Seconds 34 – Loughrea 3

Galwegians condemned Loughrea to automatic relegation with a comprehensive victory in Crowley Park on Sunday.

Wegians had the advantage of a cold, sharp wind that was blowing diagonally across the well worn. heavy pitch in the first half. However a constant stream of penalties prevented them from taking too much advantage of the elements with the visitors getting on the scoreboard first. 3 mins 0-3.

It took the Sky Blues 9 minutes to get back on level terms. 12 mins 3-3.

Loughrea were unable to take advantage of the sinbinning of Wegians flanker Eoin Tarmey, who was the sacrificial victim for a high penalty count against the home side.

The pressure of the relegation battle led to a pretty conservative game plan from both sides and neither defense were too unduly troubled for the rest of the half. Halftime 3-3.

Wegians upped the tempo in the second half, keeping the ball in hand as they were facing into the elements. They crossed the whitewash for the first time 4 minutes into the half when Paul Griffin crashed over from a rolling maul. 44 mins 8-3

The game still hung in the balance but Wegians were applying more and more pressure. Loughrea lost a man to the sin bin on 53 minutes but their resolute defense kept them in the match.

The game was blown open in the last quarter when Wegians scored their second try of the match. The forwards won a superb turnover at a ruck and the backs completed a sweeping move to the opposite side of the field with winger Dave Quill stretching to dot down in the corner.

Wegians increased the tempo and outhalf Ross Shaughnessy went on one of his trademark mazy runs to score a craicing try under the posts. 74 mins 20 - 3.

The nippy outhalf repeated the trick a couple of minutes later as Wegians garnered what could be a valuable bonus point. 76 mins 27-3.

Wegians finished the game with a smartly taken quick tap from prop Martin Fox who fended off a number of would be tacklers before crashing over under the posts. Fulltime Galwegians 2nds 34 Loughrea 3