy. Half a St Patrick’s Day later they left again, muddied and bloodied but with silverware in tow.

Corinthians opened their 2012 account with a victory, the Thirds responsible for taking the visitors one ahead in the Ryder Cup-style aggregate tally. The score remained unchanged at the 19s full-time whistle, the first of two draws logged on Saturday.

By the time the Under16s had finished, Corinthians had gone two ahead, Galwegians managing just a half-point from a possible three. The hosts then went on the rampage clearing three wins from the next three fixtures to go one point clear after the 14s, 21s and Under17s.

Just over the halfway mark after six of 11 games played, Galwegians President Noel Leader’s smile was never more apparent. It was shortlived however, as Colleran’s crowd nabbed the next two; the Under15s and Seconds flying the flag for the N17.

With three matches remaining, Corinthians had the upper hand on three-and-a-half one win clear of Galwegians.

The Galwegians Under13s made it very interesting with a late victory squeezing the gap to a half-mark, leaving the womens tag rugby challenge and the senior feature match. The women drew in their last outing, and did so again in 2012. Corinthians could have afforded a draw to retain the Glynn Cup, the onus on the hosts’ to see the visitors’ hand and raise them a try in the seniors.

Corinthians, down three-nil on half-time to a Darragh Leader dropped goal scored the invaluable touchdown six minutes in to the second.

It stayed that way to the finish, President Leader’s grasp on the Glynn Cup only temporary on Saturday. John Colleran, the Corinthians, and the all-important Glynn Cup departed Glenina in convoy, in much the same way they had arrived earlier that morning.

G-Forces combine once again on St Patrick’s Day for rugby folk this year: Galway, Glenina, Guinness, and Glynn.

Galwegians host Corinthians on Paddy's Day, Saturday, for the Glynn Cup.

One of Connacht Rugby’s most prestigious trophies, it rewards club depth ahead of premier dominance. It is a trophy whose winning may hinge on an Under13 game runaway try as much as a last-minute dropped goal in the senior fixture. Former Galwegian, Connacht rep, referee and IRFU president Johnny Glynn may have inadvertently lent his name to the trophy, but Corinthians retain bragging rights at this stage as incumbent holders and most-crowned champions.

The one-day festival regularly involves up to 500 players and coaches, supporters and revellers float that figure nearer to 1000.

Each victorious team from Under13 up earns a point for their Alma Mater, the aggregate tally determines where JJ’s trophy will summer. Adrian Glynn was on hand at the Meyrick Hotel on last week with club dignitaries, local media, Branch personnel and players to lunch this year’s celebrations.

Taking pride of place beside the 54-year-old cup was the Langan Trophy – just reward for youth hegemony.

The Langan rewards excellence in the junior ranks alone, and pays perpetual tribute to stalwart rugby servant Gerry Langan.

Glynn’s contribution to Connacht rugby does not necessarily set him apart from the province’s most faithful Godfathers, but the furious pace of his tenure is another story altogether. Quite aside from his service record in and around Crowley Park as a club man, be it boots or a blazer, and in addition to the roles he filled at Connacht level (again as a player) and including as a referee, he occupied the president’s role atop the national union. Admirable enough on the face of it, Glynn did so still in his forties. Tragically, death cut short his legacy at age 46, but he is survived by family members and the trophy carnival outlined above.

His beloved Galwegians stamped their authority on it in its infancy winning two five-year streaks, but Corinthians claim the longest.

For 13 years Galwegians was unable to wrest it from its N17 stronghold. Competitions Committee member Ciaran Smyth, whose contribution to rugby in the province far outweighs his current post, is perhaps the trophy’s most familiar friend having won it more than a dozen times in his playing career.

Knockon.ie’s Rob Murphy MC-eed the Monday launch and while delighted with the Glynn Cup’s resurgence after a decade-long hiatus during the ‘00s bemoaned the absence of more crunch derbies in AIL rugby. “I’d only be thrilled to cover more local derbies at All-Ireland level in Connacht.

“The spread of our senior clubs through the AIL ranks means we don’t get too many opportunities. The Glynn Cup affords us a wonderful chance to see parochial and partisan rugby as its best. It not only promotes local rivalry, but celebrates it too.”

Galwegians president Noel Leader lauded old-school traditions which stand the tests of time.

“The fact it’s gone on for so long, particularly in such an fast and ever-changing world is fantastic. I’ve never won it as president, I’m very much looking forward to it this year,” Leader added.

Ballinasloe Falter at Final Hurdle Ballinasloe 13 lost to Buccaneers 24

Ballinasloe finished the 2011/12 league season in third spot, seven competition points adrift of Sunday rivals Buccaneers.

On the balance of table standings, the 24-13 fixture result followed followed league form but a Ballinasloe win was never beyond them.

For starters both Buccaneers and Ballinasloe won 11 games apiece, and Sunday's result determined who would challenge Corinthians for J1A entry next winter.

Ballinasloe opened their account in September with six from six including a tightly-contested 9-8 win over Ballinrobe, and came unstuck against - you guessed it - Buccaneers, 27-6 in Athlone. Buccaneers by comparison lost their first (Loughrea), lost their third (Creggs) and lost their eighth (by a point to Ballinrobe). In Buccaneers favour, or rather to their credit, they secured 11 bonus points from a season which availed them 14 fixtures, three more than the next best - league winners Loughrea. This penchant for scoring tries and squeezing deficits made Buccaneers a dangerous beast to bait throughout, no moreso on Sunday.

