Mayo rugby club defeated in league encounter

A keenly contested Connacht Rugby junior one (A) encounter unfolded on Saturday night as Castlebar faced Tuam away from home.

Both sides needed the points to help steer clear of the dreaded relegation zone, however, Tuam made full use of home advantage and recorded a 25-10 victory.

Castlebar had recently defeated Tuam in the Cawley Plate Final, so there was some added intrigue to this tie.

The Mayo side started brightly and spent long periods in the Tuam 22, which lead to two penalties being awarded to the guests on three and nine minutes, but both efforts drifted wide, albeit from difficult positions.

Castlebar continued to look for that vital pocket of space and the industrious Damien Togher crossed the whitewash, with Stevie Rogan adding the conversion for the guests.

Tuam bounced back though, and Ross Fahy pinched a touchdown on 25 minutes, much to the delight of the home attendance.

On 36 minutes, Rogan guided over a penalty for the Cloondeash men and at half-time Castlebar held a slender 10-5 lead.

Tuam were fired up for the second half and their place kicker Matthew Warde reduced the arrears courtesy of a well-taken penalty on 39 minutes.

Tuam upped the tempo considerably, and a lineout resulted in Eoin Sweeney plundering a try for the north Galway side, with Warde duly adding the conversion.

Castlebar desperately tried to get back into the game, but Tuam ended the contest in a flurry and tries from Liam O’Shaughnessy and Owen Swann, helped secure the spoils for the red and blue.

Castlebar return to league action next Saturday when they face table toppers Dunmore. This game will take place in the Fairgreen, Dunmore, and will kick-off at 7.30 p.m.