Memories of '78 final between Tuam and Creggs
Dramatic last-gasp memories
FOR some of a certain vintage in Tuam and Creggs, Monday's Connacht Junior Cup showdown between the clubs at Dexcom Stadium will evoke strong memories from their final meeting 48 years ago.
The history of the competition is an illustrious one and dates back to 1905 when St. Ignatius' were its first winners, defeating city opponents University College Galway in the final.
Several clubs around the city went on to capture the trophy including Galway Town, St. Mary's, Rovers, Wanderers, Salthill, Bohemians, OLBC, UCG, Corinthians and Galwegians. That roll of honour would eventually extend further beyond and include Garbally, Ballinasloe, Athlone, Buccaneers, Castlerea, Westport, Ballina, Sligo, Gort, Loughrea, Monivea, Ballinrobe, Connemara and Corrib.
When Tuam and Creggs met in 1978, it was very much a novel pairing given that neither side had won the Junior Cup. Rugby in Tuam dates back more than a century and while its' history could be described as stop-start in the early decades — a much earlier incarnation reached the final in 1926 — the modern-day club was a few years in existence when it lost the 1972 Junior Cup final to Ballinasloe.
Creggs, meanwhile, were founded in 1974 and having lost their maiden final to Ballina in '77, the Galway-Roscommon border club reached the summit of Junior rugby in Connacht in '78. It was the first of six successes in the competition with 1981, ’88, ’89 and ’93 also bringing silverware before they bridged a 32-year gap against Dunmore in 2025.
The 1978 final brought heartbreak for Tuam as Creggs conjured up the most dramatic of last-gasp victories. Frank Brandon was the hero with a try six minutes into time added on that his brother Peadar converted to win by 9-6.
Herald Sport met up with Sean Carter, Tuam's captain that day, and Creggs' match winner Frank Brandon to hear their memories from one of competition's most famous finishes.
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