Impressive win by ’Stones
Great ‘Family Day’ success
GREYSTONES’ first XV turned out in front of a big crowd at Dr Hickey park last Saturday for their first home game of this seasons Ulster Bank All Ireland League who witnessed an impressive 25-16 win for the home side over rivals Wanderers FC.
Reverting to a playing kit featuring white shorts last seen in the 1990’s Greystones sought to revive the spirit of times past but it was a vintage performance from Andrew Kealy who turned back the clock to steal the show with a 100 per cent record from the boot kicking 20 points including a phenomenal long range effort six meters inside his own half. Kealy, making his first AIL appearance in front of his home crowd in over two and a half years, showed no signs of the long injury break that at times threatened his playing career.
Billed as a ‘ Family Day’ with bouncy castles, face painting and BBQ everything was laid on for the big crowd that turned out except the weather.
The match was played out in constant driving rain and strong winds and while the bouncy castles may not have been so appealing the players made up with a stirring performance on the field to record two wins from two in the Ulster Bank League so far this season.
Early penalties from Kealy set the scene to put the home side ahead by six points after just 10 minutes. Further penalties including that monster effort pushed the score out to 15–3 approaching the half hour mark before Greystones suffered a double whammy of yellow cards to Alan Dempsey and kiwi hooker Mike Lea either side of half-time.
With the home side down to 13 men Wanderers began to claw their way back into the match, first with a penalty and then exploiting the space left by the stretched home defence crossing for a converted try in the corner to close the gap to 15-13.
The sides swapped a further penalty each keeping the margin at two points until the 65th minute when a loose ball in the middle of the field was gathered and moved quickly by the Greystones back line, Con Callen making vital ground drawing the defender to time his pass perfectly to winger Jack Keating who raced past the retreating Wanderers cover to cross for the decisive match winning try. Once again Kealy made no mistake from a difficult angle in swirling conditions to nail the conversion. Wanderers had an opportunity to close the score into losing bonus point territory but were denied when their penalty attempt drifted wide.
With Andrew Kealy back and in imperious kicking form and young players such as Con Callen, Barry Fitzpatrick and Michael Kirk added to the squad having come up through the youth ranks Greystones look to have a squad that should see them go one better this season and secure promotion after that agonising play off final defeat at the end of last season.
Greystones look to maintain their winning momentum with another Leinster derby game next week away to Bective before returning to Dr Hickey Park in two week’s time when they host City of Derry.
Greystones: Andrew Kealy, Jack Keating, Barry Lynn, Craig Hazelton, Paudie Geoghegan, Killian Marmion, Andrew Roberts, Michael Douglas, Mike Lea, Conor Pearse, John Campbell, Dan Mannion, Cormac O’Donoghue, Alan Dempsey, Bobby Clancy (Capt). Replacements: Kevin Moes, Barry Fitzpatrick, Eoin Marmion, Con Callen, Michael Kirk
Wanderers FC: Niall O’Donoghue, Garrett O’Sullibhan, Rob Clune, Joe Holland, Cian Doddy, Peter Brougham, Conor McQuaid, Chris Corkery, Simon Malone, Diarmuid O’Higgins, Harley Murray, Ruairi O’Donnell, Brian Vaughan, Eoghan Nihill (Capt) Paddy Mallon. Replacements: Ronan O’Meara, Niall Bolger, Cathal O’Neill, Ciaran Wade, Kieran Burns