This weekend sees a return to All Ireland League action for Connacht clubs, with all but one away from home.
In division one Galwegians, fresh from their AIB Cup victory over division two outfit Highfield, face Cork Constitution in Temple Hill on Saturday. Buccaneers are away to Dungannon, while in division three Connemara are also away to Banbridge. Corinthians is the only Connacht side to enjoy home advantage, entertaining Sunday’s Well.
Galwegians’ record over Cork is far from impressive - having won only once in the last eight years - a 6 -10 victory, also away from home, in 2004.
Although they have pushed the Cork side hard in the last three seasons - including two losers’ bonus points - they have struggled to nab the necessary wins despite often playing the better rugby.
However this season Galwegians are displaying a more disciplined approach to winning, and with three victories from their four matches, they are currently occupying fifth place in the league table.
Now could be a good time to post a valuable away win over a Cork side that currently finds itself in unfamiliar territory - outside the top four which is at present dominated by Leinster clubs.
After posting two opening victories - a massive 43-19 over Terenure and a hard-fought 7-9 over UCD, Cork have subsequently lost to Young Munster and St Mary’s. More recently they gained some revenge over the Dubliners with a 15 - 13 win in the AIB Cup second round.
This will be a tough assignment for Galwegians, while Cork Con could well boast a handful of Munster players in their ranks, including outhalf Jeremy Manning who featured against the All Blacks.
Galwegians will have also benefitted from a run-out last week in the AIB Cup when they were comfortable winners of division two side Highfield by 27 - 17. That victory now sets them up with a real chance of progressing further as they face division three outfit Nenagh Ormond in round three.
Last Saturday Galwegians were the dominant oufit from the start, and although Highfield, got in for two late tries, the result was never in doubt. Extra spice, however, was added by the presence of three former Galwegians, coach Paul Young who moved to south this season, and players Nick Wakely, who was a key figure for the Cork side, and Aaran McGettigan. In addition the match provided a first senior outing for Cork hurler Diarmuid O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan, playing on the wing, did not see a lot of action, but he helped his side to an early penalty with his first touch of the ball.
Galwegians opened up a 10 - 0 lead as they reaped the benefit of both wind advantage and their early pressure. After Rob O’B yrne potted a penalty, centre Chris Brigl added a try and conversion, set up after Chris Rodgers burst through a gap. Wakely and Galwegian outhalf Matt Brandon exchanged penalties for a 13 - 3 half-time score.
Highfield, as expected, upped the tempo in the second half, but they struggled to add to their score. Wakely missed two penalties, while Jamie Stephens and Connacht’s Andrew Browne stopped Highfield’s best efforts from former Connacht flanker Brendan O’Connor and fullback Peter Martin.
Instead Brandon put Galwegians further ahead when he collected his own chip over the try line and added the conversion for a 20-3 lead. Highfield did go on to score two consolation tries in the closing stages, but it was too late to alter Galwegians progress into the third round.
