Mayo rugby club reach Connacht Junior Cup semi-final

This Mayo rugby club just keeps winning. Combining league and cup matches, Ballinrobe have won their seventh game in a row.

This time Galway side Monivea fell victim to a well-organised Ballinrobe team that proves very hard to break down this season. Again, it was the defensive effort that secured the victory for the men in black and white, just as it had done against Westport in the previous round of the Connacht Junior Cup. The score line of 14-10 to Ballinrobe is a reflection of that.

“Our defence was massive. The players put their lives on the line and they defended unbelievably well,” Ballinrobe head coach Damien Burke told The Mayo News after Sunday’s win in Monivea.

READ: Dylan Keane leads Ballinrobe to victory over Westport

Quarter-final key moment
Ballinrobe had to do without a few players who weren't available, like Liam Burke, Tom and Kevin Staunton for this one, but they still came through. The key moment of Sunday’s quarter-final came with only a few minutes left to play: “Monivea were hammering at us with about five minutes to go, and our scrum held up unbelievably well when they were looking to put us under severe pressure in the scrum, but our pack really stood up,” Burke explained.

With the clock nearing the red, Ballinrobe had battled to a 14-10 lead and the Mayo boys managed to repel the last gasp assaults from the home team. Ballinrobe's only try of the game was scored seven minutes into the first half when a break up the field was led by fly-half Dylan Keane.

The forwards went through some phase play until prop James McTigue broke through from the ruck and touched down for the try. Keane added three penalty kicks. Ballinrobe never relinquished their lead and now there is a great buzz around the club for the home semi-final.

“It's great, because we're up the top three teams in Division 1A (one league above Ballinrobe) in the semi-finals of the Cup, so it's great to see that we're able to compete up at that level as well.”

Connacht Junior Cup semi-final
Next up will be the Junior Cup semi-final next Sunday. The opposition, Creggs, boast the best offence in their league and will certainly be a stiff challenge.

“We can't lapse in concentration against Creggs, because they'll punish you very quickly. you have to be on the ball for the whole 80 minutes,” Burke explained.

The kick-off time was initially set at 2pm. But the keen observer will notice, that this time would collide with the Ireland Six Nations match. After consultation between the teams, the game ahs indeed been brought forward to accommodate the wishes of the rugby communities involved.

PICTURES: Celebrations at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland beat England in Six Nations opener