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Match Report: Creggs first team bounced back after lasts weeks defeat to Buccaneers with a simply heroic away win against Castlebar in the Cawley Cup. The match was always on a knife edge and in testing conditions both defences were magnificent. Creggs second row Joe Heavey proved the unlikely hero with a penalty kick with 3 minutes to go that won the game. This win puts Creggs into the semi-final where they will meet Tuam in Tuam on February 23rd.
Castlebar began the game with a strong wind at their backs and they immediately went into attack. The first half followed this pattern throughout with Castlebar attacking and Creggs defending stoutly. The mid field defence for Creggs was particularly strong given that Castlebar directed most of their attacks through this area. Both Mark Brandon and Mike Ward got in huge relieving kicks only for Castlebar to relaunch attacks. Then after seeing Castlebar miss a penalty and a drop goal attempt coming back off the upright disaster struck for Creggs. Castlebar broke from a scrum and scored a somewhat controversial try in the corner. The ensuing conversion was missed by the Castlebar outhalf to leave the half time score Castlebar 5 Creggs 0.
With the wind behind them Creggs came out on the offensive in the second half. After 10 minutes Creggs introduced their ‘dual status’ player Pat Cunningham into the fray. As in the game against Gort Pat’s contribution from here on in was immense particularly in line outs. Creggs continued to press and were rewarded after 12 minutes when scrum half Mark Brandon kicked a fine penalty from 25 metres out. Then a series of injuries to Mark Brandon and Mike Ward and the ensuing positional switches appeared to have given Castlebar the initiative. However all the Creggs players on the pitch showed tremendous resolve as they attacked again. Pat Cunningham was unlucky to see his low trajectory kick go wide from a penalty following a high tackle on Tom Lyons. Then with 3 minutes remaining Creggs were awarded a penalty 20 metres out after an astonishing drive the full length of the field by the pack. At this point with Pat Cunningham’s confidence dented and Brandon and Ward off injured Creggs appeared to have very few options left as to who would take this huge pressure kick. However as they say ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’ and up stepped second row Joe Heavey to volunteer to take the kick. In true brave fashion Joe took three steps back, ran up and bisected the posts (nearly sending the ball to Westport in the process). This kick left the score Castlebar 5 Creggs 6. It proved to be a remarkable finish to a remarkable game. Castlebar to their credit attacked once more but a good relieving kick from Tom Lyons proved the final act of the game.
This victory for Creggs was all about a team effort and rallying in the face of adversity with so many injuries before and during the game. Every player listed above can be proud of playing a part in this victory and must now be looking forward to a genuine crack at winning the Cawley Cup.