Galwegians face a must-win AIB League fixture at home on Saturday if they are to maintain their push for a top eight position.
Having suffered a reverse to the current champions Cork Constitution, Galwegians host another Cork side, Dolphin, at Crowley Park (2.30pm ).
Galwegians’ loss to Con last Saturday saw them slip from fifth to ninth place - only their second loss in the league this season, while Dolphin produced their second win - an outstanding 38 - 3 victory over St Mary’s at Musgrave Park.
Although two places behind Wegians in the table, they are just one point in arrears, and this game will be well contested. The Cork side finished fifth in the league last season, and boast a team of gritty Munster men who will make Galwegians work all the way. Barry Keeshan - a member of last year’s Irish Club International XV, pulls the strings at outhalf, and their ability to pick up bonus points - four in all - contrasts sharply with Galwegians single effort. Those bonus points came from two narrow losses to Old Belvedere 16 - 11 and Ballymena 22 - 16, and another two for tries scored in their 35 - 33 win over UL Bohs and St Mary’s 38 - 3.
Galwegians must make home advantage count in a bid to maintain their fine start to the season.
Last weekend’s disappointing 25 - 7 defeat away to league champions Cork Con in Temple Hill brought a four-game winning streak to an end.
The Blues have only once overcome Con in the All-Ireland League, which was at the same venue in 2004, but last weekend they never looked like emulating this as they played second fiddle for most of this contest. They had their chances to come away with something, but a succession of unforced errors and missed opportunities cost them dearly.
The Blues made a disastrous start when for the second consecutive season they conceded a try to Con in the first three minutes when some slack defending allowed back Richie Lane finish in the right-hand corner. Despite having the upper hand in the possession stakes, Wegians found it hard to gain a foothold, as a powerful Con pack, featuring Munster duo Timmy Ryan and Billy Holland, had them under pressure in the scrums.
Indeed backrow Holland, one of the heroes of Munster’s recent tilt at the All Blacks, made his mark when he crossed for a second try after 21 minutes, giving the home side a comfortable 12-0 cushion. The Blues had chances to open their account in the first half, but fullback Rob O’Beirne was wide with a couple of penalty attempts, ensuring the margin remained 12-0 at the break.
Wegians started well in the second half, and on 54 minutes they gave themselves real hope when centre Chris Brigl broke through to score a try, with O’Beirne landing the conversion to reduce arrears to 12-7. However rather than build on the momentum, it was the hosts who responded the better. Prompted by another of Munster’s All Black heroes, Jeremy Manning, who was pulling the strings, they soon regained their dominance.
Richie Lane added two penalties, and then Con wrapped things up just before full time when scrumhalf Duncan Williams showed clinical finishing to score his side’s third try, with Lane’s conversion completing the scoring.
Galwegians: R O'Beirne (C O’Beirne 70 ); B Lee, C Brigl, C Rodgers, J Cleary; M Brandon, K Campbell; B McGovern, A O’Sullivan, J Stephens (J Lyne HT ); L Scahill (B McClearn 70 ), M Swift, A Browne, I Muldoon (capt ), L Casserly.
