FINAL
Castlebar 26
Try: N Byrne (2), R Cusack
Pen: R Cusack (2)
DG: R Cusack
Con: R Conway
Sligo 18
Try: J Farrington, F Feeney
Pen: N O’Hara, P Pearson
Con: N O’Hara
Rob Murphy
Crowley Park
CASTLEBAR retained the Cawley Cup against the odds after an almighty effort in a memorable final last Sunday. Despite having to wait a month without rugby for the decider to be played, the sides served up a gripping decider in Crowley Park that required extra time.
In many ways, this is an even greater triumph than their breakthrough victory in this competition last year. Castlebar were underdogs coming into the final against a Sligo side that had lost only to Corinthians and Monivea this year and finished runners-up in both league and cup. Yet the Mayo side’s cup-winning experience shone through.
Nigel Byrne was the hero with a try late in normal time to level matters and another in the early stages of extra time. Robbie Cusack crowned a pulsating effort with a well-struck drop goal in that period, and the entire squad played smart, territorial rugby in the closing stages to see the game home. This Castlebar team has a winning culture now, and it will stand to them in years to come.
There were heroes throughout the park. The pack had a huge challenge beforehand, especially the back row, where Sligo had added Mataele Fafita and Irish Schools international Aaron Spring to their Cawley Cup squad.
Tom McAuliffe’s move to eight worked well. He is first and foremost a second row, and played at lock for the Connacht Juniors, but he did a fine job here throughout. Paddy Flannelly at six would captain an unsung heroes’ side in the province. He needed to be at his best here, and he wasn’t found wanting. That allowed Enda Murphy to prosper at openside, and he wreaked havoc with ball in hand with an outstanding eighty minutes.
All this was clear by the closing stages of the second half, at which point the contest had ignited and the drama was gripping. The first half hour of the game, however, was a different story – scrappy and full of penalties. Paddy Pearson kicked one for Sligo, then missed another. Castlebar full-back Ronan Conway missed four in that period.
Sligo were eventually punished with a fine score involving a Neil Coyle break and an audacious pass to Paul Coady in the build-up. It also included a barnstorming run from Tadgh Kirby, who was a huge presence in midfield throughout. It ended with Coady drawing the cover and timing a brilliant pop pass to open the gap for Robbie Cusack to score under the posts. Conway converted for a 7-3 lead.
Sligo had lost their inspirational out-half Paddy Pearson with a hamstring injury at this point, but they had their best period in the ten minutes before half time, Niall O’Hara struck a penalty and Frankie Feeney darted over in first-half injury for their first try and with O’Hara’s conversion they had a 13-7 lead.
The second half saw a switch in momentum again. Castlebar were level before the hour mark thanks to Robbie Cusack’s two penalties. But with 13 minutes remaining, Jordan Farrington sliced through the cover for a crucial score and a five-point lead.
Byrne’s late try for Castlebar came from another Robbie Cusack well placed kick to the corner and was set up by Kirby who collected and off-loaded. They had chances to win in normal time – and probably should have. But they held their composure in extra time, with Byrne finding an overlap on the narrow side after a quick recycle.
That score and the subsequent drop goal wrapped up the contest and an immensely proud Ruairí Hughes lifted a trophy for Castlebar for only the second time. Winning can become a habit.
Castlebar
R Conway; F Casey, P Coady, T Kirby, N Byrne; R Cusack, C Cusack; L Molloy, N Coyle, K Cox; S Wooten, R Hughes; P Flannelly, E Murphy, T McAuliffe.
Replacements used: D Staunton for L Molloy; C Rogan for Wooten; L Staunton for Byrne; P O’Malley for Conway.
Sligo
N O’Hara; A Feeney, J Farrington, G Foley, J Rippon; P Pearson, F Feeney; A McHale, G Conneely, M Feeney; J Wilson, J Bowes; A Spring, S Coulter, M Fafita.
Replacements used: P Mullen for Pearson; D Cox for M Feeney; B Leahy for F Feeney; R Mannion for Cox; T Sweeney for Bowes.
Referee: R Gibson
