UCG 12 BALLINASLOE 64

Ballinasloe returned to the bread-and-butter of league footy with relish on Sunday following their cup heroics of the previous weekend.

They chalked up an emphatic 64-12 victory over NUIG in Dangan, a mis-match in every measure.

The tourists returned after the Christmas layoff with few rusty components and have gone from strength to strength since. The students, on the other hand, looked out-of-sorts and lacking creativity, but rallied late in the piece to show glimmers of hope which could have posed a real threat if apparent earlier in the game.

Ballinasloe's Mark Harrigan posted the first points four minutes in, Robert O'Beirn responsible for the extras. Richie Shepherd went over shortly after, and, with O'Beirne, repeated the feat within seven of that for a 21point first-quarter buffer. The bonus point came via skipper Andy O'Hara, O'Beirne maintaining a 100% strike rate, and the fifth of the first half through Darragh Burke (and O'Beirne) for 35points at half time.

Shepherd and Burke clocked up their third and second respectively but forced upon O'Beirne the ignominy of a flawed record, missing two in a row. 

Robert Ahern shot through a chink in the Ballinasloe armour 15minutes in to put College on the board, Keith Farry succeesful with the kick, 7-45.

Robbie Wakefield extended O'Beirne the courtesy of a close-in try for Ballinasloe's eighth, but College pulled back the deficit through Andrew Carroll squeezing it (marginally) 12-52.

First tryscorer Harrigan grabbed another, and Mark Gibbons nabbed the last of the day, O'Beirne sending his final kick sailing through for 70percent and a 14point personal haul. Ballinasloe now stand alone atop to J1B table, having played 11 and won 10. Buccaneers, despite dropping three games throughout, are one point adrift picking up eight bonus points to Ballinasloe's two. The pair is seven points clear of their nearest rival Loughrea, although the latter has two games in hand.

BALLINASLOE: D.Burke, C.Loughrey, C.Johnston, L.Feerick( R.Keller 52mins), M.Gibbons, R.O'Beirn, R.Shepherd( C.Brophy 60mins), J.J.Carey, A.O'Hara(capt)( A.Wade 60 mins), T.Dolan( E.Courtney 55mins), D.Fenton, M.Harrigan, R.Wakefield, K.Headd( H.Reynolds 60mins), A.Doorley.

Feb  Fundraiser...Sligo RFC will host a fundraising auction in the Glasshouse Hotel on Sunday, February 19.

George Draper's auction committee is busily collecting lots to go under the hammer! Antiques, curiosities, sporting memorabilia, vouchers, and work pledges are all suitable for the event. There will also be a bric-or-brac stand at the auction for pre-loved and new items many and varied.

If you wish to donate to either please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . All are welcome to come along on the day and find something special.

There is a supporters bus organised for the Ards away game this Saturday. If you wish to travel please contact John Kane, 087 6212414.

Regards

Sligo Rugby Club

A youthful Galwegians Juniors featuring six Under20s out back and five in the pack, combined to produce a clinical second-half demolition of city neighbours Corinthians in the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup on Sunday.

In a 25-6 performance described by some Glenina rugby pundits as "mature, belying their age", the youngsters combined for a disciplined, forward-oriented and ambitious campaign after a tight 9-0 first half. What Corinthians lacked at set-piece time they more than made up for in defence.

Galwegians, with a wealth of possession, failed to cross the Corinthians line relying instead on outhalf Darragh Leader's goalkicking for scoreboard ascendancy. The "Old Guard" of Dave O'Hara (lock) and Jason East (number-eight) used their senior rugby experience to control many of the breakdowns.

In a desperate attempt to deny the hosts a try on the cusp of halftime, Corinthians surrendered another three points and a man to the bin. While dominance continued for 'Wegians in the second spell, Corinthians rallied with 14 and again pulled out all the stops to prevent a touchdown, Leader managing a fourth penalty in the third quarter. Pushing the boundaries to the limit incurred another yellow for the visitors and a fifth three-pointer for Galwegians.

Down 15-nil, Corinthians found another gear altogether and forged a tract through blue tacklers downfield. Aidan O'Sullivan, for Galwegians, got himself a ticking-off from the referee and 10minutes to reflect on his transgression. Corinthians managed what Galwegians failed to do and touched down under the bar to even the ledger slightly 7-15 in arrears.

It proved the bee in the sky-blue bonnet however and Galwegians launched a counter-offensive to set up a try for hooker Calum O'Connell. It was the rake's third in as many games, all scored within an arm's reach of each other earning the sacred patch the moniker "Calum's Corner". Leader struck a superb conversion and closed out his 20-point personal haul with a penalty at the finish.

When a potential second round Buccaneers/Ballinasloe Heineken Junior Cup fixture emerged from the draw supporters from both camps earmarked a battle royale.

The possibility played out as reality in Athlone on Sunday, and the old foes did not disappoint. It boasted ambitious attack, stout defence, nervous errors and a cliff-hanger finish. Buccaneers emerged 12points clear but the 22-10 scoreline defied the opening 80minutes. Ballinasloe missed an opportunity to go three up early on as Robert O'Beirn sent a penalty attempt wide in the first quarter. Buccaneers consolidated and starved Ballinasloe much of the possession and territory but were unable to trouble the scorers.

Ten minutes from the break Buccaneers 10 Timmy Clifford also failed to convert pressure and opportunity into points, and again let Ballinasloe go unpunished just before halftime from 35m out. With the narrowest of opportunities Deccie Byrne capitalised on concerted goal-line pressure and put Buccs on the board, Clifford atoned for his earlier hiccup and added the extras for a 7-0 halftime scoreline.

Buccaneers opted for a new strip at the break, a black-and-white ensemble from this winter's AIT Christmas collection.

Ballinasloe squeezed the margin to four with a penalty shortly after the restart, but Clifford again found form with the boot and replied in kind. Ballinasloe youngster Ross Keller entered the fray from the bench and took to the Junior rugby pressure-cooker with aplomb. At 10-3 with 15 to go Ballinasloe turned up the heat and forced Buccaneers to defend on all fronts.

The visitors passed up an easy three opting for a quicktap penalty instead but found the Buccaneers homeguard up to the challenge. Buccaneers, with a chance to go beyond a seven point gulf, missed a fourth kick at the posts and Ballinasloe swung on the offensive.

O'Beirne, whose radar may have been off (but boots very much in working order), scythed through a gap on the halfway and took play into Buccs' territory. Conor Johnston, screaming outside him for the offload, was forced to watch O'Beirne meet the cover.

The position afforded Ballinasloe the only opportunity they needed to take the game into extra time, and with four left on the clock Kealan Headd claimed a long throw at the back of the lineout, and Mark Harrigan (et alia) shoved Ballyhaunis over the line. O'Beirne deadlocked the game with a conversion.

At 10-all, only the steeliest of bookies would have backed the visitors against a heavier Buccaneers pack playing at home.

Buccaneers went into overdrive, made the contact area a one-sided battle and Rory Walsh scored the third try of the afternoon. Valiant Ballinasloe only prolonged the inevitable as Buccaneers snuffed out any opposition attack and posted a fourth of their own, John Maguire touched down, Clifford the extras.

Ballinasloe: D.Burke, C.Loughrey, C.Johnston, L.Feerick, M.Gibbons, R.O'Beirn, J.Kelly, J.J.Carey, A.Wade, T.Dolan, K.Dolan, N,Staunton, H.Reynolds(capt), K.Headd, R.Wakefield. Replacements: (all used) M.Harrigan, A.O'Hara, R.Keller, R.Shepherd, E. Courtney.

(contributed - Liam Courtney)