AN IMPORTANT WIN

’Stones win in Galway as attention turns to Rainey clash

GALWAY COR. GREYSTONES RFC 12 23

GREYSTONES’ first XV got back to winning ways last Saturday with a morale boosting performance away to Galway Corinthians.

Two first-half tries set the foundation for what turned out to be a relatively routine victory for Kevin Lewis’s men who turn their focus now to their final match in the regular season at home next weekend when they host Wanderers ahead of the first of the promotion play-off matches on Easter Saturday.

When the sides met in Galway on the same weekend last season both were battling at the wrong end of Division 2A and a narrow defeat consigned Corinthians to relegation while Greystones were to follow their western rivals falling in the play-offs.

This season the clubs are at the opposite end of the table with ’Stones looking for a quick return to the higher division while Corinthians lie in the second from bottom relegation play-off position, one of five clubs separated by just two points anxiously heading into the final round of matches.

Greystones started this game intent on exorcising the memories of their second-half collapse away to Rainey two weeks earlier. From the very first play outhalf Killian Marmion side stepped the defence to break clear for a 50 meter solo run that brought him into the opposition 22 before play broke down showing a willingness to seek out a half gap that was to be a feature of his play all afternoon. Ryan O’Loughlin, returning to the centre after missing the trip to Magherafelt sparkled in the spring sunshine, making one try and finishing a second for a brilliant solo effort.

Andrew Kealy who chipped in with a total of 13 points from the boot opened the scoring with a penalty after just ten minutes of play following a sustained period of Greystones pressure that arguably could have brought even greater reward. That was to follow just five minutes later when the visitors open attacking rugby was rewarded when O’Loughlin took a neat inside pass from Marmion to split the Corinthians defence and race clear from his own ten Meter line. Andy Roberts, running a support line was on hand to take a simple pass for a run in under the posts.

Greystones continued to dominate territory and possession but were caught out by an opportunist break by the Corinthians ten, spotting two prop forwards in the defensive line he wrong footed Conor Pearse and evaded the grip of Joel Penders to break clear from just inside his own half sending right wing clear to touch down in the corner.

Playing against a strong first half wind forced Greystones to play with ball in hand and the tactic paid dividends. Andrew Lynch playing his first match in four months following a return from injury looked sharp and provided much needed pace on the right wing. The set piece, both scrum and line out looked to have benefited from some hard work on the training pitch in the fortnight since the trip to Rainey with the lineout looking a lot slicker where the presence of Dan Mannion made a big difference and the scrum standing strong despite the presence of Connacht Academy player of the year nominee, Mathew Burke facing them at tight head prop

The third try arrived just before half time through another great moment from O’Loughlin running a link up play with Kealy who came into the line at pace from full back and set O’Loughlin away from his position in the centre to run through the Corinthians defence winning the race to the line. Kealy added the easy conversion from in front of the posts.

The second half was about consolidating position and soaking up pressure from the hosts. Corinthians had more of the ball and territory but the Greystones defence stood strong to keep the attacks at bay. Andrew Kealy added two more penalties before the line was finally breached for a late consolation try to the visitors.

Greystones head coach, Kevin Lewis will have been pleased with the performance and with the return of Mannion, O’Loughlin and Lynch to the starting line up as they gear up for a huge home play-off semi final against Rainey on Easter Saturday. Ahead of that they host Wanderers in the final round of matches in the regular season looking for another good performance and, almost as important, a full squad of fit players heading into the play-offs.

Greystones: Andrew Kealy, Andrew Lynch, Con Callan, Ryan O’Loughlin, Josh Glynn, Killian Marmion, Andrew Roberts, Robin O’Sullivan, Alan Dempsey, Cormac O’Donoghue, Oisin Lennon, Dan Mannion, Conor Pearse, Joel Penders, Conor Pearse. Replacements; Mick Doyle, Matt O’Brien, Barry Traenor, Michael Douglas, Ian Cullinane.