Creggs are kingpins of Connacht once more after completing league and cup double
Michael Dunne celebrates Creggs' victory over Tuam in Easter Monday's Connacht Junior Cup final at Dexcom Stadium, Galway. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady
Creggs and Tuam delivered an old-fashioned cup rugby classic in front of a passionate crowd in the Dexcom on Easter Monday evening for the 2026 Bank of Ireland Junior Cup final, culminating in Creggs making it back-to-back league and cup doubles as a result of stout and disciplined control of the ball in the final quarter.
Ronan Dowd’s three penalties from four attempts on a very tough evening for kicking proved crucial, but no less important was Creggs’ ability as a collective unit to manage territory and play the bulk of the second half in the Tuam half of the field.
While Creggs themselves were out in front by a distance on the unforced error count, they also engineered a number of vital takeaways, none more important than James Brandon’s steal on a Tuam lineout in the closing minutes, just five metres out from their line.
By now, the crowd was at fever pitch, revelling in a game where every metre gained, and every touch, looked like it might be the one that made all the difference.
Tuam were looking to get their hands on the Bank of Ireland Junior Cup for the first time in their history, and their blue and red colours dominated the Clan stand, growing in volume as it looked more and more likely that they might be about to make history.
A typically fierce Atlantic breeze was blowing down the field and Creggs had the aid of that breeze in the first half but failed to take advantage, kicking just two penalties from the boot of Ronan Dowd.
There were flashes of the well-known running ability of this Creggs back division but a couple of uncharacteristic handling errors robbed them of momentum at crucial times, while their best move of the game — a slick play that featured Eoghan Coyle, Shane Dowd and James Brandon — culminated in a pass to Jack Fleming that was broken up by a crucial intervention from Liam O’Shaughnessy, just when it looked as if the try line was inviting the Creggs centre in.
Creggs made a vital goal-line stand of their own, with Eoghan Coyle and Xavier Tavai delivering big hits behind the gain line, but every minute that passed without the lead growing too much was a step towards glory for Tuam, who were by far the happier side at 6-0 down.
The importance of Dowd’s accuracy came to the fore in the second half when Tuam themselves failed to hit the target with any of their three efforts from the tee, meaning that when the game went down to the wire in the final minutes, they were unable to go for the posts from a number of attacking penalties.
Even so, Tuam looked set fair for victory when Ross Fahy brought play up to within five metres of the Creggs line, and after a penalty and lineout, Eoin Sweeney was able to burst across the line and ground the ball with his free hand in the tackle, leaving the bare minimum between the sides.
Creggs’ response to this scenario was exemplary, as they took the ball out of Tuam’s hands and showed incredible patience and discipline to simply camp out in the Tuam half, playing their best rugby when they had ball in hand, tapping penalties and attacking gaps with relentless zeal, even from difficult positions.
It was only when they were awarded a penalty at the ruck just outside the 22, straight in front of the posts, that Dowd elected to kick for goal, and even from that position and with a perfect contact, his effort had barely a yard to spare as it dropped over the crossbar at an almost vertical trajectory, illustrating the strength of the breeze.
It was inevitable that Tuam would find a way to get out of their own half and they did in the last five minutes, forcing a holding on penalty after a tremendous box kick left Shane Dowd isolated.
No player had done more to lead by example in that final quarter than flanker James Brandon, and he came up with a crucial lineout steal right in front of his own line, denying Tuam their best attacking platform in that tense finale.
For Tuam, the long wait to get their hands on this famous trophy goes on, but for Creggs, back-to-back league and cup champions, they continue to reign as the kingpins of Connacht Junior Rugby.
CREGGS: Shane Dowd; Cathal Feely, Eoghan Coyle, Jack Fleming, Dean O’Reilly; Ronan Dowd, Cormac Dolan; Tom Farrell, Nato Kiripati, Tom O’Brien; Xavier Tavai, Eoin Kelly; Ciarán Purcell, James Brandon, Brian Diffley. Replacements used: Michael Dunne for O’Reilly (53), Lee Kilcoyne for Farrell (57), Ronan Cahill for Purcell (59), Aodhán Kelly for E Kelly (59), Farrell for O’Brien (67), Aidan Leech for Diffley (70).
TUAM: Liam O’Shaughnessy; Caoilainn Lowry, Seán O’Sullivan, Ross Fahy, Eoin Fowley; Luke Cronin, Seán Brandon; Wynand Terblanche, Seán Maughan, Niall Carney; Owen Halion, Daithí Gleeson; Johannes Terblanche, Eoin Sweeney, Alan Finnerty. Replacements used: Seamus Hurley for Carney (39mins), Josh Giblin for O’Shaughnessy (56), Owen Swan for Maughan (66), Mitchell Adeyeye for Gleeson (68), Alan Tierney for Brandon (72), Andrew Atonio for Hurley (76), Maughan for Swan (79).
Referee: Gerry Geraghty.
