Ballina into semi-final
The recently crowned Connacht league under-16 champions, Ballina, with an impressive thirteen wins and one draw from fourteen games, travel to Mullingar on Saturday to contest the All-Ireland semi-final against Ulster champions, Ballinahinch.
Should they win the semi-final they will then play the winners of the Munster/Leinster game in Naas on Sunday. Ballina who finished runners-up in the league on four occasions in five years are delighted to have achieved their goal of a league championship.
Club coaches Michael Rowe and Michael Moylett who recruited players from a wide area such as Easkey, Bonniconlon, Swinford, Crossmolina and Ballina, have put together a very formidable side and one of the most talented in Connacht.
Ciaran Melvin, Patrick Lacken, Colm O'Malley and Paul McCreanor make up a very solid front row, while Swinford pair, Shane Timoney and Enda Heaney provide the power in the 2nd row.
The back row unit of Ruari Lynch , Niall Carolan and Captain Aiden McNulty are a lethal force and should feature very prominetly in the Connacht Youth side next season.
However, it is in the back row that Ballina are most dangerous and should they they get a decent supply of the ball they have the ability to score at will with their free-flowing style play.
Scrum half David Diamond and Kevin Newell have made great improvements to their game under the watchfull eye of Tommy Cooke, while Rathlee's Simon Wade, the greatest points kicker in Connacht Youth rugby this season, control his backline very effectively.
The centre pairing of Keneth Melvin (twin brother of prop Ciaran) and Peter Durcan form the best attacking and defensive combination in Youth rugby at present.
Wingers Rory Campion and Brian Fitzpatrick have a great turn of speed and ball control, while Campion in particular should relish the good playing surface in Mullingar and Naas.
Mark Gorson, new to the game this season, has progressed beyond all expections and is a very steadying influence in the full-back position with his kicking and catching.
Also in the Ballina panel are Cathal Judge, Brendan Melvin, Daniel Kirby and James Connor.