Firsts 21 – Terenure 32

Firsts in frustrating but entertaining six-try contest at Terenure

Galwegians suffered a disappointing and frustrating defeat away to Terenure in an entertaining six-try contest at Lakelands Park on Saturday.

The hosts took an early lead when Harry Moore scored an 11th minute try in the corner off a well-executed move, which was unconverted to give his side a 5-0 lead. However Galwegians then took control of the game, although never quite firing on all cylinders and struggling to secure their own possession to give them a proper platform. Nevertheless the pressure was beginning to tell and the inevitable penalties began to come their way.

Out-half Aidan Moynihan was in form with the boot, landing two penalties by the end of the first quarter to put the Blues in front. Then the hosts were reduced to fourteen men after Cathal Deans was binned after mistiming an aerial challenge, and before the break Moynihan added another three-pointer to give his side a deserved 9-5 lead. Both sides missed late penalty chances which meant the Blues held onto a four-point half-time advantage.

Despite now having their captain James O’Neill in the bin, the hosts had much the better of the second-half and this is where the game was won and lost. The penalty count was now starting to going against the Blues, and the influential second-row Sean O’Brien was soon binned for killing the ball from a lineout maul. Nure made the advantage count immediately, with Kevin O’Neill sniping around a ruck and popping a pass to Oisin Heffernan who cantered in untouched. This was converted by O’Neill’s brother Stephen for a 12-9 lead, who then added another penalty with 20 minutes left to stretch their lead to six.

Shortly after O’Brien returned to the fray, Wegians were again reduced to fourteen men when centre Brian Murphy was binned this time by referee Eddie Hogan-O’Connell. Once again the Blues were to pay the price, and the decisive score came on 64 minutes when a break by centre Harrison Brewer down the right allowed Eoin Joyce to finish smartly. O’Neill tagged on another conversion to now put considerable distance between the sides.

However credit to Wegians who weren’t done, and the hosts were once again down to fourteen men after sub Niall Lalor became their third player to see yellow. With ten minutes remaining the Blues forced a penalty try from a driving maul, with Moynihan converting to make it a one-score game at 22-16. Sensing their opportunity they set about pressing for another score, but agonisingly their efforts were undone almost immediately when Nure out-half James O’Donoghue picked off an intercept, sprinting 40m to score under the sticks. To rub salt into the wounds, this gave the hosts a bonus point.

Still Galwegians pressed, and with three minutes remaining Paddy Finn scored a great try out wide. The conversion would have made it a one-score game again, but it drifted wide. The Blues had to once again force the game, and a late Stephen O’Neill penalty by the hosts was the final nail in their coffin.

Thus Matt Brown’s charges went home empty-handed. However with a lot to learn and things to work on, they now know they have nothing to fear in Division 1a and have every chance of remaining competitive in the highest echelons of club rugby.