It does not get any easier for Galwegians when they host Lansdowne at Crowley Park on Saturday (2.30pm ) in the Ulster Bank League.
Lansdowne arrive in the west sitting comfortably in second place in division 1A - having brushed aside both Terenure and Young Munster, and drawn away to Cork Con.
Galwegians, having struggled in the past two weeks, will need to be at their best at home, after suffering a second disappointing and frustrating defeat away to a Dublin side, going down to Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road on Saturday by 24-12.
Although the hosts took the lead on 12 minutes courtesy of a penalty from Shane McDonald, Wegians deservedly took the lead when winger Ed O’Keeffe crossed for a well-taken try, converted by outhalf Aidan Moynihan.
Wegians should have added to their lead, but some scoring chances went abegging, while the hosts added a Steve Crosby penalty to reduce arrears. And just before the break Wegians conceded a crucial try in the last play.
Having managed to turn over a home scrum, Wegians failed to adequately clear their lines which allowed Belvedere to take a quick line out, and from an overlap centre John Kennedy crossed near the corner for a sucker punch score.
Wegians dominated the third quarter, but once again struggled to make their possession and dominance count. Finally O’Keeffe crossed the whitewash for his second try, but Moynihan was wide with the conversion, leaving them in front by the narrowest of margins.
However Galwegians imploded in the final quarter. Crosby added another penalty to put the hosts back in front for the third time at 14-12, and thereafter it was downhill for Wegians. When influential Connacht lock Aly Muldowney was sin binned, Old Belvedere capitalised with Crosby grabbing the game’s decisive try, which he converted for a nine-point lead.
When fellow Wegian lock Marty Cummins found himself binned, Beldevere made the game safe with a late penalty from McDonald to leave the final score 24-12.
Galwegians XV: Gavin Tynan; Ed O’Keeffe, Cormac Brennan, Brian Murphy, Adam Leavy; Aidan Moynihan, Caolin Blade (sub Barry Lee ); Ja Naughton (capt ), Juan Anaya, Doran McHugh, Marty Cummins; Aly Muldowney, Paddy Finn, Marc Kelly, Sean O’Brien. Replacements: Jason East, Jack Dineen, Josh Pimm, Dave Clarke, Barry Lee.
