Semi final day started dry and bright, the perfect conditions for rugby as Claremorris hosted South Sligo in the semi-final of the Connacht U14 league and this game didn’t disappoint.

These two teams had finished first and second in the league so this promised to be a cracker. The visitors were up for this one and started well putting a lot of pressure on the Colts. This pressure told with a penalty within the first three minutes to give South Sligo the early advantage. The Colts tried to move the ball at pace but their handling wasn’t clicking into gear. However this all changed when Brian O’Reilly used his speed and power to get the first home score with a fine try. Liam Walsh duly added the extras. But the Sligo men hit back and scored a fine try of their own to go back in front 8-7.

This game wasn’t going well for the home team with the visiting team piling on the pressure forcing mistake after mistake. However they hit a purple patch late in the half. Phelim Brown scored a try but no extras added. The next score again came from Claremorris with Brian Quinn doing the damage. Jack Ronayne took over the kicking duties and added the conversion to give the Colts a commanding 19-8 lead.

Half time saw both teams regroup and get their troops ready for another 30 minutes of battle. And a battle it was, both teams fought for every ball. South Sligo now took control of the game with the home team still making errors. The visitors hit back early in the second half with a seven pointer. The Colts kept trying to get back to the running game but it just wasn’t happening as it should. The next score came as the visitors turned the pressure into points with a fine try however the resultant kick just skinned the wrong side of the post from a Sligo point of view. No matter South Sligo now held the lead 20-19.

The next scoring chance again fell to South Sligo, a penalty which they again very narrowly missed, and this proved crucial. The Colts went all out to get back in the game and threw the kitchen sink at the visitors but they defended well. Time and the league were slipping away from the Colts.

With the only seconds left in the game they attacked, roared on by the big home crowd. The referee blew his whistle, a penalty but to who? Thankfully it was for the home side. A frantic 30 seconds later captain Brian Quinn pointed to the posts. Up stepped Jack Ronayne. He placed the ball, paused, looked and knocked over the 3 pointer to the biggest roar yet from the Colts supporters. The referee looked at his watch and then blew for full time. The Colts had played their get out of jail card and were in the league final.

There was plenty of discussion among the locals at end on how the drama unfolded but looking at the league table one has to say that Claremorris deserved to be in Connacht U14 league final.