Galwegians’ failure to take chances proves expensive

Young Munster 29           

Galwegians 13

GALWEGIANS’ poor away form continued as they suffered a demoralising heavy defeat away to high-riding Young Munster at a rain-sodden Tom Clifford Park in Limerick on Saturday.

This was a re-arranged fixture which had been postponed from early December, and it afforded the hosts a chance to gain revenge for their narrow defeat at Crowley Park in early January. And they duly did so as they blew away their visitors with a dominant second-half performance.

An incessant overnight downpour made for hazardous conditions, but despite the very soft ground, former Connacht scrum-half and referee Frank Murphy passed the pitch playable in the morning.

Wegians were missing four of their starting pack from the previous week’s close encounter with leaders UCD, although they were boosted by the return of one of their most talented homegrown products in no. 8 and Connacht squad member Sean O’Brien.

The home team struck first blood as early as the sixth minute. When a loose clearance kick was intercepted by the Munsters midfield, Wegians were expecting an advantage to be called back by referee Murphy. However none was forthcoming, and the hosts took full advantage to attack up the left, with out-half Gearoid Lyons crossing near the left corner to give his side an early 5-0 lead.

The Blues responded well to the setback as they set about getting back into the game. Some early promise was rewarded on 15 minutes when a superb lineout maul saw them march the home pack fully 30 metres backwards, before O’Brien eventually muscled his way over from close-range to level the game.

However despite the atrocious conditions, out-half Aidan Moynihan missed the fairly straightforward conversion which would have given his side a morale-boosting lead. Wegians went on to dominate the remainder of the half, and for long periods they were in the ascendancy and spending more time in opposition territory.

But, crucially, they were unable to capitalise on this. A key turning point of the game came on the half-hour mark when the Blues had an attacking lineout near the 5m line. With a secure set-piece and hooker Jack Dinneen regularly finding his target, Wegians looked set to create another maul score and a second try from a lineout.

Despite a clean take, some excellent defence from Young Munster saw them sack the lineout and turn over possession. A huge clearance kick created an attacking platform, and in what was only their second attack of the game, they showed a ruthless streak when they crossed the whitewash for a second time, with Adam Kennedy claiming the touchdown. Lyons converted this time for what was arguably a 14-point swing within the space of a minute.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.