Corinthians 12

Galwegians 8

A last gasp try by Harry Rogers sealed a dramatic win for Corinthians against city rivals Galwegians in the Connacht Senior cup final at the Dexcom Stadium under lights on Sunday evening.

This game was a throwback to the old rivalries between these sides who have each been starved of cup success in recent seasons. The low scoring game does not reflect the quality on offer as both teams went at it with some enterprising rugby on offer in the first half.

Galwegians threatened early doors on a couple of occasions, but for the large part it was Corinthians who dominated the territorial stakes. Their slick backline was looking very threatening as they moved the ball wide on every occasion.

Despite coming close several times, they met a resolute Galwegians defence who refused to yield, protecting their line with some valiant defending on more than one occasion.

With the game nearing half-time, the prospect of no score looked real until the 35th minute when the Cloonacauneen men hit the front. Once again, it came from some slick handling in the backs and the opportunity was worked on the left for winger Ned Williams, who was given the time and space to race down the flank and cross near the corner for the opening try. Jack Conway’s difficult conversion split the posts to put his side deservedly 7-0 ahead at the break.

Wegians had a slight breeze at their backs in the second half, but in the opening few minutes they had to withstand more Corinthians pressure and just about staved off two further attacks with more outstanding defence.

A turning point came on 50 minutes when Wegians’ youthful winger Paul Sharkey launched a magnificent clearance kick from behind his goal line to take play into opposition territory. This was soon followed by an excellent 50-22 by Stevie Mannion and the momentum swung on this.

The Blues set up camp in the opposition 22 and although several forward phases were held up on the line, the ball was eventually spun right by out half Tiarnan Neville. Winger Oisin McKey still had plenty to do but he managed to avoid the attentions of three defenders and burrow his way over near the right corner. Mannion’s conversion was narrowly wide,

However within three minutes, another long clearance kick brought play back deep into opposition territory. And when Corinthians were pinged for not releasing, Mannion had a simple penalty under the posts to put his side in front for the first time.

The momentum was all with the sky blues going into the final quarter as Corinthians seemed incapable of escaping their 22. The forward pressure by Galwegians was telling where the scrum was completely dominating, with the front row of Tom Gormley Jack Winters and hookers Ryan Smith and Eoin Ferry doing a job on their opposition numbers.

A key moment came five minutes before the end when Wegians were awarded another very kickable penalty to the right of the posts. They opted to kick for the corner but they coughed up the line out and although they got a second chance soon afterwards, again they failed to secure their own ball and gave the opposition a lifeline.

Corinthians’ response was devastating and clinical as they swept upfield in a momentum gaining attack. Prop Jack Duffy made serious yardage up the middle and with the blues under the pump, quick ball was sped out and with an overlap near the corner, centre Rogers managed to dive across the line for the winning try.

Wegians had one last chance but a knock on signaled the end, and so for the second year in succession they lost a Connacht Senior Cup Final in the dying seconds

It was heartbreaking for the Blues, but relief for Corinthians who ended a 15 year wait to put their name back on the trophy. It was a fitting contest which showcased the best of amateur rugby in the province, where both sides were a credit to their clubs and to the competition.

Corinthians: Joe Smyth; Sean Fox, Harry Rogers, Tom Waters, Ned Williams; Jack Conway, Joey Tierney; James Duffy, Adam Nash, Patrick Fahy; Rory Glynn, Matthew Roche-Nagle; Cormac Walsh, John Claffey, Mark Boyle, captain. Reserves: Max Holmes, Johnny Hughes, Jack Boyan, Diarmuid Kilcommins, Billy Cross.

Galwegians: Darragh Kennedy; Paul Sharkey, Rob Deacy, Steven Mannion, Oisin McKey; Tiarnan Neville, Andrew Sherlock; Jack Winters, Ryan Smith, Tom Gormley; Rob Holian, Brian McHugo; Ronan Conneely, Dylan Keane, captain, Liam Angermann. Reserves: Eoin Ferry, Cormac McGrath, Paddy Dolphin, Luke Casserly, Eoghan Fahey.

Pictured: The Corinthians squad celebrate after defeating Galwegians in the Connacht Senior Cup Final at Dexcom Stadium on Sunday evening. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.