Men’s Firsts 31 – Buccaneers 14

Galwegians completed their Connacht senior league campaign by overcoming the challenge of Buccaneers at Crowley Park on Saturday.

Although playing against a largely stiff breeze for most of the first half, Wegians looked the sharper side despite being on the wrong side of the penalty count.

They opened the scoring in the 11th minute when promising young forward Jack Quinn finished off good work by the backs in the left-hand corner. Out-half Tiarnan Neville landed a superb conversion into the teeth of the breeze to make it 7-0.

Buccaneers had plenty territory but they met with a stiff wall of Galwegians defence, and the Blues doubled their lead at the end of the first quarter. Some excellent interchange between Neville and centre Faelan Stewart saw young scrum half Luke Casserly take a sweet inside line to score his first senior try, with Neville adding the extras.

Wegians would rack up the bonus point by the half-hour mark. First it was veteran lock Rob Holian who finished off good work by his dominant pack by crossing near the posts with Neville again converting for 21-0. Then on 30 minutes the impressive Oisin McKey finished strongly in the left corner, and at 26-0 it really looked done and dusted at this point.

To their credit Buccaneers refused to give up and they got their reward with a try before half time from centre Tom Shine which was converted by fullback Dylan Duffy.

In the second half, with both sides ringing the changes, the visitors stepped it up while the hosts probably took their foot off the gas somewhat.

A second try for Buccs through sub Luke Meecham on 48 minutes was converted by Duffy, and suddenly the game looked in the balance at 26-14.

However, Wegians knuckled down and soon regained the initiative, upping the ante to close out most of the game on the attack. A 65th minute try from new recruit, prop Luke Murtagh saw him two score his first senior try, and that was effectively that.

Wegians could easily have added to their tally towards the end, but there's no doubt that they deserved the win which sees them finished second in this year's League campaign.

Crucially this also earns them a place in the Connacht Senior Cup final on December 21st in the Dexcom