Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_05_10/GA_1005_E1_142.pdf 

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142

SPORT

May 10 2007

Connacht's failure to convert chances proves costly again
LINLEY MACKENZIE Newport Gwent Dragons 23 Connacht 0 Connacht were poor and the Dragons marginally better in this penultimate Magners League clash at Rodney Parade. The home outfit were deserving of this victory - the first and most important of a tough run of four matches in 10 days. Not only did they score three tries, but they displayed greater commitment in the tackle, led by the immense Colin Charvis, and were rewarded by grabbing the vital Heineken Cup play-off berth. These two sides have usually provided gripping encounters through honest endeavour, but on Friday evening Connacht, apart from the opening 15 minutes, lacked the application that is the usual hallmark of their performances. "Our objective was to get a win, four tries, and the bonus point," said Connacht coach Michael Bradley. "We had three try-scoring chances in the first 15 minutes and I believe had we converted them, we would have had a different outcome. "I suspect heads may have gone down a little after that and once again it was a lesson that we have to take our chances. " Bradley said the team's performance "was not good enough" in its endeavours to score four tries and stop the Dragons from coming within seven. Nine points ahead of Connacht at the start of this penultimate Magners League fixture, the Dragons only needed victory to halt Connacht's belated challenge in the final two fixtures of the season. They did not have to work too hard for it as Connacht posted one of their worst results of the season. Strangely they started with purpose when Conor McPhillips almost broke through from Ray Ofisa's supply. But they could not maintain that momentum, or possession, and it took 21 minutes before the stalemate was broken after both sides missed penalty chances. The Dragons struck when outhalf Aled Thomas put them ahead after a Connacht player was guilty of kicking the ball from Walker's hand at the breakdown. And two minutes later they stretched that lead when Colin Charvis grabbed the first try. Hooker Steve Jones and Aled Brew established the field position, bursting through the Connacht cover, and when Luke Charteris stole the Connacht line-out just yards from the line, Charvis joined the breakaway maul to claim the try. Although Connacht enjoyed worthwhile possession, they could not hold onto the ball. Too often the pass went astray, they struggled to find sufficient support, or they lost the ball in contact, while their normally reliable line-out also came under pressure. When Connacht were penalised for offside, Thomas added the three points on the stroke of half time. It did not get any better for the visitors. Thomas popped a inside pass to Fussell who was able to slip through the cover at speed, and although McPhillips nailed him just shy of the line, a supporting Maule finished off after 55 minutes. It also ended Connacht's hopes of a comeback and with youngsters Peter Durkan and Ronan Loughney already on the field as second half replacements, Bradley introduced all his substitutes. It made little difference as the Dragons maintained the initiative. They should have scored again but for a knock on after Maule was clean through, but they added a third when Fussell finished in the right corner. The only memorable feature for Connacht was Mark McHugh's 100th cap - the player named as a late starter in the line-up when John Hearty fell ill. Yellow Cards: J Muldoon (63m) Dragons: K Morgan (cpt), R Fussell, P Emerick, G Maule, A Brew, A Thomas, A Walker, A Black, S Jones, L Harrison, I Gough, L Charteris, J Bearman, C Charivs, M Owen. Replacements, P Dollman for Morgan (40m), G Wyatt for Brew (42m), B Daly for Jones, G Baber for Walker (69m), A Hall for Charvis (72m), D Lydiate for Charteris (77m). Connacht: G Duffy, D Yapp, D Riordan, M McHugh, C McPhillips, P Warwick, C Keane, B Wilkinson, J Fogarty (cpt), S Knoop, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements, P Durkan for Warwick, R Loughney for Knoop (both 50m), A Flavin for Fogarty, T Robinson for McPhillips, and D Slemen for Yapp (all 59m), M Swift for Rigney, D McGowan for Farley (both 69m). Referee: M Changleng (SRU)

Corless in top form at Soccer stars of the future inter-nations show
There have been some impressive results so far this season for Connacht riders in Britain and Europe in recent months and the latest to shine is Gaby Corless. The Maree rider continued his recent good form by winning his class in the Inter-nations Amateur show in Towerland in Essex recently. Riding Rockstown Randi, Corless came second on the first day and won his 1.15m class on the second day of competition between some of the strongest amateur riders from Britain and Ireland. Galway riders also were in top form in the pony section of the Newmarket on Fergus show held in the Clare town on Sunday with Michael Duffy leading the way, winning the 138 and 148 ABC events. Duffy took the 138 event riding Leath Geallach, finishing ahead of another up-and-coming Galway rider Tim McDonnagh who was riding Some Kind of Mr Wonderful. In the 148ABC the top four places were filled by Galway riders. Duffy, from Turloughmore, won riding Annagowan Arrow ahead of Jessica Burke in second on Syllogue Darkey and Paddy McDonnagh who took third and fourth. Elsewhere in the event Michael's sister Aisling Duffy finished third in the 128 ABC on Woodpark Starlight, while 15-years-old Jessica Burke did well in the 1.20m horses event on Amanda 202, finishing in second place. The spring league finals were held at Duffy's Equestrian Centre in Claregalway on Saturday with some exciting finishes in six main events. First off was the 80cm final, which was won by Kieran Feeney on Carnavally. The Gerry Higgins owned horse was the quickest of eight to jump double clear getting around in the jump-off in an impressive 31.93sec. Emer Carr was second on Wild Honey at 37.18sec, while Ellen Duffy finished third with a time of 39.02 riding Outside Bid. The finish of the day came in the 90cm event where Brian Cassidy on Hillswood Vitammi and Naoimh O'Gorman on Hillswood Fire Storm'finished joint first after they both jumped double clears with the exact same time in the jump-off of 34.02. Tina Barry just missed out on first riding Cill na Mona finishing in a time of 34.18. In the 1m final Brian Cassidy continued his great form on Hillswood Vitammi jumping double clear rounds and winning by much more comfortable margin of eight seconds this time over Sean McKay on board Diamond Penny Cruise. Paul Duffy took the next two events riding the John Hawkshaw owned Reigning to victory in the 1.10 and 1.20 classes while Paraic Geraghty took the 1.30 with a superb double clear on board Brandy and Red.

Maree/Oranmore Juvenile Soccer Awards: Martin Horgan, Billy Clery, Declan O'Dea, u-12 top scorer, Fidelma Healy-Eames, Johnny Morris-Bourke and Liam O'Carroll.

Maree/Oranmore's Rachel Walsh who was awarded the girls u-10 most committed player of the year.

The Dominican College Galway team celebrate with the cup for the Schools Basketball Second Year Finals, B Final, when they overcame Meanscoil na Toirbhirte An Daingean, at the National Basketball Arena on Tuesday. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE

Maree/Oranmore Juvenile Soccer club will hold its annual general meeting on May 22 in the Maree Community Centre. The club, established in 2005, now boasts some 350 youngsters aged between five and 12. It held its recent awards ceremony, attended by Galway United's Billy Clery and FAI's John Morris Burke. Winners were: Clubmen of the year, Enda Cox and Paddy O'Connor; U-12 player of the year, Patrick Canning and Niall Eames' U-12 top scorer, Declan

O'Dea; U-12 most committed players, D`ara Cawley; U-11 Development Squad player of the year, Colm Doody; U11Development Squad joint top scorers, Eanna O'Ceallaigh and Ronan Stapleton; U-11 Development Squad most committed player, Sean Molloy; U-10 girls player of the year, Rebecca Rooney; U-10 girls most committed players, Rachel Walsh, U-10 most committed players, Conor McCarthy; U-9 most committed player, Sean Fogarty.