The U18 boys came very close to knocking out Connacht Cup holders Galway Hibs at Coleman Park last Sunday in this season’s first round before ultimately losing 2-1 on penalties. Ger Fahy’s side put it up to the city side right from the first whistle but it was Hibs who took the lead with their first chance of note. However, Craughwell fought back and equalised soon after when the excellent Eoin Fahy set up Diarmuid McCartin to level on twenty minutes. United continued to stifle the dangerous Hibs counter attacks with defenders Conor Roche and Adam Lawlor-Smalle in fine form all afternoon. The second half and subsequent periods of extra-time failed to deliver a winning goal, notably with United keeper Alan Callanan pulling off some outstanding saves. In the end, it was the efforts of the Hibs keeper in making four penalty shoot-out saves that decided this very entertaining cup match.

On Saturday, the junior men’s side suffered late agony in a 2-1 home defeat to Claregalway in their division four league clash. The away side took the half time lead by virtue of a corner kick header while Craughwell missed several chances to equalise after periods of sustained pressure. Then with fifteen minutes remaining, midfielder Eoghan Masterson flicked in a Jonathan Leech free kick to level the match. United continued to press looking for the winner but it was the away side who found it in the dying minutes to snatch an unlikely win. 

Also on Saturday, the U13B boys defeated Kinvara United 6-1 with the Craughwell goals coming from Matthew Faherty, Robert Urquhart, Harry Barlow, Cian Irwin and two from Shane Tuohy. The U13A boys were excellent 4-0 winners over Kiltullagh in their Premier League encounter. Kieran O'Connor opened the scoring in the first half after a sustained period of pressure. Darragh McCartin knocked home a second but judged to be narrowly offside so half time score remained 1-0.  Shortly after restart O'Connor made it 2-0 after getting on the end of a McCartin cross. Michael Trehy added to the tally with a header leaving the keeper stranded and Craughwell kept the pressure on for the remainder of the second half and completed a 4-0 win when Niall Dillon tapped home a perfectly placed pass from O'Connor.