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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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The Castlebar RFC team. Pic: Shane Casey
A close and physical contest saw Castlebar progress to the semi-final after a tough battle with their local rivals on Saturday night. Westport play a league lower than the hosts but they put up a brave fight. Castlebar will be a bit disappointed with the overall performance but at the end of the day, reliable kicking kept Westport just about at arm's length.
Castlebar started off by putting on the pressure with good carrying from Rory Murphy and Donnacha Flynn. After 15 minutes Luke Walmsley converted a penalty to give Castlebar an early lead. Westport responded well and scored a penalty to level the score.
READ: Mayo rugby star features in cute campaign to mark Irish Rugby history
In the 20th minute Paddy Flannelly got possession inside the Westport half which he kicked on and regained possession to go over near the posts for the opening try, which Walmsley converted. The kicker added another penalty before half-time ensuring a 13-3 lead for Castlebar.
The second half started with a bout of foot tennis with Castlebar's Stevie Rogan pinning Westport deep in their own 22. After a bit of back and forth, Castlebar were awarded a long-range penalty which Rogan converted.
Westport kept up the good work and crossed for a try which they converted to bring them back into the game. Castlebar upped their game and forced another penalty which the reliable Rogan converted to put Castlebar 19-10 ahead.
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Westport's head coach Pat Staunton was pleased with his team's performance: “It was a good improvement in terms of physicality. We made a few wrong decisions which cost us. We kicked the ball when we should've carried and vice versa. That's something to work on.”
Westport will play Monivea in the Connacht Junior 1B League next weekend. It's a do or die match to qualify for the Super 4 round. Castlebar have already qualified for this round a league above. The boys from the county town will play Connacht J1A table-toppers Connemara away on Sunday.
READ: Ballinrobe lose Connacht Junior Cup semi-final
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