Revitalised Galwegians snatch the spoils with late show

Galwegians 16  

Nenagh Ormond 14

IF a week is a long time in politics, it can sometimes feel like an eternity in sport. Within the space of six days, Galwegians, who had been on a winless run of ten games, have suddenly won two games on the bounce to haul themselves off the bottom of the table. And they did it the hard way, leaving it to the very last play of the game before overcoming third-placed Nenagh under lights at Crowley Park on Friday night.

Having seen off fellow strugglers Greystones the previous weekend, the Blues came into this game with a pep in their step. However they were without their regular midfield partnership of Brian Murphy and Dave Clarke, and they almost got off to a disastrous start in the opening seconds when Nenagh winger Nicky Irwin latched onto a kick and chase, and seemed certain to score but for a last-gasp ankle tap from full-back Hugh Lane. However the visitors did take the lead in the second minute with a penalty from their prolific full-back Clayton Stewart.

Despite playing into a stiff breeze on a bitterly cold evening, Wegians were giving as good as they got against a side who put over 50 points on them in November in the corresponding away fixture. They were competing well at the breakdown where referee John Carvill was regularly pinging the visitors, and in the 12th minute they drew level when out-half Morgan Codyre split the posts with a well-struck penalty from near the 22m line.

Nenagh hit the front again at the end of the first quarter, when winger Irwin finished off a sustained period of pressure to dot down in the right corner, although there was more than a hint of obstruction in the build-up. Stewart was off target with the difficult conversion, although he landed a second penalty minutes later to stretch his side’s lead to 11-3.

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