Ballinasloe too commenced Sunday's encounter needing no additional incentive.

A partially-charged Ballinasloe clearance gifted Gary Duffy a crack at the goal-line, which he took with no objection, and Terry Hynes claimed another two converting. Not to be outdone, Ballinasloe's Robert O'Beirne closed the gap to four within minutes courtesy of a well-struck penalty on the 20minute mark.

Buccaneers upped the tempo and, reluctant to part with possession, forced Ballinasloe to make tackles for prolonged periods. While staunch Ballinasloe defence held up one scoring opportunity, quick ball and slick hands allowed Brian Walsh to cross for a five-pointer. It wasn't all plain-sailing for Buccaneers however, hooker Stapleton spent the last six minutes of the first half in the bin for player obstruction, and Ballinasloe moved to six, 11 points in arrears.

Again, the yellow peril struck although Ballinasloe wore its wrath this time Aiden Doorley the transgressor early in the second half.

Buccaneers locked up the victory with 25minutes to go, Alex Hyman scooting off the scrum win for a 22m dash to the line. Ballinasloe grabbed a consolation at the death, arguably the try of the day involving several pairs of hands and a flying Darragh Burke.

Ballinasloe squad: D.Burke, C.Brophy, R.Keller, C.Johnston, L.Feerick, R.O'Beirn, F.Sweeney, J.J.Carey, A.O'Hara(capt), T.Dolan, M.Harrigan, H.Reynolds, K.Headd, A.Doorley. Replacements: E.Courtney, A.Wade, D.Fenton, R.Sheppard,C.Loughrey

(contributed - Liam Courtney)

Tuam 16 beat Ballina 13 - Garraun Park, Tuam

Ballina travelled south for its final Junior 1A league match and although they had the better of the first-half's tight exchanges, 13points with the breeze was not enough to carry them through.

And while Ballina may have suffered as a result, rugby did not as both teams combined for a worthy spectacle from start to finish.

Ballina demonstrated early that its foot was firmly on the accelerator snatching a tap-and-go penalty after Tuam infringed at rucktime. Michael Murphy set the ball rolling and fed Orrie Collins who snuck over seconds later for a 7-nil start. Mere moments later another Tuam misdemeanour gifted the visitors a further three to go 10 ahead.

Halfway through the first 40, Tuam again conceded the advantage to Ballina well within Francis Conroy's range and he stretched it to 13.

On the back of such a stellar opening offensive the bookies would have fairly fancied Ballina to grab the four points on offer but the penalty tide ate into the Ballina foundations thereafter as they were unable to compete in any facet for turnover ball. So vehement was the whistling, repeat offending eventually cost Ballina a player, Connor Forde the unfortunate recipient of an involuntary 10-minute breather.

Tuam centre Killian McDonagh pulled the deficit back to 10 with a penalty on half-time.

Mathematically, Tuam lodged a similar deposit in their second-half account as Ballina did in the first.

With the luxury of a one-man overlap, Tuam hammered into the first eight minutes of the second spell, and blindside bullock Stephan Burke powered over after a series of scrums for Tuam's first try, McDonagh obliged with the extras.

Ballina's brains trust found their second wind and through concerted graft and percentage footy pushed their way beyond halfway to mount another offensive on the local line. Hooker Rich Kelly, Orrie Collins, Murphy at nine and centre Jerome Harrimate largely responsible for the fightback. Again indiscipline undid their efforts and gifted Tuam timely respites.

Tuam's McDonagh levelled the pegs with his third success (13-all), and within 10minutes he did it again to snatch the lead. Ballina's resident kitchen sink propforward Alex Lee landed on the paddock and went ballistic rallying weary legs to Ballina's cause. So prevalent was his injection into the fray, Ballina drove a lineout take from halfway to 20m from the Tuam line.

If Lee's introduction was a shot in the arm, the arrival at the Tuam line was a kick in the backside and Ballina launched three dead-cert scoring opportunities at the goal-line. Wayward passes, isolated ball-carriers and desperate red-and-blue defence denied them on all three occasions and yielded nothing but heartbreak.

Ballina finally won a kickable penalty, although hardly straightforward. McDonagh, so reliable earlier, pushed it wide and Tuam finished the right side of a three point separation.

TUAM; Eoin Cosgrove, Dave Burke, Killeen McDonagh, Nicky Brady, Chris Madden, Jamie Murphy, Robbie Kavanagh, George Connolly, Eanna Hegerty, Pa Cunningham, Barry Ruane, Paul Cannovan, Stephen Burke, Brian Ruane, Mike Ward, Dave Noone, Shane O’Neill, Cahal Dempsey, Eoin Lydon, Colin Hegers.

BALLINA; Trevor Moore, Francis Conroy, Jerome Harrimate, Michael Allen, Cormac Quinn, Andrew Moynihan, Michael Murphy (C), Ciaran Melvin, Richard Kelly, Paul Newell, Stephen Dolan, Connor Forde, Phillip Timoney, Orrie Collins, Aidan McNulty, Alistair Brown, Mark Healy, Alex Lee, Nial O’Malley, Craig Culkin.

(contributed - Clive Moore)