West Offaly Lions News

Connacht Junior Cup 
GALWEGIANS 24 WEST OFFALY LIONS 27!!

This was the result on mondays Irish Times . Unfortunately West Offaly Lions scored only 7 points which was the result of a Connor Galvin blockdown added to by Donal Corbett but West Offaly Lions were careless in allowing wegians a soft try before half time and another one at the start of the second period even though they were down to 14 players with the sin binning of Tomas Bennett. 7 to 5 was not enough with the strong wind and wol were given a lesson in forward play with the wegians back five on top throughout the tie and although they battled bravely the forwards were unable to supply a dangerous looking backline with enough ball.Beaten in the scrums and line outs wol will need to up the ante for their local derby against Ballinasloe next sunday.

UNDER 14S beat the elements on saturday and play Tullamore this week in a friendly.

MINIS DUE TO THE HORRENDOUS conditions training was cancelled on sunday but continues this week at 11.30
in the school field on Sunday

Adult training continues at 9.30 on Tuesday on Gallen astro and on Saturday at 7.00pm in Guinans field WITH A HOME game against OLBC for the development team and Ballinasloe away for the first team.

WOL RELINQUISH TOP SPOT
Due to the unavailability of NUIG wol were without a game this weekend and both Connemara and Ballinrobe had wins to take them ahead of wol in the league table. Next week west Offaly Lions play their first ever match in the Connaught Junior Cup when they make the trip to Glenina to play the Connaught Junior cup holders Galwegians. This is a huge opportunity for this young side and they will need to be at their very best to compete with this talented wegian team.

CONGRATULATIONS To club secretary Marion Gilligan on receiving the Connaught Volunteer award at a dinner before the Connaught v Scarkets Magners League match last friday at the Sportsground.
We all know this was a well deserved award for Marion for all the hard work she has done for the club since its formation. Club Chairman Bernard Quigly spoke on the clubs behalf and presented a wol tie to the Connaught Branch
President Michael Grealish at this enjoyable function.

Well done too to David Kelly son of Hon Treasurer Martin on adding a Munster Senior Cup medal to his list of achievments, all thats missing now is an appearance in a West Offaly Lions jersey.

We wish CONOR HIGGINS Irish u20s and CALLUM Boland irish u18s the best  in their campaigns.

MINIS
ALL Roads lead to the school field next Sunday when after a long lay off Training resumes at 11.30.
All boys and girls are welcome as we approach the business end of the season and Fixtures Secretary
Ray Walshe and Roy Fletcher have a number of exciting fixtures lined up for the coming weeks.
Meanwhile the u14s have already started back in Preparation for  their cup campaign which starys at home
against Westport.
Having recovered from their first xmas party(wiith thanks to Damien Spollen) both adult teams are back training hard
under the watchful eyes of their mentors and its really good to see some new faces around so well done ankeep it going lads.