Memories of ‘titanic struggle’ against the All Blacks

over the Connemara All Blacks in the Connacht Junior League final in February 1996. Pic: Joe O’Shaughnessy from Noel Fallon of The Roscommon Champion, the Creggs tackles were “of the highest order” while Connemara’s woes were summed up when Malone missed a 20-metre penalty right in front of the posts.

The final whistle was greet- ed with huge relief from all associated with Creggs Rugby and captain Kieran Dowd lifted the league trophy to spark huge celebrations at the Sportsground, which some say continued for many years back in the village of Creggs!

The team

The Creggs team was: Kieran Dowd (captain), Seamus Meehan, James Gavin, Sean Brandon, Paul Bradley, Ger Dowd (3 penalties), Kieran Canny, Brian Hanley, Niall Coen, Vincent Collins, Kevin O’Rourke, Barry Kilcommins, Robert Ward, Michael Ward, John Joe Kennedy.