Mayo rugby side aiming for third successive provincial title
CASTLEBAR Ladies Rugby are hoping to end their 2015 league on a high when they contest the Connacht League final against NUI Galway on Saturday (January 23) in Tuam RFC at 1 p.m.
This is the third year in a row that Castlebar have earned a place in the final, and with wins over the Canterbury Warriors and Buccaneers in 2013 and 2014 respectively, they are hoping to make it three-in-a-row when they take on NUIG.
A win for the ladies at the weekend would put them into the Castlebar RFC history books as they would become the first team in the club to achieve a three-in-a-row success. It would also put them into Connacht Rugby’s history books as no women’s team has achieved three successive Connacht League titles.
With 16 tries scored and six conceded in their league campaign, Castlebar sit at the top of the Connacht League table on 28 points, with NUIG a very close second on 27. The bare minimum separated the two teams on the pitch too when they met in early November, with three tries apiece scored as Castlebar scraped the win in a game that ended 19-17.
Competing against Buccaneers, Portumna, Sligo, Tuam, Galweigans 2nds and Saturday’s opponents NUIG, Castlebar have had an almost perfect season, with just one defeat recorded. Castlebar fell to third place finishers Tuam towards the end of the league. That game, which ended 10-8 in Tuam’s home ground, is one that will stay in the minds of these girls as they take to the same pitch on Saturday determined to walk off with a different result.
Given how evenly matched the teams appear to be, an exciting game is in store for spectators at Tuam RFC early on Saturday afternoon.
The girls would like to sincerely thank their supporters to date and urge as many people as possible to get to Tuam RFC for the game. They would also like to thank their sponsors: The Castle Inn, Murray's Ambulance Service, Cuffe Car Sales, Divas & Studs Hair Studio, Elverys Sports and Rocky's Bar.
The Castlebar squad is: Cathy Blake, Alison Clancy, Charlotte Connor, Claire Cuffe, Emma Doyle (vice-captain), Emma Fabby, Aileen Feely, Emma Feerick, Becky Gavin, Lucy Golden, Nicola Hall, Mairéad Hopkins, Kiara Irwin, Chelsea Joyce, Jen Keegan, Sandra Kenny, Patricia McHale, Yvon McNabb, Kadie Moyles, Melissa Neil, Fiona Nic Ruairí, Darwyn O’Halloran, Anne Marie O’Hora (captain), Ursula Sammon and Jacinta Walsh. Coaches and management: Jason Keane and Christy Cusack. Team mascot: Sophie Keane.