Wegians clinch title and promotion
Galwegians secured automatic promotion to Division 2A of the All-Ireland League B with an emphatic victory over Malone at Gibson Park on Saturday.
Knowing that a bonus-point win would guarantee promotion, the Blues started with real intent. They took the game to the hosts from the opening whistle and, after several well-worked phases, two of the youngest players on the pitch and homegrown Wegians products combined for the opening try in the fifth minute.
Lock Rory Gavin found out-half Calum Elwood, and the youngster showed vision and pace to spot a gap and scythe through under the posts, leaving the returning Stevie Mannion an easy conversion to make it 7-0.
The visitors had doubled their advantage by the 10th minute as their relentless pressure paid off again. Working the short side, full-back Cian Brady sold a superb dummy that left the Malone defence flat-footed before crossing near the posts. Mannion added the straightforward conversion to extend the lead to 14-0.
The shell-shocked hosts eventually gained a foothold and tried to chip away at the deficit, but they were unable to breach the Blues’ defence, and just before the end of the first quarter, Galwegians struck for their third try.
It came from a magnificent 50:22 from Mannion, who switched play cleverly and found an excellent touch five metres out. From the ensuing lineout, Gavin secured clean ball and a textbook maul drove the Malone pack backwards, with captain Dylan Keane claiming the touchdown for the second successive week. Despite the difficult cross-breeze, Mannion added the conversion to make it 21-0 and put the Blues firmly in control.
Galwegians continued to dominate and had several opportunities to secure the bonus-point fourth try but squandered a number of chances, with a hint of complacency creeping into their play. On one occasion they were held up over the line, and on the stroke of half-time Malone were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card.
The hosts emerged for the second-half with renewed energy after what was clearly a strong half-time team talk and immediately went on the offensive.
Matters became more difficult for the visitors when Mannion was sin-binned for a high tackle shortly after the restart, and within two minutes, Malone made their numerical advantage count, their maul powering over in the corner for an unconverted try by Michael Crothers.
Almost straight from the restart they struck again. Spotting a gap in midfield, Malone centre Cameron McCaughey burst through the defensive line and crossed on the left. The conversion attempt from Matty Rea struck the post, leaving the gap at 11 points.
Galwegians tried to steady the ship, but five minutes later another sucker-punch followed. A breakdown on the right saw Malone gather possession and execute a clever cross-field chip, which was collected by substitute Dara Gaskin for a try near the posts. The normally reliable Rea somehow missed a very straightforward conversion, leaving the score at 21-15 to the Blues., who suddenly found themselves under real pressure.
However, Wegians struck a decisive blow almost immediately from the restart. Full-back Cian Brady launched a superb counter-attack down the left wing from inside nhis own half before putting in a clever chip ahead.
Top scorer Rob Deacy won the race to the bouncing ball and dived over for the crucial bonus-point try. Mannion made no mistake with the conversion and suddenly the visitors had a far more comfortable 13-point lead.
That score appeared to take the wind out of Malone’s sails. The hosts attempted to make an impression in the final quarter but had no answer as Galwegians shut the door defensively. Reinforcements from a very strong bench, including Liam Angermann, Tom Gormley, Tiarnan Neville and Albert Lindner, brought added composure and control, and Malone never threatened the visitors’ 22.
The game was put beyond doubt in the 73rd minute when winger Oisín McKey cut infield off lineout ball to slice through a gap before offloading to the supporting Angermann, who crossed on the left.
Mannion added his fifth conversion to extend the lead further, and there was still time for a sixth try as excellent work from the tireless Deacy created the opportunity for McKey to finish in style.
Malone: B Gibson; T Hotham, C McCaughey, J Pentland, D McMaster; M Rae, C Soper; B Halliday, D Kerr, R Greenwood, B Grimley, L Wakefield, C Knox, Ross Todd, M Crothers.
Replacements: S Green, B Young, J Storey, D Gaskin, J McMurtry.
Galwegians: C Brady; D Kennedy, R Deacy, S Mannion, O McKey; C Elwood, A Sherlock; E Ferry, R Smith, L Murtagh, R Holian, R Gavin, J Butler, D Keane, É McCarthy.
Replacements: C McGrath, T Gormley, L Angermann, A Lindner, T Neville.