AIL1B – Old Wesley 19 Garryowen 24
It was a full house in Donnybrook to see the Division 1B clash between Old Wesley and Garryowen. The home team got off to a flying start with a try on 3 minutes. A very clever back move saw Charlie Hempelstall release Paudi Farrell for the flying winger to score in the corner. Tom Larke added the conversion to make the score 7 nil to Old Wesley. Garryowen responded almost immediately with their first attack. An opportunistic bit of play by the outstanding Des Fitzgerald, saw the open side score under the posts after 10 minutes. The conversion was added to bring the scores level.
Old Wesley appeared to be getting the upper hand but a series of penalties continued to foil their attacks. Eventually one of those attacks paid off with Mahon Ronan crashing over for the host’s second try of the day. Larke again added the conversion. 5 minutes out from halftime Garryowen sustained some attacking territory in the Old Wesley 22. Playing advantage they grubbered through the Wesley defence. The ball ricocheted and hopped into the hands of JJ O’Neill who scored for the visitors. The conversion was added to level the scores again.
Old Wesley regained the lead on the stroke of halftime with Paudi Farrell making a superb line break to bring play to the Garryowen 5-metre line. Ethan Black picked up the scraps to get over the line from 5 metres in what was an excellent finish. The conversion hit the post. Half time score Old Wesley 19 Garryowen 14.
The second half never got going for the hosts with Garryowen on top for most of the 40 minutes. This saw the Limerick outfit score two unanswered tries making the score 24 -19 to the visitors. With seconds left on the clock the home crowd were anticipating a Wesley victory as they attacked their opponent’s line. Unfortunately for them the attack was defended and the full-time whistle went.
The result leaves Old Wesley with a 3-point lead at the top of the table ahead of Dublin University; with the visit of promotion chasing Instonians coming next week.
Click here for photos by Ken Richardson
Click here for photos by Deryck Vincent
Scorers: Tries: Paidi Farrell, Stephen Smyth, Ethan Black; Cons: Tom Larke 2
Team: Tom Larke; Paidi Farrell, Ethan Black, Eoin Deegan (capt), Charlie Hempenstall; Niall Carroll, Evan Kenny; Jamie Clark, Stephen Smyth, Ben Popplewell, Billy Corrigan, Mahon Ronan, Cathal Kelly, Charlie Meagher, Pat McBarron. Replacements: Kieran O’Shea, Luke McAuliffe, Dan Campbell, Shane Cawley, Andrew Doyle, Jarrod Homan, Fergus Jemphrey.
