Mayo rugby club dramatically bows out of Cawley Cup after extra-time

CAWLEY CUP SEMI-FINAL

Westport 19

Creggs 33

In Carraholly

THEY put up a hell of a fight in an extremely entertaining rugby knock-out match. Westport showed huge character, in at times atrocious conditions as the rain poured down heavily. A late try vanquished The Bulls five-point lead and forced extra-time.

During the added 20 minutes Creggs scored two quick tries which sealed Westport's cup exit as the hosts ran out of steam.

It could have been completely different as Westport were on the edge of a final appearance, when the game clock reached the 80-minute-mark.

They were 19-14 in front and all they needed was for Creggs to drop a pass or make a mistake at the breakdown and they would advance to the Cawley Cup final. 

They were heroically defending just a few yards in front of their try line, opposition bodies carrying the ball storming towards them were repelled. But eventually, the Mayo boys were sucked in and inevitably too narrow when Creggs played the ball out wide.

Dean O'Reilly on the far openside had too much space and crashed over the whitewash. The conversion was missed and the match went into extra-time, which was decided early.

It is noteworthy that Westport lost way too many lineouts. The Mayo men will have to work on this aspect of their game.

Almost every time they won a penalty following excellent work at the breakdown, and kicked the ball into touch, their line-out execution let them down time after time.

The Westport try was scored by Peter McNally as the conversion and the four penalties were kicked by Stephen Loftus.

The five Creggs tries were scored by Kolo Kiripati, James Murray, Dean O'Reilly, Eoghan Coyle and Cormac Dolan, while Brian Cleary kicked two conversions, as well as Luke Gregory.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News