Exiles lose grip on cup as President"s men triumph in St Stephen"s Day clash

The better balance and strength in depth of the Athlone President"s XV ensured that they recaptured the James Moran Exiles Challenge Cup in the annual St. Stephen"s Day fixture at Dubarry Park, Athlone. Weather conditions were ideal for playing and watching and thus a goodly-sized crowd took the opportunity to grab some fresh air after the Christmas over-indulgence and also enjoy a well-contested joust for bragging honours for another year. After losing their grip on this coveted trophy last season, the President"s men came well prepared and in numbers this festive season, astutely organised by Mick Smith and ably cajoled by captain Derek Lackey. As the sun broke through shortly after kick off, the heavy sod did little to dampen the enthusiasm of both sides. The President"s standard bearers were backboned in the main by the Thirds squad and their teamwork became more evident as the proceedings unfolded, but it took them well into the first half to translate their superiority onto the scoreboard. Cormac Sheehy made the first telling break of an entertaining contest before right wing John Shaughnessy eventually made the breakthrough for the opening try on the right, well converted by Sheehy, to give his side a 7-0 half-time advantage. The President"s representatives made good use of their replacements bench with Thomas Turley finishing off an early second half raid for a try which full-back Sheehy converted. Another substitute, Ian Kilbride, then scored his side"s third try to seal the issue. This was a superbly taken score with Kilbride securing possession deep in his own half before accelerating and waltzing through the Exiles defence at pace for a fabulous try at the posts, making Sheehy"s conversion elementary. Indeed, Kilbride"s contribution earned him the 'man of the match' tie. The 21-0 lead flattered the winners and they could even afford to let their coach Smith enter the fray for a lap of honour! But gallant Exiles, whose only constant bright light at this stage was their skipper"s startling socks (who said real men don"t wear pink?!), applied growing pressure despite their lack of options and they were finally rewarded when the impressive Paul Flanagan, operating at full-back, finally found a gap to complete the scoring with a try wide on the right to earn his side some justified consolation at the end of a joust pragmatically controlled by referee Ray Fagan. After the game, the James Moran Exiles Challenge Cup that commemorates his late father was presented by Cian Moran to victorious skipper Lackey at a pleasant function in The Bounty. ATHLONE PRESIDENT"S XV: C. Sheehy; J. Shaughnessy, J. Seery, K. Turley, A. Ryan; M. Donohoe, B. Lennon; D. Lackey (captain), E. Haughey, A. Daly; M. Coleman, J. Tormey; G. O"Loughlin, S. Woods, K. Sloyan. Replacements used: B. Kelly (for O"Loughlin), T. Turley (for Woods), M. Kilduff (for Seery), M. Kilbride (for Shaughnessy), D. Burns (for Daly), G. Glynn (for Lackey), S. Woods (for K.Turley) and M. Smith (for Sloyan). EXILES SELECTION: P. Flanagan; T. Reilly, A. Downey, R. English, K. Kennedy; D. Costello, G.Fallon; M. Jackson (captain), K. Fallon, D. Lennon; A. Hall, R. Byrne; D. Kelly, S. Mulligan and S. Byrne. Replacement: G. McHugh (for Kennedy). REFEREE: Ray Fagan (Railway Institute). TWO YOUNG BUCCS IN IRELAND U-20 SQUAD Two rising stars in the Buccaneers ranks, prop Conor Higgins and back John O"Brien, are both included in Ireland"s 30-player squad that is currently preparing for the forthcoming U-20 Junior Six Nations Championship. The club hopes that both players will make the match squads particularly for the "home" games against France and England that will be played in Dubarry Park, Athlone, on February 6th and 27th respectively. CONNACHT CUP MATCH ALTERATIONS! BUCCANEERS scheduled Connacht Senior Cup semi-final, due to take place at Dubarry Park on Saturday next, January 3rd, has apparently been deferred and now is listed to take place in Galway on Wednesday, February 11th according to a particularly brief communication from the Connacht Branch that quotes 'some problems with playing' on the original date. Buccs are still unaware what these problems are! The match now forms part of a double header, preceded by Galwegians v Corinthians at 6pm in 'an effort to raise the status of the competition'. Staging the match at a neutral venue in the middle of the working week will hardly promote the tournament? Quite how or why this Buccs home draw can be moved fifty miles escapes me, but Buccaneers players and supporters now have a blank weekend and the prospect of a 100-mile round trip to a home (sic) game! CONNACHT TOPPLE MUNSTER Just to prove that this column is not all negative towards Connacht, their shock 12-6 Magners League win over leaders Munster is certainly to be lauded and confirms that when focus, application and organisation jell, the men from the West can match the best. Hard to believe but it is 22 years since Connacht, anchored by Davey Henshaw and with Mike Devine scoring no less than 4 tries (if my memory serves me correctly) prevailed over Munster! Well done, guys, and now let"s build on this win. BEST WISHES Good luck is wished to Joe McVeigh and Dee Breen on the occasion of their marriage. CONDOLENCES Deepest sympathy is extended to John Devins on the death of his mother Margaret.