Galwegians followed up an opening season loss with a bonus point 31-14 victory at home to UCC on Saturday in their Ulster Bank All-Ireland League division 1B campaign.
Wegians overcame a poor start as the students raced into a 6-0 lead after only four minutes, and then added a try from left-wing Cillian Ansbro for an 11-0 lead. However the home side's senior players steadied the ship, and a try from Terenure recruit Matthew Byrne converted by outhalf Mitch Lam reduced the gap to 11-7.
Athough both Byrne and Jason East were replaced through injury, Wegians took a 12-11 half-time when centre Cormac Brennan sold a dummy to his opposite number and crossed on the right for a second try.
Wegians wasted no time in stretching their lead from a Lam block down, and following some patient backline play, hooker Jack Dinneen finished off, with Lam tapping over the extras to make it 19-11.
Although UCC reduced the arrears with a third penalty, the home side continued to dominate. Securing a fourth try and bonus point through debutant Carey, full-back Aidan Moynihan crossed in the right corner for a satisfying first home game under new coach Brian McClearn. They now travel to Cork with confidence to face Dolphin in Musgrave Park on Saturday.
Galwegians XV: A Moynihan; M Byrne, C Brennan, B Murphy (capt ), E O’Keeffe; M Lam, B Lee; J East, J Dinneen, C O’Donnell; E Tarmey, M Towey; P Hackett, J Pim, A Ryan.Subs: C Carey, J Moloney, R Moore, A McMahon, D Clarke.
