Firsts 16 – Shannon 28

Galwegians were very unlucky not to get at least a bonus point, against AIL champs Shannon.  A last minute try from Fionn McLoughlin denied them a deserved bonus point as they fought Shannon all the way. The difference was that Shannon took their chances, that bit of experience told in the end.

In the first-half Wegians played very well against the strong wind, their try line was never really under threat, and confined Shannon to 9 points, two penalties and a drop-goal from ex-Wegian out-half David Delaney was all Mick Galwey’s team had to show for it. Wegians had chances to score, but full-back Patrick Noble missed three kickable penalty attempts late on, including one in front of the posts. But on the stroke of half-time John Cleary struck one over for a 9-3 half-time deficit.

Wegians were looking good at this stage, their pack competing very well with Peter Bracken (prop) and Scott Donald (no. 8) outstanding.

But Shannon upped it in the second-half. Delaney dropped another goal for a 12-3 lead, but on 53 minutes Wegians got right back into it when Scott Donald charged down Delaney’s kick and got the touchdown in the corner for a vital try, expertly converted form the touchline by Cleary. But crucially Shannon always responded by getting anm immediate score, and within three minutes they scored a try of their own when no. 8 David Quinlan rounded off some strong pressure by scoring in the corner. Delaney and Cleary then traded penalties, and when Cleary reduced the gap to four points coming up to full time, Wegians looked good value for at least a bonus point. But then Delaney added another penalty right from the re-start to restore a seven point margin, and when Tom Allen’s subsequent restart for Wegians went dead, Shannon got a scrum on half-way, and Wegians substitute winger Stuart Meagher badly fumbled Delaney’s chip through, it gifted ex-Wegian Fionn McLoughlin the softest of tries to leave Wegians with nothing to show for a hard day’s work.