For the past couple of years Galwegians have been subscribers to the old sporting belief about winning home games and nicking whatever is possible on the road. Due to this conviction all Crowley Park tussles carry importance, and Saturday’s AIL tie with Dolphin was consequential.
And by the time the teams retired from the biting cold it was apparent that this defeat rankled with the locals. Dolphin’s dominance was utter, adding credence to the theory that packs decide who wins game. Here the beefy visitors pinned Wegians back at every opportunity following the concession of a third minute try.
Though it took Dolphin longer than anticipated to accumulate the points on the board, there was a sense of inevitabikitly about the outcome with only the margin of victory being the sole last quarter issue. Ultimately 15 separated the protagonists as Dolphin motored back down to the banks of the Lee charmed and contented. Galwegians were left to reflect on what might have been as the first quarter had offered nuggets of hope. Smooth backline moves were troubling the visitors, who failed to deal with a smashing set piece move in the third minute. Winger John Clery joined the line intelligently before making the required yards. Robert O’Beirne added the extras and it appeared that Wegians would settle in for a profitable afternoon.
Alas, it wasn’t to be as Dolphin seized the initiative. Fly half Barry Keeshan, playing behind a formidable forward unit, controlled the pace of the contest, nudging Dolphin into threatening positions. Wegians were receiving a stern lesson and it was from a clever floated Keeshan pass that Jeff Power accepted the invitation to reduce the deficit 26 minutes in. That score offered Dolphin a dollop of confidence, and conviction followed after the break when tries were crafted with remarkable frequency.
Scrum half Gary O’Keefe, showing a pleasing penchant for making breaks throughout, was rewarded shortly after the interval. O’Keefe scooped the ball at the base of a maul and ran unhindered over the line. Dolphin were in the groove as Wegians struggled to leave their own half.
Aware that the opposition was ragged Dolphin were now stocking up the points. Again Power demonstrated clinical finishing ability as the Cork outfit edged 17-7 ahead in the 52nd minute as Keeshan finally nailed a conversion.
Seconds later O’Keefe put more flesh on the lead when concluding another dynamic drive deep into enemy territory with an assured piece of play. With 54 on the clock Dolphin were well clear and performing with the cut and dash that’s needed at this level.
Another try was pinched on the hour mark as prop Davy Ryan bundled over stretching the advantage. Thereafter the benches were emptied and Wegians improved slightly as the rebels’ concentration wavered a touch. Sufficient damage had been inflicted so it scarcely mattered to them that a mini Wegians rally yielded a try.
It owed much to the skill and opportunism of replacement Cormac O’Beirne, who darted in under the posts affording Robert O’Beirne the simplest of conversions. Unfortunately it merely threw a drop of respectability on the scoreboard.
Galwegians: R O’Beirne; J Clery, C Brigl, K Rogers, B Murphy, M Brandon, T Ellard; J Lyne, C Muldoon, B McGovern, D Nolan, B McClearn, L Scahill, N McCarthy, L Casserly. Subs; B Draper for Ellard (50 mins ), A O’Sullivan for Nolan (55 mins ), C O’Beirne for Murphy (65 mins ).
Dolphin: J Power; R Kenneally, W De Bruin, K Lynch, I O’Donovan, B Keeshan, G O’Keefe; C Condon, T O’Callaghan, D Ryan, C Rowe, D Harty, G Finn, B O’Mahoney, R Allen. Subs: A O’Driscoll for O’Callaghan (55 mins ), A Long for O’Donovan (60 mins ), M Purcell for O’Keefe (65 mins ), H O’Flynn for Finn (65 mins ).
