Galwegians suffered another agonising defeat when a late penalty saw visitors Malahide snatch victory by 13-11 in the Energia League division 2B encounter at Crowley Park on Saturday.
Wegians opened the scoring when full-back Darragh Kennedy landed a seventh minute penalty after their first incursion into opposition territory, and it got better for the Blues minutes later when they scored the game’s first try.
A good attack down the left and swift hands saw the ball reach winger Shane Mallon, who chipped ahead and gathered to score near the left corner. Kennedy’s conversion attempt was near impossible into the teeth of the cross-wind, but the Blues were looking good 8-0 up.
The visitors were given a fillip when Wegians flanker Ben McGuinness received a very cheap yellow card near the end of the first quarter, and some patient play saw them set up camp on the Wegians line before centre Ben Woods dived over near the posts. Outhalf Dave O’Halloran landed the conversion to reduce the gap to a point.
Against the wind, Wegians played a clever possession game but were denied when outhalf Jordan Thompson was held up over the line. Excellent defence saw them maintain their slender half-time lead, and at this point the Blues looked set to kick on with Thompson and centre Mark Earle using the wind to good effect.
The home side created gilt-edged chances but failed to score, while Malahide kicked a penalty for a 10-8 lead. Wegians, however, were rewarded with a penalty which put them in front again, but Malahide's 76th minute penalty steered them to victory.
Galwegians: J Winters, C Reilly, M McColgan; M Loughlin, G Duffy; B McGuinness, D Keane, K Downey (capt ); K Langan, J Thompson; S Mallon, R Deacy, M Earle, K Waterman; D Kennedy.Subs: C Joyce, P Hackett, B Guilfoyle, A Sherlock, C Farrell.
