Everyone is a winner

Sligo captured the Connacht Cup with a 7-7 draw in Galway on Saturday. Even though we were willing to play into "sudden death" or a rematch, our opponents ended the day with a shared cup victory. We were pressuring late into the game and just couldn't punch the ball across for the decider.

Gabe's first year of rugby was memorable and considering the U-14s won the cup as well, the future looks bright for the Sligo side for years to come. Up Sligo!

Push!

Sligo U13 rugby club pushed their way into the Connacht Cup final next week in Galway following a convincing 27-12 victory over the Athlone Buccaneers. The score was 15-0 at the half and 27-0 with not much time remaining when the substitutes gave up two quick scores.

Gabe had two assists and is pictured in the centre of the maul as the pack lumbered close to a score. The Sligo side was mighty and rose to the defensive occasion when they needed it. Our side looks to avenge a close, but high-scoring loss next week against Galwegians.

Mud Delay

The semi-final match this weekend in Athlone was called at the half on account of the pitch conditions. The re-match will be this weekend in Sligo.

Sligo advances to semi-final

Gabe delivers a bit of hurt in the second half of Sligo's 30-7 defeat of Creggs this afternoon. The win puts them through to the semi-final, just two matches away from a potential championship cup victory.

Rollin'

The Sligo U-13s rolled to a decisive win over Monivea in the first round of cup play. Gabe scored two of Sligo's eight tries in the 48-10 win. Monivea didn't put any points on the board after the first half, and even a "pitch made of pudding" following a week of rain couldn't slow the Sligo relentless attack.

Next week, Creggs. This is single elimination cup play.

Try and catch me

Picture of the day from the Sligo thrashing of Carrick 29-12. I'd like to think regardless of the quality of glass you are using that the photographer still has something to do with the picture. :-) One of my favourite photography quotes was from Minor White. "Spirit stands still for the photographer it has chosen." Team spirit in this case.

Gabe has been moved to flanker from wing and is enjoying even more physical contact. Doesn't he just look like a happy pig in mud?

Tough Break

Sligo 15, Westport 17

Gabriel scored a stunning try, breaking several tackles while managing to stay in bounds. Photographer turned into mere father and cheered him on, despite missing the perfect shot. It wasn't enough to defeat Westport, who scored a quick try on their first possession of the match. The scoreboard didn't reflect the effort of the Sligo side. Great effort.

The match ended on a scary note when a Westport player broke his leg. You could hear the 'crack' all the way down the sideline.

Through the looking glass

The 18-55mm lens that came with my camera is certainly not a sports lens, so often I can only get close enough to the action when the action comes to me. I was seriously considering a telephoto lens and the photography gods answered my prayers as Jonathan Hill was selling a 75-200mm lens. Big smiles.

This week the Sligo Champion printed two of my pictures from Sligo's 19-17 win over Ballina last weekend. I can't wait to see what I can capture during cup play with the new glass!

Catch him if you can

What a fantastic pic, captured by Jonathan Hill at the last Sligo R.F.C. match. Unfortunately the outcome was a loss.

I can't believe this is the same kid starting school in Ireland in September 2006.

Three in a row

As the Steelers fortunes move in the opposite direction, the Sligo Rugby Club U-13s have enjoyed three wins in row. Gabe hasn't experienced a loss yet and they rolled over Castlebar 24-14, holding a 24-0 lead deep into the second half.

Gabe also had his third "almost-try" in three games on a long run, and played some great aggressive defense. Lisa and I traveled down to the match on the team bus.

First start

Gabe started at left wing for Sligo and played the entire game. He had the longest run of the match, reversing field, running the length of the pitch only to be denied a try at the line. Creggs wasn't in the match at all with a 21-5 score at the half and a convincing final of 26-12. Up Sligo!

(No that isn't Gabe in the pic, but couldn't resist putting up the shot.)

Try and try again

Gabe played in his first official rugby match on Saturday. The setting of the pitch is beautiful in Strandhill with Knocknarea to the back of you and the ocean on the other side. That is, unless the weather is coming off the ocean and hitting you upside the head.

The parents may have been miserable in the cold, driving rain, but could a group of boys be any happier than tackling each other on a muddy pitch? Gabe took a face-first plunge shortly after getting into the action and turned to face me with a sopping wet, soil eating grin on his face.

The Sligo side beat a good Westport team 19-14. Gabe barely missed a try with seconds remaining when the maul was stood-up at the goal line.

Green Day

We had a quiet St. Patrick's Day and did not join the 650,000 visitors in Dublin for the parade. Gabe did, however, make green pancakes for breakfast. That's black pudding for those of you wondering, one of my favorite breakfast treats.

Everyone in the country was Rugby crazy as the Irish team was playing for the Six Nations championship against Italy. The standings in the tournament are determined by differential in points so Ireland was out to score as many as possible. To make a long story short, they tried to tack on a few more on the last play of the game and Italy reversed the drive to score. Those points ended up costing them the championship as France scored a try on the last play of their match. Exciting stuff, but a lot of disappointed rugby fans here in Ireland.

In other bizarre sport news, the Ireland cricket team was playing in their first World Cup and defeated heavily favored Pakistan. Angry fans were calling for the execution of the head coach and captain of the team. And I thought the fans in Philly were bad ...

No longer a laughing matter: Pakistan cricket coach found unconscious and dies