Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_10_11/GA_1110_E1_143.pdf 

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October 11 2007

SPORT

143

Connacht turnaround falters in the end
LINLEY MACKENZIE

Glasgow Warriors 16 Connacht 15
It would have been the ultimate steal. It should have been a bankable four points. Instead Connacht had to settle for a loser's bonus point against Glasgow at Firhill - making it an acceptable, if disappointing, five points from a possible 15 in three Magners League outings. Having targeted these early games to capitalise on understrength teams during the World Cup, Connacht will be disappointed - more so because Friday evening's clash was exactly the type of game Connacht are well capable of winning. Not only was the loss of valuable league points disappointing, but also their performance level, and it was a poor first-half display that ultimately proved costly. Yet, only four behind at the break, Connacht produced more of their traditional firepower to come

right back into contention, take the lead, but ultimately surrender it two minutes from full time. After another bright start, in which outhalf Tim Donnelly notched a penalty for a 3 - 0 lead, Connacht's control on proceedings evaporated. "We let them get ahead of us which was most disappointing on the day," says Connacht coach Michael Bradley. "Tim hit a smashing penalty but it was disappointing because we would have expected to continue like that but instead re-started the game poorly and they got into a rhythm in the first half. In fairness to them we were always going to be fighting very hard but they got that little bit ahead of us all the time." "Glasgow is a side that would have expected to beat us, but we have to set our own standards and we should have won this match." Critical was Connacht's failure at the breakdown - not only did they put themselves under immense pressure with the slow ruck ball, but they also

conceded possession in this area. And coupled with an erratic set piece, particularly in the scrum, which was not helped by an early injury to Ronan Loughney, Connacht found themselves on the back foot for long periods. Connacht first half's offering was poor, due to an inability to build phases of play, while Glasgow, playing the first of four successive matches at their new home, should have put the game out of sight in the first 40, given the amount of possession they owned and the chances they created. After Donnelly's penalty, Glasgow took control, and although outhalf Colin Gregor missed two penalty attempts, he had the sides level by the 12th minute. Critically No 8 Colm Rigney was yellow carded on 20 minutes, having tackled fullback Bernado Stortoni in the air, and within minutes the Warriors capitalised. Right wing Max Evans initially set up the attack, and after several phases of play during which they were denied a try by the television match official,

Bernado Stortoni ran through a ragged Connacht cover for No 8 John Beattie to crash over. Gregor added the conversion for a 10 - 3 lead, before Tim Donnelly reduced the arrears with a drop goal before the break. Gregor cancelled that effort after the restart, but Connacht started to inject greater urgency and pace into their game. Three times they forced their way into scoring positions -each time they came up short. However Donnelly struck a penalty in the 52nd minute to close the gap again. The introduction of Ray Ofisa and John Muldoon added impetus, as did some fine defensive work from Ofisa Treviranus who denied Gregor a try again by TMO. And with their confidence boosted, Donnelly kept them in touch with a sweet drop goal. When he added another penalty on 69 minutes, Connacht took a deserved lead and had victory within their sights. They kept Glasgow at bay for 10 minutes until Gregor was called on to save the day. Having missed three

kicks, he nailed this 78th minute penalty to grab the victory and consign Connacht to another loss in the Scottish city. Glasgow: B Stortoni, M Evans, G Morrison, D Gibson, C Shaw, C Gregor, S Pinder, E Kalman, E Milligan, M Low, A Newman, A Kellock (cpt), S Swindall, J Eddie, J Beattie.Replacements, H O'Hare for Shaw (51m), Barrow for Pinder (65m), P McArthur for Milligan (70m), B Prescott for Kalman (70m). Connacht: P Durcan, O Treviranus, M Deane, A Wynne, K Matthews, T Donnelly, C McPhillips, B Wilkinson, A Flavin (cpt), R Loughney, M Swift, D Gannon, M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: R Morris for Loughney (1m), J Muldoon for Rigney, R Ofisa for McCarthy (both 51m), C Rigney for Muldoon (68m), C O'Loughlin for McPhillips (74m), J Fogarty for Flavin (85m). Referee: Phil Fear (WRU)

Mixed fortunes for rugby clubs
Two of Galway's senior rugby clubs were in action last weekend, but they enjoyed mixed fortunes in the opening round of the AIB Cup. Division three's Corinthians and Connemara were in action against division two outfits, and while Corinthians came through their joust with Barnhall by 20 - 13 to advance to the next round, Connemara went down to Wanderers in Dublin by 17 - 14. Corinthians now face the journey to the capital to face a stiffer test again, division one outfit St Mary's, while Galwegians open their campaign with a home fixture against Ballynahinch on Saturday (2.30pm). The Galway side enjoyed home advantage last Saturday, and although down by a Barnhall try early in the match, they responded with one of their own when Darren Claasen set up Kieran Dolan. Neither side was able to break the deadlock until after they had traded penalties in the second half when Seamus Murphy crossed the chalk after a chip and chase from Paul Coady, who also converted for a 15 - 8 lead. Although Barnhall replied with another try, Corinthians sealed the issue when Aurillien Casanova grabbed the third for Richard Evan's side. Corinthians: K Dolan; N Divilly, D Classen, R Connellan, D Murphy; P Coady, S Considine; D Lillis, D Barden, L Devanne; S Murphy, J Dilleen, B McCann, T Linnane, A Casanova. Replacements, B Taylor, S Burke, D Fletcher, S McInerney.

O'Toole try
Connemara, however, allowed an 11 - 7 half time slip against Wanderers, but can take comfort from a solid performance which saw the return to the Blacks of outhalf Paddy O'Toole. And in Ireland youth and Galway minor footballing star, John O'Brien, Peter O'Toole, and Martin O'Malley, new coach Henry O'Toole has some rich young talent available this season. Centre, South African Benny Vester struck two first-half penalties, while O'Toole scored a try from an intercept for Connemara's half-time lead, but Wanderers closed the deal in the second half. Connemara: J O'Brien; P O'Toole, M Aspel, B Vester, M Joyce; P O'Toole, D Keogh; E Feeron, A Price, K Ward; C MacDonald, D Sweeney; M O'Malley, O Delapp, G Bourke. Replacements, A Kelly; K Keogh, A Price, M Coyne; P Flanagan; E Burke.

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