Blues in relegation trouble after disastrous home loss

Terenure College 14

GALWEGIANS suffered another agonising loss when they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in this tense Division 1A encounter against fellow strugglers Terenure College at Crowley Park on Saturday.

This was a clash between second-from-bottom and third-from-bottom, as the visitors Terenure went into this contest a point to the good after the previous game round when they overhauled the Blues. In truth, this was a game which had the haunting prospect of relegation hovering over both teams, and it showed in a very edgy and nervous contest where the fear of losing was palpable on both sides.

Galwegians had a slight wind advantage in the first half and they looked the more threatening early on, dominating territory. However their game was littered with errors, and any time they got into a promising position it came unstuck, with their set-piece and lineout in particular malfunctioning at the wrong time. Also they were being pinged regularly by referee Peter Fitzgibbon at the breakdown as the visiting defence held sway.

The home side’s cause was not helped by an unfortunate clash on 20 minutes between influential centre Brian Murphy and Terenure full-back James O’Donoghue, with Murphy departing the scene prematurely. Also they were unlucky to lose another key player in open-side Josh Pim who took an early knock.

Having soaked up the early pressure, it was the visitors who struck first when they scored after what was their first serious attack of the game. When a smart breakout by right-wing Jake Swaine pierced the Wegians rearguard, Terenure sucked in the scrambling defence before releasing left-wing Matthew Burke who dived over in the opposite corner. Swaine then landed an excellent conversion to give his side a precious 7-0 lead.

One thing the Blues have never lacked all season is heart, and they took the game again to the opposition. Their pressure was finally rewarded on 39 minutes when a chip through by out-half Aidan Moynihan took a somewhat fortunate deflection, landing perfectly into the path of substitute winger Alan McMahon, who took his chance well to dive over in the left corner. Moynihan then landed an inch-perfect conversion into the breeze to square the game.

The visitors did have their chances to regain the lead in first-half stoppage time. First Swaine was off target with a long-range penalty attempt, before Burke knocked on with the line at his mercy on the stroke of half-time.

Terenure upped the ante after the break and were dominating the territory stakes in the third quarter. They were playing a patient game working through the phases, but they met a solid wall of Wegians defence who also kept their discipline to not concede any penalties within kickable range.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.