Mayo club beat Galway opponents on tough evening for rugby in Castlebar

Castlebar welcomed Dunmore to Cloondeash on Saturday last for round six of the Connacht Rugby J1A League.

This was a big challenge for Castlebar against a team ahead of them in the league, and who will also provide the opposition in the cup in January.

The Castlebar pitch stood up well to the inclement weather but a bitter north-west wind made it a difficult evening for everyone.

Dunmore had the benefit of the wind in the first half and used it well. From the kick-off they had Castlebar on the back foot and got over the line for a Conor Burns try, which he converted himself.

To their credit, the hosts then brought the game to Dunmore. This brought rewards when man of the match Luke Staunton broke free and crossed for Castlebar’s first try in the sixth minute, converted by Luke Walmsley.

Dunmore continued to use the wind, kicking in behind the Castlebar defence frequently, but excellent covering minimised the threat, and it remained 7-7 at half-time.

The visitors started the second half just like they finished the first, putting Castlebar under all sorts of pressure, and Austin Brummer got over for a try that Conor Burns converted excellently from an awkward angle into the teeth of the strong wind.

Castlebar used the wind to their advantage also and put the Dunmore defence under severe pressure. In the 50th minute this yielded a penalty just inside halfway that was excellently converted by Walmsley.

Great forward pressure by Castlebar released Orann Bourke for Castlebar’s second try beside the posts in the 17th minute of the half, with Walmsley on hand to convert.

Castlebar were rewarded further when they won a penalty on 70 minutes, with Walmsley again on hand to slot over from far out. This left the full time score reading Castlebar 20, Dunmore 14. The winners had excellent performers in Luke Staunton, Sean Tonra, Rory Murphy, Luke Walmsley and Barry Walsh.

Next up in the league for Castlebar is an away game in round seven against Ballina on Saturday, January 25, at 7 p.m. in Heffernan Park.

Castlebar: Sean Tonra, Liam Hegarty, Ronan Ipek, Sean Connolly, Aaron Wootton, Jack Ormsby, Donnacha Flynn, Rory Murphy, Zach Wright, Luke Walmsley, Connor O’Neill, Luke Staunton, Barry Walsh, Damien Togher, Stephen Rogan.

Replacements: David O'Donnell, Bryan O’Flaherty, Richard Sweeney, Orann Bourke, Patrick Flannelly.

Dunmore: Stephen O'Toole, Jamie Geraghty, Andrew Glynn, Martin Cummins, Andrew Doherty, Austin Brummer, Dean Slattery, Jamie Bowens, Colin Lyons, Brendan Carr, Dylan Brady, Conor Burns, Bradley Hughes, Owen Reddington, Jamie Coen.

Replacements: John Huane, Adam Canny, Oisin Murphy, Tomas Cronin, Sam Glynn.

Referee: Michael Honan.