U17B 27 – Ballinrobe 29

Galwegians U17Bs were awarded the points in this league match after agreeing to allow the home team to play a couple of unregistered players as they were short on numbers.

What ensued was a really entertaining match as the play swung from one end of the field to another on a beautiful day in Ballinrobe. The home side had all the early pressure but some tremendous defending from fullback Des Costelloe, wing Cormac Rowe kept Robe at bay.

The Wegians front five, with hooker Stephen Carroll and prop Eoghan Bermingham to the fore, started to get on top of their opponents and ease the early pressure. However a mistake in mid-field led to a break-away try for Robe to give them a 7-0 lead.

The packs dominance eventually led to the ref calling for uncontested scrums which brought the home team back into the match.

Wegians started sweeping the ball wide and centre Conor Healy started punching big holes in midfield which wing Rory Millar used to create havoc down the touchlines, however the final pass just wouldn't go hand.

The penalty count was growing against the Sky Blues and from one of these penalties Robe got their second in the corner, 12-0.

The pack, being led superbly by No.8 Niall Hanly, kept bashing away with scrumhalf Ian Heffernan calmly directing affairs and eventually won a penalty right on half-time which was converted by out-half Harry Smith to leave the score at 12-3.

The whole Wegian backline was substituted at half-time to ensure everyone got reasonable gametime. Aaron Joyce came on in the pack, who with the extra fresh legs started the second half on top.

With new half-backs Cormac Furey and Pearse McCrann making good use of the boot to keep the pack on the front foot, Wegians eventually powered over the line with prop Joe Ugbo getting vital touchdown, centre Peter Killeen converted to get Wegians to within 2 points, 12-10.

Wegians then went to sleep for about 5 minutes and allowed the big runners from the Ballinrobe get up to speed and they ran in 3 quick, long-distance tries to put them 29-10 up and suddenly looking comfortable.

But the Wegians pack, with flankers Cathal Reidy and Ronan Kelly rampaging, wrestled control back and Hanley finished off a great rolling maul to get the Sky Blues back into the game at 29-15.

The Blues were flying now, although they had lost wing Rian Colgan to an ankle injury, and an lovely sidestep from Peadar O'Beirn started the move that finished with centre Kevin McDonnell releasing 2nd row Eoin Feehan to power over under the posts which Killeen converted to put Wegians within 7 points with 5 minutes left, 29-22.

Wegians fullback Finn Gormely received the kickoff and fed 2nd row Ciaran O'Connor who powered down the field.
The ball was recycled to eventually release centre Adam Mooney who beat 3 men to score in the corner to get Wegians to get within 2.

With the clock running down Wegians went storming up field looking for the killer score, but Killeen was injured which halted the progress of the move, and time eventually ran out as the Sky Blues pounded the line but just could not get the killer score.