West Offaly Lions News

Venue: West Offaly Lions RFC 
Date: 19-10-08

West Offaly Lions Vs. Corinthians
Connacht J2 League 08-09

West Offaly Lions Vs. Ballinrobe
Connacht J1 League 08-09

West Offaly Lions 23 - Ballinrobe 6

West Offaly Lions scored another win in the Connaught league against a strong Ballinrobe side in the nun's field last weekend. Two tries by centre Tom Gilligan were the difference, coupled with Donal Corbetts immaculate goal kicking. Again West Offaly Lions experienced difficulties in the scrum but ruled the line outs and along with some great defence this pulled them through the tie. Ciaran Coughlan and Ronan Guinan were outstanding in the loose in a side that will
need to maintain their disciplines if it's to continue its league run.

West Offaly Lions 0 - Corinthians 17

Development team continued their league programme last Sunday and were better organised this week with a number of subs, though still missing a few key players. Stephen Cornally the Moony brothers and Frankie Kenna were best in a side that needs to train together to attain the results their talent deserves. It was a good performance overall but with training the development side aren't far off there first league victory which in turn will instil some confidence in the team.

The month so far has seen some good and not so good displays from the lions on October the 5^th the lions played host to two teams, it was a momentous occasion as on this weekend the lions produced two senior teams the j2 teams who had a very exciting and hard contest against Ballinasloe and the j1 team had a tough had battle against a very well organised Buccaneer's u20 side, although both teams were on the end of defeats it was not going to take away from the occasion that was for a club that is very new to rugby and only in its second season in senior rugby producing two senior teams both of whom acquitted themselves very well against the two teams, who have had a lot more match practice than either lions team. There were some excellent displays from both team with Rogger and Jeffery putting in fine displays on both wings and Paddy Marshall at out half for the j2's and Ronnie, Quinny and Steve Rourke to name a few from the j1 team.

October the 12^th saw the visit of the Westport Bulls to the home of the Lions for a tough hard battle. Both side had met last season in j2 and if last season's matches were anything to go by this one was going to live up to expectation with the two teams going at each other from the off the Lions were to cross the line first with a Donall Corbett kick through which he touched down himself but the try was not given, this did not stop the lions from trying to penetrate the Westport defence with Tom Gilligan making some excellent line breaks and offloads and his hard work was duly rewarded with a sublime try in the closing stages of the first half, the second half started as the first had finished with huge intensity and work rate from 1 - 15 and it was Aidan Keenaghan who struck next with a great try on the wing and minutes later Anthony Quinn touched down after some hard dogged work from the forwards Jason Kelly converted and an earlier Matt Boland penalty left the score line 22 - 0. It was an excellent team display from everyone, from Frankie Kenna and Julian Walsh and Ciaran Coughlan in the forwards to Tom Gilligan, Ritchie Clancy and Aidan Keenaghan in the backline, no man gave a yard and it's a good reward to the hard work been put in by Charlie, Peter, Seamus and all those involved in the training sessions which are continuing every Tuesday and Friday night in the school pitch at half seven.

The j2 team travelled away to Galway to play OLBC and the team were severly hit by injuries, the went down bad to the OLBC team loosing 53- 0 it was a poor display considering the early preformance against Balinasloe which was overall a very good show by the lions, much work is needed if they are to compete at this level and extra numbers are needed at the training sessions, hopefully once injuries clear up and others return the j2 team will start to preform like they know they can, its give something to work on in training and the only way is up.

Connacht J1 League 08-09
Venue: West Offaly Lions RFC