Galwegians suffered a disappointing 12-35 defeat at home to UL Bohemians in their AIL Division 2A contest on Saturday.
Both sides entered the contest with only one win from five and were looking to move clear of the bottom of the table, but despite a bright start from Galwegians, the visitors took control in the second half to seal a comfortable victory.
They also made the brighter start with an early penalty from outhalf Cian Casey, but Galwegians began to look threatening with ball in hand. When Bohs’ prop Considine was sin-binned near the end of the first quarter, they took full advantage.
From a lineout ball, Wegians sent the ball wide, and winger Paul Sharkey, a late replacement for Darragh Kennedy, finished on the right for a well-taken try. Jacob Johnson’s conversion turned a 3-0 deficit into a 7-3 lead.
Although the visitors dominated possession, the Blues defended admirably, but a Casey penalty closed the gap.
However, Wegians responded with a well-worked try. From an attack down the short side, Johnson, ignoring an overlap, cut back inside to score near the left corner. Although unlucky with the conversion, Galwegians led 12-6.
That is how it stayed until half-time, but the Blues were under the pump with second row Oisin McNicholas sin-binned just before the break.
The second half was a different story. Bohs came out of the blocks and grabbed the lead within three minutes, sending the ball right with Zak O’Loughlin crossing in the corner. Casey judged the wind to perfection with the conversion, putting the visitors in front by 12-13 for the first time.
Although back to 15, the home side were caught napping when they failed to clear their lines a few minutes later, and fullback Darragh O’Gorman ran down the right wing, evading several tackles with ease to score an opportunistic try. Casey landed another excellent conversion, extending the gap to eight points.
Galwegians finally showed some urgency as the game entered the final quarter, but their line-out malfunctioned when in promising positions.
Frustrated, Galwegians forced the game, and the result was a loose pass that was intercepted near halfway. Debutant winger James Lowry hauled down his man near the line, but the damage was done as moments later back row Rowen Slater crossed under the sticks, Casey adding the extras to make the game safe.
The visitors then rubbed salt into the wounds with a stoppage-time bonus-point try from captain O’Gorman, capping a miserable second half for the Blues.
Galwegians have much to ponder as they prepare for the third block of games, which recommence away to Queen’s University on November 28.
