Galwegians won an enthralling contest when they edged out their Dublin visitors in this Division 1 game played in atrocious wet and windy conditions at Crowley Park.
The hosts had the advantage of a gale force wind in the first half, and they raced into the lead as early as the fourth minute when a clean line-out take by Brian McClearn set up an attacking maul, and his fellow lock forward Dave Nolan finished by grounding the ball for the opening try. Despite the difficult cross-wind, full-back Rob O’Beirne struck an excellent conversion to make it 7-0.
Wegians seemed set to build on their lead as they maintained total territorial supremacy, with O’Beirne and out-half Matt Brandon keeping Belvedere pinned deep in their half. And despite threatening on occasions, with winger John Cleary making a couple of dangerous-looking breaks, they were unable to convert the opportunities which came their way. And some resolute and disciplined Beldevere defence kept them at bay to restrict the margin to just seven points at the break.
It looked ominous for the Blues at this point of proceedings as they faced into the gale and driving rain in the second-half. And the visitors, who started the day in second place in the League table, wasted little time in taking advantage as they went into the lead within 10 minutes of the re-start. In the 47th minute a clearance kick on his 22 m line by Brandon was easily blocked down by promising Irish u-20 centre Eoin O’Malley. And a few phases later Belvedere right-winger Dave Mongan was put clear to cross for his side’s opening try midway between the posts and the touchline.
Outhalf Kieran Hurrell missed what proved to be a crucial conversion, but three minutes later it seemed to matter little as the visitors scored their second try. It resulted from some sloppy Wegian defence, with winger Brian Murphy and Brandon both guilty of some wayward passing inside their 22. And following turnover ball, Belvedere’s pressure led to their big No 8 Leo Auva’a crashing over under the posts, and substitute Eamonn Fitzgerald tapped over the simple conversion to leave them 12-7 in front.
With the elements unrelenting there seemed no way back for Wegians, and even the prospect of salvaging a losing bonus point looked remote. But led again by their inspirational skipper Ivan Muldoon, the Blues managed to get back into the game, and just before the hour mark they worked a minor miracle by reclaiming the lead. First some excellent recycling and ball retention saw the pack work their way out of their 22 up to halfway where they were awarded a penalty. And when referee Colin Stanley penalised the opposition a further 10 metres for backchat, Brandon took full advantage with an excellent line-kick which set up an attacking position inside the 22.
Hooker Conor Muldoon, who made light of the difficult conditions with some excellent line-out throwing throughout, found Dave Nolan with another clean line-out take. And although the initial driving maul was held up over the try-line, when the visitors dragged down the resulting 5-metre scrum referee Stanley had no hesitation in awarding a penalty-try. O’Beirne landed the simple conversion to regain the lead and set up an intriguing final quarter.
With play confined to the Galwegian half for the remainder of the game, there followed some nail-biting moments as the Blues sought to hold onto their slender lead. But some more outstanding ball retention by the heroic pack, who were superbly marshalled by debutant interpro scrumhalf Kieran Campbell, denied the visitors who could find no way through. Indeed their first real opportunity to reclaim the lead was a 75th minute long-range penalty, but Fitzgerald was short and wide with his effort.
However the visitors did come close to snatching it right at the death, but a superb 15-man defensive effort saw Wegians shut them out, and referee Stanley’s final whistle in the 47th minute signalled jubilation among the Blues who thoroughly deserved the points.
This win puts Galwegians into fifth place in the AIB division 1 table, and there now follows a five–week break in the All-Ireland League.
Galwegians: R O'Beirne; J Cleary, C Brigl, C Rodgers, B Murphy; M Brandon, K Campbell, L Casserly, I Muldoon (capt. ) (Nick McCarthy, 70 ), L Scahill, B McClearn, D Nolan, J Stephens (B McGovern, 65 ), C Muldoon, B McGovern (B Wilkinson, 40 )
Old Belvedere: Felix Jones; Dave Mongan, Marcus McAllister (Eamonn Fitzgerald, 40 ), Eoin O’Malley, Kevin Barden, Kieran Hurrell, Ruairi Cushion, Leo Auva’a, Jason Risdon, Richie Leyden (Capt. ) (Simon Breen, 40 ), Paul Spivey, David White, Jamie Hagan (Marcin Wilczuk, 20 ), Paddy Hogan, Dan Wyeth.
Referee: Colin Stanley (Ulster ).
