West Offaly Lions News

The W.O.L. contingent travelled to Longford on Sunday where they won with a comprehensive 24 to 10 score line. Two tries by No. 8 and Captain Conor Galvin and 1 each by Niall Flaherty and Stephen Cornally along with 2 Donal Corbert conversions completed the W.O.L. scoring, with a little more accuracy W.O.L. could have doubled the score. It was any exciting game played in very good conditions, both teams attacked at every opportunity but it was the excellent defensive work by the W.O.L. that shone through and some very incisive runs by out half Donal Corbet. Best for the Lions were Danny Gleeson Kevin Lally and Pauric Egan in the forwards and Thos butler Ian bracken and Corbert in the backs. Best wishes to Niall Flaherty on a speedy recovery. Next week we are at home to Ballina in the league on Sunday at 2.30.

Score: 36-22

The Lions travelled to Tuam for this there latest encounter against a much fancied Tuam outfit and it wasn’t long until Tuam tasted first blood scoring an excellent try from a defensive kick by the lions fullback which failed to find touch, the immediately attacked and showed great hands and footwork and with to many missed tackles they crossed the line to chalk down there first of 5 try’s, the second of which came from a very similar kick 5 minutes later and the result was the same. It was a tough lesson for the lions and although they never gave up scoring 3 try’s of there own they were taught a valuable lesson on how important it is to make the first tackle count and to retain possession. It’s back to the training pitch for the lions and hopefully the next game will end in a more favourable result for the lions

Due to weather and pitch conditions both teams travelled to Ballinasloe for this encounter and just like the rest of the lions matches so far this was to prove no different with both sides really up for the match with big tackles going in and nothing been spared, some very effective kicking from out half Jason Kelly started to allow the lions to control the game and only for lack of clinical finishing they would have been 5 if not 7 points up inside 15 minutes. It was not long after until the dead lock was broken and the lions got in for there first try of the game. It was from then on that the lions started to show the results of the efforts been put in by the coaches and players and they dominated the first half. The second half was to prove more difficult with Sligo not willing to give up any thing, which lead to a scrappy half of rugby it saw two try’s for the lions disallowed one by Ronnie Guinan who showed great power and turn of pace in one corner and another by Niall Flaherty who showed electric pace to even get to the ball let alone touch it down in the other, but Jason Kelly slotted over three penalties to keep the Lions on top of the game and to hold out for another victory.