Galwegians welcome UL Bohemians to Crowley Park this Saturday.
Galwegians picked up their first win of the 2026/27 Energia AIL Division 2A new season with a deserved 15-22 victory at Greystones on Saturday.
Duinn Maguire’s try on the last play sealed the victory in a game in which both teams tried to play flowing rugby, but with plenty of turnovers and solid defence, scoring chances were limited.
The hosts opened the scoring with a Gavin Rochford penalty from the 10-metre line after 13 minutes, and although the Blues’ backline asked questions of their hosts, they could not make a serious dent in the Greystones’ defence.
At the end of the first quarter, turnover ball on the halfway line released the home side with Conor Balmaine scampering down the left wing for the opening try, which Rochford converted, extending their lead to 10-0.
However, Galwegians responded almost immediately, and from a penalty kicked to the corner, a series of drives ended with Maguire scoring and Jacob Johnson’s converting to narrow the gap to 10-7.
Greystones dominated the rest of the half, and when Rob Holian was sin-binned, the Blues were under the pump. However, effective scrambled defence shut the hosts out to keep Galwegians in touch at the break.
The Blues started the second half with intent, hitting the front for the first time from a move straight off the training ground. A scrum on halfway sent the ball right, and Darragh Kennedy took a great line, ran inside two tacklers and swerved through to score near the posts. Johnson converted to put Galwegians in front 14-10.
The hosts upped the ante, and despite solid Galwegian defence, they made the breakthrough in the 65th minute. Scrumhalf David Baker switched direction at the base of a ruck, and from an excellent cross-kick found Dylan Henry, Rochford finished for a well-worked try. Although unconverted, the hosts went back in front 15-14.
With momentum, Greystones went looking for the killer score, but excellent Blues’ defence held the line, with Johnson’s outstanding line-kicking relieving the pressure.
Crucially, with five minutes remaining, Greystones’ centre Peter Ford was sin-binned and Galwegians capitalised. From a kick to touch, the Blues pushed forward, won an offside penalty, and Johnson kicked to put Galwegians in front with a minute remaining. Galwegians then closed it out, capitalising on successive penalties to produce another textbook lineout maul, which created the chance for Maguire to dart over on the last play.
Johnson’s conversion hit the post, which ensured Greystones a consolation bonus point, but there was no denying Galwegians who bagged a deserved first win of the season.
