Men’s Firsts 28 – Enniscorthy 14

Galwegians made it twelve straight bonus-point wins on the bounce, but they were made work all the way before finally securing the crucial extra point against a hugely resilient Enniscorthy side in Alcast Park on Saturday.

Despite torrential flooding across County Wexford in the days leading up to the fixture, the hosts had their main pitch in immaculate condition and it provided the stage for a fiercely competitive Division 2B encounter between top and bottom.

The Blues got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring inside three minutes. A penalty kicked to the corner set the platform and, from the resulting lineout, hooker Ryan Smith powered over from a trademark rolling maul near the right corner. Out-half Tiarnan Neville added an excellent conversion to give Galwegians a 7–0 lead.

Things improved further for the visitors at the end of the first quarter. After soaking up some early Enniscorthy pressure, Galwegians went on the attack and, following multiple phases inside the home 22, the ball was spun wide. Not for the first time this season, lock Dave Walsh appeared in the right place in the backline to take the pass and stroll under the posts for try number two, leaving Neville with a simple conversion to make it 14–0.

Any thoughts of a runaway scoreline were quickly dismissed as Enniscorthy belied their league position with a tremendous, gritty display. They struck back on the half-hour mark with a superbly worked try. Rhyan Whelan took an excellent line before finding his opposite wing Kevin O’Connor, who cut through to score near the posts. Ben Kidd converted to reduce the deficit to seven.

Just when the hosts looked set to head into the break right in the contest, Galwegians displayed their clinical edge once again when they landed a crucial third score. Once again it came from a lineout maul, with captain Dylan Keane getting the final touch to score near the left corner. Neville maintained his imperious form from the tee, converting from near the touchline to restore a 14-point advantage at half-time.

The second half saw Enniscorthy come flying out of the blocks, laying siege to the Galwegians line. However, a superb lineout steal from Walsh denied them early and allowed the Blues to clear their lines. Both sides defended manfully, with much of the contest played between the two 22-metre lines, and for long periods it was hard to distinguish league leaders from bottom side.

Galwegians had to dig deep through the third quarter as Enniscorthy’s direct running punched holes, but as the game entered the final quarter the visitors began to sense an opportunity to clinch the all-important bonus point. They thought they had it with seven minutes remaining, only for Jack Winters to be held up over the line.

Another penalty soon after, however, led to a 5-metre lineout. Once again Walsh claimed it and, although the initial drive was halted, two phases later the ball was worked wide to the Dubliner who spotted a narrow gap and dived over near the left corner for his second try of the afternoon. Neville once again converted to complete a perfect four from four with the boot and secure the bonus point.

Enniscorthy had the final say deep into stoppage time when winger Whelan finished well in the corner following a skip pass, Kidd again adding the conversion, but it was little more than consolation.

The win keeps the Galwegians juggernaut rolling, maintaining a 15-point lead at the top of Energia Division 2B. Attention now turns to a crunch clash this Saturday as UL Bohemians visit Crowley Park looking to halt the Blues’ momentum and reel them back into the chasing pack. It promises to be a cracker, followed by the AIL Women’s fixture between the same two clubs.