Men’s Firsts 34 – Sligo 36

For the second consecutive week Galwegians narrowly lost out in the Conacht Senior League campaign, when hosts Sligo mounted an extraordinary late comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in an epic see-saw contest.

Played in glorious autumn sunshine, the Blues were keen to make amends for their first gameround loss at home to Corinthians. They got off to the perfect start with a well-taken score by new recruit from Buccaneers, Stevie Mannion who started at out-half. Son of former international Noel, Mannion added the extras to put his side 7-0 up.

The hosts soon opened their account through a penalty from Euan Brown, and in the 15^th minute they took the lead for the first time. A well judged cross-field kick led to a try in corner for Will Whelan. Brown landed a big conversion from far out to nudge his side 10-7 in front.

In a sign of things to come, the lead would soon change hands. It came in the 25^th minute through an intercept try from scum-half Andrew Sherlock. Mannion converted and the Blues were 14-10 to the good. Wegians had to do a lot of  defending against the big home pack, and were holding their line admirably until it was eventually breached deep into an extraordinarily lengthy first-half injury time, with front-row Kuba Wontkowicz crossing for his side’s second try. Brown converted to give Sligo 17-14 half-time lead.

At the start of the second-half, the hosts were applying some early  pressure. However when they put a penalty out on the full, the Blues regrouped and a great drop goal from the impressive Mannion soon tied the game.

The Blues were under pressure again and with no. 8 Jack Quinn binned for persistent infringements, the hosts made it count when Matthew Earley finished off a 5 metre lineout for an unconverted try. However although the visitors were temporarily down to 13 men, the pendulum would swing yet again. The Wegians backline had been posing a threat all day, and as the game entered the final quarter, Blues centre Oisin McKey scored his second try in successive games  when he powered over, with Mannion’s conversion restoring the lead for Wegians  24-22.

Mannion was very unlucky with a long-range penalty attempt from inside his own half, but with ten minutes left of normal time he found his range to extend the lead to five points. Both sides went for it at the end searching for League glory. A great 50-22 from Sherlock set up an attacking position, and although the line-out was coughed up, territory soon paid off as substitute winger Eoghan Fahy crossed for a bonus fourth try with full-time almost up. Mannion converted and with a twelve point advantage, Wegians appeared home and hosed.

However Sligo had other ideas. They went back on the offensive. Sherlock seemed very unlucky to be binned for what appeared to be a legitimate steal, but credit Sligo who seized on the advantage and a fourth try soon followed for Darragh Feehily, with Brown’s conversion narrowing the gap to five points. Then in the final play, a succession of three penalties awarded against Wegians gave the host another chance to strike a decisive late below in injury-time, and Earley finished near the posts for the decisive fifth try. Brown made no mistake to seal victory and stun the visitors. Wegians now finish their Connacht Senior League campaign at Buccaneers this Friday evening 6^th September at 7.30pm in Athlone.