Latest from Tir Chonaill 28th Feb 2012…
Mini Rugby : The minis attended a blitz in Donegal Town on 21st January and all played well in challenging conditions. The kids did us proud despite the mud and it even seemed to add to the fun and made for some good fixtures. Sadly the return blitz had to be postponed and will be rearranged in March.
School Tag Blitz : There will be a Schools Tag Rugby Blitz this Friday 2nd in Carrickfin from 12 to 2pm. Schools who have had the most sessions from the CRO will play this time and a later blitz will be organised for the schools currently in training.
Under 13s : Tir Chonaill 39 v Ballyshannon 17 Many thanks to our friends in Ballyshannon for a hastily arranged game on Saturday last. This correspondent only seen half of the first half but seen good tries from Tony Byrne and Cian Boyle as well as some good carrying from the McCann bros JJ and Sean, and Fred Gallagher. Lewis Marshall also stood out at No 8, and scrum half Cian Bennett was fantastic at the breakdown. Well done lads, cup game coming in Carrickfergus on Saturday.
Seniors : Finn Valley 0 v Tir Chonaill 17: Following a couple of hard fought defeats, and hopefully lessons learned against Armoy and Rainey Old Boys in the Cup, Tir Chonaill returned to winning ways in Stranorlar on Saturday last. These are Irelands two newest rugby clubs, near neighbours and friends in their first competitive fixture in the Minor League North. The rain held off thankfully, but conditions underfoot were less than perfect for running rugby. The game became a series of scrums, lineouts, clearing kicks and penalties. Tir Chonaill gained the upper hand with a superb penalty by Benny McGarvey and shortly afterwards brother Martin bulldozed over the line in his trademark style for the opening try duly converted by Benny. The platform for the scores came from an increasingly dominant TC scrum and lineout and given the conditions this was to prove crucial. Also of note were saving clearances from Calum Boyle and Paul Gallagher. The longer the game went on, the more TC won scrums against the head, as well as securing their own ball. In the lineout, the other brothers James and Shaun Doogan dominated and stole several FV throws. The 2nd try came in the dying minutes when Shaun Doogan broke the defensive line to cross the whitewash from another huge scrum. Benny obliged with the conversion and TC travelled home happy and now up to 7th in the league on equal points with 6th place City of Derry. Some great ball carrying on the day by both McGarveys, the two Doogans, prop Gary Gallagher and hooker JP Baska. Great to see veteran subs Joe McCann (also Head Coach) and Joe McConnell with a combined age of 92 come on to lift the team for the last 10 mins. To our friends at Finn Valley, we offer encouragement. You are improving guys, and defended well. The win will come, the sooner the better.
