The Front Row Union Sport - AIL 1B: Dungannon 21 Galwegians 15

AIL 1B: Dungannon 21 Galwegians 15

Feb 6, 2011

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A last minute try by Chris Cochrane saw Dungannon home in this AIL 1B fixture against Galwegians at a damp Stevenson Park on Saturday afternoon with the home side winning by 21 – 15.

This was a hard won game for the home side with the conditions making it difficult for both sides to play an expansive game. The visitors were first off the mark with their No. 8 Dermot Murphy crossing for the opening score. The conversion was missed leaving the score 0 – 5.

Dungannon worked hard to get in the game and after a series of driving runs from Dungannon’s Conor Gaston and Ali Birch the home side inched ahead thanks to a couple of penalties from Michael Lawton pushing the score to 6 – 5.

With both side struggling to find continuity in the wet conditions the Stevenson’s Park outfit managed to work another chance close to the end of the first half and Lawton slotted over his third penalty to take the half time score to 9 – 5.

Galwegians hit back at the start of the second half, were after a period of pressure in the Dungannon 22, out half, Tadhg Leader, slotted over a penalty bringing the visitors to within a point with the score reading 9 – 8.

The visitors continued to apply pressure but a scintillating break from Dungannon’s scrum half Rowan Halsall turned the game in the Ulster sides favour. Breaking from just outside his own 22 Halsall outstripped the defence to score in the right corner much to the delight of his team mates. The conversion was missed but Dungannon looked set to close out the game with the score at Dungannon 14 Glawegians 8.

Unfortunately for the home side, an infringement at a ruck saw Ryan Caldwell yellow carded with just over ten minutes to go and the visitors took advantage of their extra man to drive over the line for a score through prop Ronan Loughney. Leader was successful with the conversion and the visitors were back in front with the score now at 14 – 15.

The impressive Caldwell returned to the pitch with minutes to go and fully restored to their full contingent Dungannon made one last attempt to snatch the game. A cross field kick from the experienced Kieran Campbell struck the shins of Chris Cochrane and as the Galwegians players stopped, waiting for a knock on to be awarded, the Dungannon winger had the composure to scoop up the ball and fall over the line for the winning try.

Lawton added the extras taking the final score to Dungannon 21 Galwegians 15.

Dungannon: Glen Sinnamon, Adam Duhig, Mark Farquhar, Michael Rainey, Ryan Caldwell, Thomas Anderson, Ali Birch, Callum Threlfall, Rowan Halsall, Kieran Campbell, Chris Cochrane, Glen Telford, Paul Magee, Michael Lawton, Conor Gaston, Chris Knipe, Ben Howard, Stuart McKenzie, Michael Kirkwood, Stuart Lester.

Galwegians: Ja Naughton, Dermot Murphy, Jamie Stephens, Ger Fahy, Conor Muldoon, Mark Rouse, Dave Nolan, Brian McClearn, Liam Sachill, Ivan Muldoon, Dave O’Harah, Eoin McKeon, Ronan Loughney, Barry Lee, Ronan Dillon, Tadgh Leader, Ross Shaughnessy, Liam Bibo, Brian Murphy, Dave Clarke, Colin Conroy, John Cleary, Rob O’Beirn, Gary O’Brien.

Pictures not great due to conditions!