NUI Galway 27
Dundalk IT 22
NUI Galway captured the Student Sport Ireland Men’s Rugby Tier 3 Cup for the second year in a row after a pulsating 27-22 win over Dundalk IT in University of Limerick on Wednesday March 20th.
This was a real snatch and grab job from NUI Galway as they went from five points down with four minutes left to scoring two tries to give them a five-point victory, and before that juncture in the game Dundalk IT had coughed up a guilt edged opportunity that would have sealed a win.
A blistering first half saw five tries scored with Dundalk IT grabbing three of those and they held a 22-17 lead at the break. The sides were level at three points each after converted penalties from Tomas Forde (NUIG) and Conor Hennessy (DKIT).
Tomas Forde then scored a try and converted it himself to push NUI Galway 10-3 in front, but Aaron McLoughlin responded almost immediately and when Hennessy converted the sides were level again.
Jack Grealish added NUI Galway’s second try of the game ad with Forde converting they were 17-10 in front. Dundalk IT finished the opening half in fine style with two tries one each from Harry Evans and Aaron McLoughlin with two points from one conversion from Conor Hennessy seeing Dundalk IT in front by five at the break.
The rampant nature of the scoring slowed some what in the second half but both teams continued to play brilliant rugby with Dundalk IT almost moving into the winning seat but some how failed to convert in a 4 on two position.
NUI Galway pulled level on the 76th minute when Cathal Ryan eventually got over the line, and with the smell of blood in their nostrils the Galway men saw Fergal Conway make a great block down inside the 22 and he dived on the rebound to score the match winning try.
NUI Galway – Cathal Ryan, Pierce Feeney, Conall Fallon, Tireoin McCabe, Matt O’Meara, Diorai O’Connor, Dave Robb, David O’Connor, Ruadham Durkin, Jack Grealish, Andrew Fitzgerald, Tomas Forde, Thomas Martin, Ross Nicoll, Geroid Moynihan, Monty Akpan, Aodhifin Broderick, Aaron Mannion Edwards, Brian O’Malley, Kelvin Broderick, Ralph Solan, Kevin Le Gear, Peter Stones, Patrick Browne, Niall McCarthy, Dylan Crews, Finbar Brown, Patrick Daly, Declan Floyd.
Dundalk IT – Andrew Dalton, Brian McDonnell, Taidgh Kavanagh, Conor Callaghan, Conor Watters, Matt Thompson, Coailin Traynor, Tiernan Gonnelly, Harry Evans, Conor Hennessy, Aaron McLoughlin, Andrew McPhilips, Adam Brodigan, Andrew Bingham, Cormac Horan, William Clarke, Lorcan Dixon, James McCann, Ben Cunningham, Tobe King, Precious Madunwe, Joseph Uhunumunre, Tavis Leech, Jack Digney.
