Kicks and cards make the difference!

A day that saw the biggest crowd of the year at Stradbrook.

Easter weekend, with the sun shining THE PLAYOFFS were upon us.

The wrong end of the table, but these are the games you remember as a player and a club member.

The rock management, coaches and players had left no stone unturned during preparations, knowing that for Sligo RFC, this would be the biggest game in their clubs history to date. They would come with everything they had, and they did.

24 minutes in, and with all the preparation in the world!!! Rock were down 6-15, after two early break away tries and a penalty.

Peter Quirke thankfully had his kicking boots with him to keep Rock in some sort of touching distance.

Rock steadied their play well for the second quarter, but Sligo finished the half 14-22 up.

A litany of yellow cards against the visitors meant they played the majority of the second half with 14 men or less.

Still they managed to compete very well, while Rock threw everything they had at the cause.

With only minutes remaining, after multiple attempts at the Sligo line, Rock’s Brian Colclough got over to bring the game to 26-27.

Peter Quirke, after successful side line conversions, was on form to win the day. Converted 28-27 to Rock in a game that will be remembered by many for years to come.

Tries: Steve McLoughlin, Paul McSweeney, Brian Colclough Conversions & Penalties: Peter Quirke

Photographs from the match courtesy of JC Sports Photography.