Towards a century at the heart of Connacht rugby

Men’s Firsts 24 – Malahide 18

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Match Result

  • Result: Galwegians Firsts 24 - Malahide 18
  • Venue: Estuary Road on Sat Jan 18th 2025
  • Competition: AIL Division 2B

Match Report

Galwegians made it four bonus wins on the bounce in AIL 2B with a hard fought but ultimately deserved win at Malahide at Estuary Road on Saturday. In a game played in benign bright conditions, Wegians took the game to their hosts and utterly dominated the opening 10 minutes. However a succession of errors, misplaced passes and knock-ons saw them spurn several scoring opportunities early doors.

In contrast the hosts were not so wasteful and they took the lead on 18 minutes in their first meaningful incursion into opposition territory.  Following a high tackle which led to a yellow card for Wegians centre Stevie Mannion, ‘Hide centre Dave O'Halloran knocked over a penalty in front of the posts. Discipline was costing the Blues as they were starting to get on the wrong side of the referee, and on 25 minutes things got worse when Malahide finished a well-worked line-out maul by rumbling over near the posts, with prop Sam McCoy claiming the touchdown. O'Halloran added the conversion and somewhat against the run of play ‘Hide were 10-0 to the good.

Wegians were still struggling to find their rhythm and with the penalties continuing to mount, Malahide made the most of their opportunities to set up territory. They came close on a couple of occasions to adding to their try tally, only for some solid Blues defence which kept their line intact, and the hosts had to settle for another penalty from O’Halloran to lead 13-0 at the break.

The first score of the second-half was always going to be crucial, and both sides tried to play an expansive game looking to prise an opening. The introduction of ex-Connacht captain and Wegians assistant coach Jarrad Butler on 50 minutes was a boost to the visitors, and the turning point of this contest came in the 53rd minute. A superb break through the middle from deep inside his own half by Mannion ruptured the home defence, and although he was hauled down just short of the line, it ledto a sin-binning for Hide’s outhalf Michael Hanley which would prove extremely costly. From the resulting penalty, Wegians opted for a scrum under the posts, and a solid set-piece saw a blind-side move, with out-half Ryan Roche feeding full-back Cian Brady who dotted down over the line. Mannion’s perfect conversion made it 13-7 and now it was game on.

The Blues hit a purple match to inflict huge damage on their 14-man opponents. Suddenly passes started to stick and by the time Hanley returned, the Blues added two more tries to take the lead for the first time. Try number two came five minutes later when following a multi-phase attack, this time Brady turned provider for outside centre Rob Deacy who finished strongly on the right. Mannion was off target with the conversion which left the hosts hanging on to a slender 13-12 lead, however this didn’t last long. When Oisin Halpin claimed an excellent lineout steal near halfway, it set up another attack with Roche again combining with Brady by providing a sublime offload to send the full-back over and complete his brace. This time Mannion found his range to put Wegians ahead 19-13 with 15 minutes remaining.

The game remained in the balance and credit the hosts who never lost belief and stopped trying to play rugby. However their hopes of a late comeback were effectively ended in the 75th minute when no. 8 John Shine was binned following an excellent Wegians lineout steal. Wegians worked their way upfield and a great attacking line by Deacy who made fully 40 metres created the opportunity for Halpin, who had the luxury of ignoring a two-man overlap to dive over on the left and claim the all-important bonus fourth try.

At 24-13 the game looked safe, however Wegians have made a habit of late drama in this campaign and there was still time for ‘Hide to score an injury-time try through winger Dan Hayes to set up a nervy finale. However this time the Blues were able to close it out in opposition territory to seal the double over their opponents following their seven-point victory in December in Crowley Park.

So remarkably, despite losing their first seven games, Wegians are now the in-form team in Division 2B and climb up to fifth place, just two points outside of the play-offs which are now very attainable. Next up for the Blues is a home tie against second-placed Dungannon at Crowley Park this Saturday 25th Jan. 2.30pm.

Players

Jack Winters (c), Eoin Ferry, Kobi Joyce, Gonzalo Alvarez, Rob Holian, Oisin Halpin, Dylan Keane, Liam Angermann; Andrew Sherlock, Ryan Roche; Oisin McKey, Steven Mannion, Rob Deacy, Finn Tracey, Cian Brady. Subs: Mick McColgan, Ryan Smith, Paddy Dolphin, Jarrad Butler, Cam Carruthers.

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