Galwegians take the spoils

GALWEGIANS recorded their second consecutive League win to move right back into contention in AIL Division 1b following a hard fought and deserved victory away to Ballymena on Saturday.

Although suffering a defeat away to Division 1a side Dolphin last Sunday, ’Wegians came into this game in confident mood following their excellent victory over Division 1b leaders Old Belvedere a fortnight ago. And they got off to a dream start at Eton Park when they opened the scoring after just five minutes. Following a penalty kick to the corner, a lineout drive saw their powerful No. 8 Ati Olive power his way over the line for the game’s opening try.

Centre Dave Clarke was wide with the conversion leaving the Blues just 5-0 to the good, but it was to prove a short-lived lead. Following a spilt restart, Ballymena put their first few attacking phases together, and some sloppy Galwegians defence allowed their out-half and Ireland Under-19 international Luke Marshall send in flanker Andrew Kerr to score an equalising try. It was a soft score to concede, and Ballymena scrum half David O'Hara inflicted maximum damage when his successful conversion put the hosts 7-5 in front.

A penalty from O’Hara soon after stretched the advantage to 10-5, but ’Wegians served notice of their intentions when they levelled the game midway through the half. It began with a break by top-scorer John Cleary, who started this game at full-back following the loss of Mark Butler to injury last week.

And when Connacht Academy member and another IrelandUnder-19 international Tiernan O’Halloran chipped ahead and regathered, lock forward Liam Scahill was on hand to finish off for an excellent try.

Clarke was again off-target with the conversion to leave it tied at 10-all, however the Northerners regained the lead courtesy of a second penalty from O’Hara. But not to be outdone, the Blues pegged them back before the break, with O’Halloran once again to the fore as the Clifden native landed a neat drop-goal to leave the half-time score at 13 all.

The second-half proved a very tense affair, with both sides going in search of the points. ’Wegians made a change on 55 minutes when winger Barry Lee was forced to retire, and he was replaced by Rob O’Beirn who slotted in at full-back, allowing Cleary return to his customary wing position.

O’Beirn put in an impressive performance and he bagged the winning score when he landed a penalty on the hour mark to put ’Wegians in front for the first time since the seventh minute of the game.

Ballymena tried to launch everything at the Blues in the final quarter, but they were frustrated by a solid and determined ’Wegians defence who refused to buckle.

Both sides had a player sent to the sin-bin late on, with the home side’s lock forward Darryl O’Kane and ’Wegians’ prop Ja Naughton each missing out on the final action. But neither side was able to make any further impression on the scoreboard, and referee Dudley Phillips’ final whistle signalled a third successive victory for ’Wegians over their Northern rivals.

This victory sees the Blues jump up to third place in the League table, and it also sets up an intriguing encounter in their next game when they host second-placed Young Munster at Crowley Park on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off).