All paths led to Dunmore Rugby Club for the Connaught Plate U16 Semi Final replay on Sunday. It was a great morning for a game, sunshine and blue sky as the Dunmore pitch looked in perfect condition. Tom Merrick made the trip to witness the action first hand.

Straight away from the kick-off the Galwegians pack had the Colts under serious pressure, nearly going over for a try in the first two minutes. The pressure continued for the first ten minutes with the Colts defending for their lives to keep the Galwegian side out. Bradley Hughes made a crunching tackle giving the Colts the possession to launch their first attack deep into the Galwegians half.

Jack Ronayne sent a grubber kick towards the visitor’s line and managed to follow up and block down the clearance leading to a lineout on the Galwegians line.  The Galway lads defended very well and cleared the ball into touch on their 22′. On the 18th minute the Colts got their first opportunity to put points on the board when Brian McGuinness stepped up to kick a penalty but it went left and wide as there was a difficult cross wind to contend with.

Two minutes later the Colts got a second penalty which also went left of the post. After continuous pressure the Colts got their third penalty and this time Jack Ronayne stood up to the kick and came so close but he hit the post. The Galway side cleared their lines briefly until two mins later the Colts were awarded their 4th penalty. Jack Ronayne made no mistake by putting the Colts 3-0 up, 25 minutes into the game.

Galwegians restarted and their kick-off went straight into touch giving the Colts a scrum back on the half way line, which they won, sending a fast ball out to Brian Quinn who sent an intelligent kick through the opponents backine. Bradley Hughes collected crossed for the Colts first try 28 mins into the game. Brian McGuinness’s conversion went straight through the posts giving the Colts a lead of 10-0 on the stroke of half time.

There was a half time  Colts substitution as Oisin Hunt came on for Henry Keane. The Colts started second half as they finished the first, deep in Galwegians half. They turned the ball over and gave a fast ball out reaching Brian Quinn who made a powerful run and touched down in the corner for the Colts second try, giving a lead of 15-0 three mins into second half. Jack Ronayne stepped up to the difficult side-line conversion but narrowly missed.

Six minutes into the second half, Galwegians got a scrum and the Colts were under heavy pressure which resulted in a Galwegian try in the corner in the 8th min. The conversion attempt wasn’t successful which left the score 15-5

After the kick-off, the Galway side were back in the Colts half putting pressure on the defence, when second row, Joe McDonagh cleared the ball all the way to the Galway 10m line. (Any outhalf  would have been proud of such a kick!). Mid way through the second half, Alan Thornton came in to replace Barry McGing who had given his all. 17 mins into the second half, the Colts were on the attack again with Brian McGuinness nearly breaking through the Galwegians line with a blistering run.

Two minutes later the home side were awarded a penalty which was a good distance from the posts and it ended up just short. A double Colts substitution saw Liam Walsh and Thomas Morris replace Jack Ronayne and Brandon Walsh. Into the last five mins of the game Galwegians were looking dangerous. The Colts defended very well with Conor Jordan making a huge tackle resulting in a lineout. The last change of the game saw Brian O’Reilly come on for Bradley Hughes (who defended and attacked brilliantly throughout).

there was very little time left, when the Colts won the ball on the 22′, getting before moving it out to Brian O’Reilly, who made a super run through the centre of the Galwegian defence and was denied going over for a try by the last defender. The final play of the game, saw Brian Quinn pass to Stephen McGreal who went over to touch down but was disallowed as unfortunately Brian had a foot in touch before he passed the ball. A brilliant effort from both players and that was the last action as the referee blew full time to the delight of the Red Army on the side-line!

Well done to the team and their coaches Kevin & Michael, who are through to the Connaught Plate final against Ballinasloe. This is their second final of the season, let’s hope we get as good as result as the league final!

Colts: B McGuinness, R Merrick, B Hughes, C Jordan, B Quinn(C), J Roynane, B Walsh, C Murphy, P Brown, B McGing, J McDonagh, D Jennings, H Keane, J Kelly, S McGreal.

Subs Used: A Thornton, O Hunt, B O’Reilly, T Morris, L Walsh.