When Rice College landed at The Sportsground on Wednesday they did so to upset the Sligo Grammar junior League/Cup double campaign.

After 60 minutes of normal time they failed to do so, 10-3 down with time up on the clock. The next three minutes however yielded half a fairytale finish as Westport centre Diarmuid McGreal skirted cross-field to sideline screams imploring him to pass. He ignored the soundtrack, mixing his own instead.

Ten metres from the Clann Terrace sideline he dashed 90degrees to his right, shot through the Sligo Grammar cover-defence and weaved his way to the tryline.

His five points put Westport’s youngsters within two of the Grammar contingent and one conversion away from a replay. Team-mate, captain and kicker Tom McHale, who had not enjoyed an overly productive day with the boot, struck it nicely. A moment off the tee it never looked like missing.

Grammar’s double will have to wait.

The Supermac’s Connacht Schools Junior Cup final pitted League champions Sligo Grammar against a resurgent Rice College outfit who looked the more cohesive on attack throughout, but failed time and again to retain possession long enough in the face of desperate Grammar defence.

Grammar, by contrast, was the more sizable pack but hovered too long and too often in towering talisman Matthew Cosgrove’s shadow.

Cosgrove as eight, captain, and kicker (both goal and clearance) two-tried his way to victory over Castlebar’s St Gerald’s in December’s League final. Nine minutes into Wednesday’s final, he looked about right to repeat the feat scoring within minutes of a blistering run down the right-hand touch.

Rice kicked into overdrive off the restart stung by the cheap score and no doubt the realisation if four had failed to stop Cosgrove six metres out, they best commit five.

Eight minutes later Rice posted their first points, a Tom McHale penalty to narrow the gap to four. Cosgrove sought to extend it at 22minutes when he opted for the shot 41metres from the Rice line. His mighty strike, straight as a die, cleared the bar by about a metre and a half, seven points now the deficit with seven minutes left in the half.

Rice again returned the blow with interest. For the remainder they camped deep in Sligo’s redzone, and even crossed the line but robust wrap tackles denied the score. Two missed penalties hung heavy over the Rice halftime show.

The second half proved slow for those on scoreboard duty but arguably made for better viewing than the opening thriller. Rice, confident in their abilities to create more as a 15, adopted a kitchen sink approach throughout the final 30. Grammar, wary of a wounded Westport, devoted much of their second half energy to preserving a lead rather than extending it. To their credit, they did so for the duration, but for the final play.

McHale, who had struggled in the first half with his line spraying two either side of the uprights, added the extras and the despondent Grammar could do little else but watch it sail through the posts and await the replay.

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.

Claremorris RFC recently hosted the fourth mini girls rugby blitz and featured teams from Westport, Claremorris, Galwegians and Ballina.

Wendy Hickey, Womens Community Rugby Officer, was delighted to see so many taking part.

"The growth of the game at mini level for girls has been immense this year moreso than other years. I really hope the groundwork done elsewhere this winter will yield an even greater response to these blitzes next time around. "The key is getting clubs to start their own mini girls sections." She commended Kevin O'Malley and the Claremorris Club for hosting the blitz and making the day extra special for all involved.

Connacht Women's youths tri-series yielded tournament wins for Connemara-Dunmore (under18) and Ballina (under16). The four-week series involved all four clubs (Dunmore unable to host through rain) and culminated in a Connacht Sportsground finals fixture over the weekend. Westport's seniors succumbed to frenetic Dunmore-Connemara pace in the final, 10-5.

Connacht Rugby's Domestic Rugby Manager Lyndon Jones presented victorious skipper Ciara Bowens with the hard-won trophy, the inaugural competition will likely become a calendar regular in the underage girls' rugby schedule. Womens and youths officer Wendy Hickey said the response from all clubs involved showed a real clamour for competitive rugby at these levels. Miss Hickey said she would make every effort to expand the competition next season, and already had interest from two other clubs intrigued by the interest and exposure thrown up by the Tri-Series. Ballina proved far too strong for Westport in the juniors, skipping out early to 15nil and finishing 25 points ahead at the finish.

Captain Mairead Hopkins claimed the silverware for from Jones following the game. Hopkins, with Eimear Murphy, Tyra Marsh, and Kayleigh and Clodagh Hopkins, all featured with prominence, the pick of those on display. Katie Hughes led the defensive effort. (pics to come)

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)