Wegians let another winning hand slip in see-saw struggle

Galwegians 34   

Ballymena 35

FOR the third game running, it was a cruel sense of déjà vu for Galwegians as they rack up more bonus points courtesy of their attacking flair, yet are unable to defend a lead as they were yet again reeled in by the opposition in the second half.

However this loss will have hurt more than their recent reverses against Old Wesley and Ballinahinch, as they had done the hard work to regain the lead twice in the final quarter, only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a pulsating contest at Crowley Park on Saturday.

The Blues continued their recent good habit of starting impressively and they made a dream start when lock Marc Kelly squeezed over in the corner after their opening attack for the game’s first try. Out-half Mitch Lam was wide with the difficult conversion into a swirling breeze, and likewise with a penalty attempt from distance in the seventh minute.

However Galwegians were looking very impressive early on and a surging 10th minute break by full-back Aidan Moynihan was finished off by the in-form Cormac Brennan for try number two. This time Lam converted to put his side 12-0 to the good.

The visitors soon settled into the game and were using their forward bulk to create a platform. Out-half Richie McMaster opened their account on 16 minutes just moments after missing an earlier effort. And at the start of the second quarter, Ballymena hauled themselves right back into the game with their first try.

Referee Eddie Hogan-O’Connell was starting to regularly penalise the Blues, and when McMaster launched a huge touch-finder to the corner, a well-drilled lineout maul saw the visitors seemingly over the line and about to touch down. Despite this Hogan O’Connell bizarrely opted to award a penalty try. The easier conversion for McMaster was ultimately to prove hugely significant to the outcome.

Wegians responded well and within four minutes they had restored a nine-point advantage, when an excellent backline move went through several hands before captain and centre Brian Murphy took a reverse pass to scorch over under the posts, with Lam adding the extras to make it 19-10. Still the penalties continued to mount against the hosts, with the tally reaching 12-2 in favour of the visitors at one point, and hooker John Moloney was binned on 37 minutes.

The Blues seemed to land a significant blow when they repelled an onslaught on their line before half-time. However the good work was undone almost straight from the restart. When flanker Ronan Moore was penalised after making an initial strong surge, the Ulstermen went for the corner again, and this time hooker Adam McBurney was mauled over for their second try. McMaster landed the conversion, and moments later he added on another penalty to put his side in front for the first time in the match at 20-19.

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