Rugby Roundup – 5th October

Claremorris, Saturday, October 4th — Loughrea RFC made the journey west to face Claremorris in their Bank of Ireland J1C League fixture, and despite the chaos brought by Storm Amy, the visitors left with a deserved 17–11 victory after a gritty and entertaining encounter.

The evening began in dramatic fashion — the storm knocked out the floodlights at Colts Park just before kick-off, casting doubt on whether the match could proceed at all. Thankfully, after some determined work from the hosts and officials, the lights flickered back to life and the game got underway, setting the stage for a spirited contest.

Loughrea struck early through Sean Cahill, who finished off a flowing move to open the scoring. The visitors’ defense was tested throughout, but they held firm under pressure, with strong tackling and disciplined breakdown work keeping Claremorris at bay.

A standout moment came from Eoin Corcoran, who read the play superbly to snatch an interception and race clear to score — a try that brought the travelling support to their feet and proved crucial in swinging momentum Loughrea’s way.

There was also a notable debut for Ryan Ward, who slotted in impressively at hooker, showing composure and strength in the set-piece alongside a youthful and energetic pack.

As the final whistle blew, Loughrea’s mix of experienced heads and young talent had done enough to secure the points, edging Claremorris 17–11 in a storm-affected but highly competitive match.

This win marks another positive step for Loughrea in their J1C campaign — and with the squad’s youthful energy shining through, there’s plenty of optimism for the weeks ahead.