Galwegians get their biggest win of the season with a 43-8 win over Omagh Academicals after a dominant second-half performance from the Blues. Coming back from behind in the first half, six second-half tries ensured they consolidated their place at the top of the division with another vital bonus point win at home in Crowley Park.
It was Galwegians who made the first visit into the opposition's 22 and nearly got an early try with Oisin Halpin but were just held up at the line. Omagh responded to their early pressure by winning a penalty 15 minutes in, which was dispatched by Scott Elliot to give the visitors a three-point lead.
Their lead would last only for three minutes however as Ryan Smith hauled himself over for the first of the afternoon after winning a five-metre lineout and mauling over to hit the front. A tight angle for Tiarnan Neville meant the conversion sailed wide to keep the visitors in touch at 5-3.
The game remained at a stalemate for most of the first half until Omagh struck back with a try of their own in the 36th minute. Distributing the ball out wide from a lineout outside the 22, Galwegians were exposed on the left and Ryan Mitchell found Ali Beckett on his left who broke past the backline to score in the corner. The underdogs found themselves 8-5 up at halftime.
Galwegians began the second half with two 5-metre lineouts but were just overshot and more chances went a begging. Thankfully for the Blues, the third time was the charm as Ryan Smith scored his second of the game in a carbon copy of the first try to give Wegians a 12-8 lead.
The floodgates started to open in the 54th minute as Oisin McKey grabbed his first try of the afternoon. The ball was played wide to McKey who skipped past two Omagh players to finish in the corner. A corker from Neville gave Wegians a 19-8 lead.
Darragh Kennedy was next to add to Galwegians' tally and secure the bonus point. A clever dummy play got Kennedy in position for the try and was just a metre short in the corner. The Blues composed themselves and Andrew Sherlock sprung the ball to Kennedy once again and finished the job at the corner flag to be leading comfortably.
Oisin McKey grabbed his second in quick succession, bursting through with an injection of pace and dancing past the tackles of four Omagh players to score a great try. Neville converted to make it 31-8.
Cian Brady continued to increase the scoring for the Blues. Neville linked up with the centre where a snappy pass to Brady caught Omagh off guard, running into acres of free space and touched down for Galwegians’ sixth of the afternoon. Another conversion off the tee from Neville gave Wegians a thirty-point lead.
Not long after scoring his first senior AIL last time round, substitute Ryan Roache scored his second try in two weeks. Neville launched a cross-field kick in the corner which bounced to Roache who touched down to make it 43-8, capping off another excellent home performance.
Another victory for Galwegians ensures they stay in first place for another week, With the blockbuster game against Clogher Valley next weekend, their championship hopes could be in jeopardy without a win this weekend.
Galwegians: D Kennedy, J Munn, C Farrell, C Brady, O McKey, T Neville, A Sherlock, J Winters, R Smith, G Daniel, R Holian, E Tarmey, O Halpin, D Keane, J Va’asfusuaga,
Substitutes: E Ferry, L Angermann, H Gens, J Quinn, R Roache, J Deacy, S Feely, N Lawless
