Towards a century at the heart of Connacht rugby

Men’s Firsts 8 – Dungannon 10

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Match Result

  • Result: Galwegians Firsts 8 - Dungannon 10
  • Venue: Crowley Park on Sat Jan 25th 2025
  • Competition: AIL Division 2B

Match Report

Galwegians mid-season revival and 4-game winning streak was brought to a halt with another narrow and disappointing home defeat, this time against old rivals and second-placed Dungannon.

Played in terrible conditions with an icy breeze and frequent rain and hail showers, the visitors played with a first-half wind advantage and came out of the traps. They took the lead on 5 minutes after an early penalty was kicked to the corner, with prop James Gamble finishing off a series of pick and jams for the opening score and the reliable Ben McCaughey adding the conversion.

The visitors had another opportunity but strong pressure from the Blue defence kept their line intact. ‘Gannon would soon lose the services of their abrasive lock David Leyburn with a nose injury, and gradually Wegians began to assert themselves. They would go on to utterly dominate the second quarter, displaying a lot of craft and guile by keeping possession for lengthy periods. They were getting the decisions at breakdown especially, but they were unfortunately unable to convert their opportunities when in the red zone. Handling was very difficult with the ball a proverbial bar of soap, but they also encountered a dogged Dungannon defence who were more resilient than their corresponding November fixture when they shipped four tries to the Blues.

A 7-point deficit at half-time would have seemed a good target outcome at kick-off given the conditions, however Wegians would have felt aggrieved not to have at least been on level terms at the break. They started the second-half with intent and an early penalty was knocked over from the 22 by Stevie Mannion to put some points on the board. Ten minutes later and things got better when the Blues hit the front. It came from an excellent burst from inside his half by Jack Winters who found Mannion on his shoulder.  The centre had a lot of work to do but dismissed two tackles to dive over for a superb try in the left-hand corner. The Ballinasloe native was unlucky when his conversion attempt drifted just wide.

Things looked good for Wegians at this point who were dominating with the wind at their backs, but unfortunately this would be as good as it got and Dungannon refused to read the script. Their lead lasted barely three minutes, as an excellent break-out from his 22 by ‘Gannon’s Canadian international out-half Peter Nelson brought play up to the 22. Wegians were pinned for holding on under the posts, so McCaughey took his chance and bagged the three points on offer to nudge his side 10-8 ahead with the game entering the final quarter.

Wegians still had plenty opportunities to regain the lead. The normally reliable Mannion tried his luck with a penalty on 64 minutes which agonisingly drifted inches wide. With conditions not helping, they were guilty of misplaced passes and kicked the ball dead on more than one occasion, which gave the visitors some much-needed respite. The game was finely balanced but it was ‘Gannon who wretched control in the final few minutes, with captain James McMahon and Nelson showing all their experience and cuteness to run down the clock. Two quick penalties saw them bring play up to the Wegians line, but they were unable to convert as Wegians held out.

With the weather deteriorating further, the game became a stop-start affair, and unfortunately the clock just ran out as the referee blew full-time on 84 minutes. So for a second time this season it was the Northerners who edged out the Blues by a very narrow margin. Wegians may rue their two defeats to ‘Gannon come the end of the season. However although they slip back from fifth place to sixth, the play-offs remain very much in contention if they can get back to winning ways against UL Bohs in Limerick on Saturday Feb. 8th.

Players

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

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