Silverware joy for Strabane under-16s

STRABANE U16s faced the toughest challenge of their season on Saturday as they faced Cavan in the Ulster U16 Plate final in Magherafelt.

The lads were already tired after playing a midweek postponed semi-final in Belfast against a very physical Ophir side and it showed in the opening section of the final.

Cavan were on the attack from the start and the Strabane lads did well to absorb the almost constant attacks without conceding points. Scrumhalf Samuel Orr calmed heads a little, settling the pace once Strabane got hands on the ball though a sharp cross wind made clearing the ball tricky.

Strabane’s defensive line held and, as the half ground on, the arm wrestle of a game was played primarily in the centre of the field with neither side making progress despite some fine breaks from centres Felix Foley and Finn Deyzel for the Strabane team.

Cavan two nippy wingers tested the Strabane width with Rossa McSorley and Dara McGillion both making some key tackles.

Strabane managed some big carries of our own from our pack too with Corey McSorley, Lewis Finlay, Conor Gilloway and Matthew Hunter all making good breaks. Hooker Tom McGilloway bull dozed his way through the Cavan back line and crossed the whitewash, but the ref judged it held up and the try was disallowed. Tom Logue was similarly brought down just inches from the line in the final phases of the first 30 and Cavan kicked the ball to touch to end the half scoreless.

If Strabane had felt the momentum was slowly turning to them, they got an abrupt awakening at the start of the second half when, after some fine phase play, Cavan were the first to trouble the scoreboard, crossing the line but being unlucky with the conversion, leaving them ahead, 5-0.

It’s to the credit of the Strabane team that they didn’t let this dismay them but regrouped and seemed to find an extra reserve of energy, helped by the fresh legs off the bench with Jack McElwee, Jamie Murphy, Mark Wallace, Ciarnan McLaughlin and Conor Barry all called on to the pitch throughout the second half.

That renewed energy saw Strabane begin to play some lovely flowing rugby which eventually led to Andrew Maguire getting ball in hand and bursting though the gap between two defenders. A weaving sprint brought him under the posts and the scores were even.

Mark Gavin angled the conversion kick perfectly, giving Strabane a vital 2 point lead.

Cavan threw everything at the Strabane lads for the last fifteen minutes, alternating between forward carries and a few exploratory kicks behind the Strabane defence, but they were well covered by full back Ryan McCormack who booted the ball clear and kept play out of our half. With the pack dominating in the scrums and Charlie Thompson stealing several lineouts for us, the Strabane lads could feel the momentum swing their way and they fought with spirit, eventually leading to Maguire breaking the Cavan line again and crossing the whitewash in the corner to take the score to 12-5.

Strabane held their line against a late Cavan attack until a spilled ball gave the penalty to Strabane and the ref blew the final whistle. Strabane’s 99 year wait for silverware was finally over and the exhilaration and exhaustion was clear in the Strabane lads.

The cheer, which accompanied captain Tom McGilloway holding aloft the trophy, both from the team and the huge crowd of Strabane supporters who’d travelled up to watch the lads, showed just how much it meant to everyone involved. That these lads made history for the club for the second time this season (having won their league play-off final at the end of January) is a reflection of the work put in by every member of the squad right through the year and by all behind the scenes who’ve worked with these lads through the mini and youth set ups, convened by David Warnock and Bob Dillon respectively. On the evidence of Saturday, the future looks bright for Strabane Rugby.

On behalf of the club, can we just add a huge thanks to the U16 coach, Brian McGilloway, who has been working with this team for 4 years and who’s efforts have now had just reward. Brian had no previous rugby experience but had a love for the game and wanted to encourage his son to play sport.

His hard work and dedication are not seen by the majority of people involved, but none of this would have been possible without his commitment and we hope this encourages more parents to become involved with the club, in any capacity. As with everything in life, the more you put in, the more you get out of it.