Galwegians stunned current All Ireland League champions Lansdowne with a five-try bonus point 41-20 victory at Crowley Park on Saturday.
After two losses on the road, Galwegians produced a superb performance to propel them closer to mid table in division 1A and instill great confidence in their return to the top flight of the Ulster Bank League.
The home side took an early lead with a third minute penalty by outhalf Aidan Moynihan before the visitors replied with a three-pointer from Scott Deasy. While the Lansdowne outhalf missed a second on 15 minutes, Moynihan restored the three-point advantage after good work by centre Brian Murphy.
However Lansdowne opened their try tally first, capitalising on a mistake from Wegians when failing to make touch from a penalty. The champions' backs did all the damage on the counter, and wing Mark Roche took advantage of the overlap to cross in the right corner.
Galwegians stuck to their task and struck for their first try just before the break. Prop Jason East initiated the move with a powerful surge, and centre Brian Murphy finished in the left-hand corner, with Moynihan's perfect conversion giving his side a 13-8 lead at half time.
Yet once again Lansdowne replied immediately when two minutes after the interval flanker Joe O'Brien charged down a box kick from Wegian replacement scrumhalf Caolin Blade, grabbing the visitors' second try, which Deasy converted.
Within five minutes, however, the home side was back in front when Moynihan tapped over a penalty, giving them the momentum. And with the Wegians pack providing a solid platform to their backs, it was the home side which continued to dominate, boosted by replacement Darragh Leader in his first game of the season after injury.
Winger Ed O’Keeffe demonstrated his pace to race through for a 51st minute try in the corner, and he bagged a second seven minutes later, finishing a sweet back line move to put Galwegians 11 points clear. Following another bout of pressure, Leader extended the lead with a drop-goal after 65 minutes before the home side grabbed the bonus point fourth try in the 73rd minute. Leader was instrumental in the build up, wrong-footing the Lansdowne cover before Blade fed the supporting Ciaran Gaffney, who dived over in the right-corner.
While Lansdowne's Tom Farrell scored a try from the restart, Wegians finished in style with flanker Josh Pim diving over. Moynihan’s added the extras for a 21-point winning margin.
Galwegians XV: C Gaffney; A Leavy, C Brennan, B Murphy, E O’Keeffe; A Moynihan, B Lee; J Naughton (cpt ), J Anaya, J East, M Cummins; P Finn, J Pim, M Kelly. Replacements: D Leader, C Blade, J Dineen, M Towey, C Kyne.
