Women 44 – Portlaoise 5

Galwegians finished their short league season on a high on Sunday with a comprehensive bonus point win over division one debutantes Portlaoise, with celebratory cries heard all over the county that night.

The home side started well – the reliable Beth Mallard crossing over yet again to put Galwegians 5-0 up after 7 minutes. Her Portlaoise counterpart , Connacht’s Tanala Kehoe, crossed over soon after however, the latest absence through injury of Laura Feely after twenty minutes playing its part in this particular concession. However, with only moments left in the first forty the imperious Emma Clery, at the pivotal role of full back, had other things to say and sent a wonderful kick forward deep into the opposition half. Centre Lisa McDongh, paying particular attention to the message in hand being delivered, blocked the return and subsequently touched down on the stroke of half time to send Galwegians 10-5 in front.

The absence of focus and allegiance of players in the first half had not gone unnoticed and a clear improvement was needed – and thankfully found, with Galwegians ratcheting up six more tries through Lisa McDonagh (2); Amanda Durcan (2); Ruth O’Reilly (2). Claire Raftery, commonly confused with ‘Raf’, made two conversions to bring the final score to 44-5.

Prominent throughout the game were Michelle Fitzpatrick, Marian Doolan and Jacinta Byrne who not only celebrated her first cap but also a magnificent try-saving tackle early on. Substitutes Fiona Glynn, Tracey Gannon, and Ann Marie Keane were outstanding, the latter’s performance, however, somewhat blighted by a second-half boob which saw her penalised for holding on late on.

However, this was a day for the forwards to shine to-and-fro up the park. Numbers 1 to 8 were defensively brilliant and dynamic in attack; up the field they did run, menacing the opposition with carefully worked breaks and support running. In short...the forwards have the "ball"...that's what they call "rugby".