Search Results for 'Rugby'

What a feast of sport we had last Sunday. Two quality performances by Breaffy and Castlebar in the Mayo championship semifinals followed by as gutsy a performance as you are likely to see by the Irish Rugby team, only to be deflated by the Republic of Ireland soccer team failing to gain automatic qualification for the Euros when they were defeated by Poland.

It does not get any easier for Galwegians when they host Lansdowne at Crowley Park on Saturday (2.30pm) in the Ulster Bank League.

Buccaneers maintained their encouraging start to the Ulster Bank League Division 1B by shading a dramatic encounter 30-28 against Blackrock College at Dubarry Park.

Monivea v Westport

The curtain came down on the 2015 football season in quite possibly the worst weather conditions I remember for our showpiece game. I felt sorry for the players, the supporters, the umpires; even the referee was offered a sigh of sympathy. Some of the most sought after seats in Croke Park were all of a sudden not as appealing as they would normally be as they were exposed to the elements, with some supporters not returning after half time. Many people are of the opinion that conditions do not affect the top players and they can adapt to whatever is thrown at them, I beg to differ. Some of the finest exponents of the GAA game were left to look like they were quite literally playing on ice, sliding all over the place, and that the ball was covered in oil. Keeping your feet was almost impossible when you went full throttle, and handling the ball when it was fired at you was as difficult as peeling an orange in your pocket while wearing a pair of boxing gloves. Bernard Brogan, one of the most skilled players on view was the prime example; he spilled up to six balls in the first half alone that he normally would have gobbled up. Let no one tell me players do not mind playing in such conditions.

Junior 1A

Galwegians return to the top flight of Irish domestic rugby on Saturday, and it could well be a baptism of fire as they host Cork Constitution at Crowley Park (2.30pm).

Buccaneers start this season’s Ulster Bank League Division 1B campaign at home to nine times champions Shannon in the opening round at Dubarry Park on Saturday afternoon, with kick off 2.30pm.

Connacht Women’s Rugby hosts a rare representative doubleheader this weekend when Munster's senior and u-18 teams visit the Sportsground on Saturday.