Galway Advertiser 2008/GA_2008_01_10/GA_1001_E1_139.pdf 

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January 10 2008

SPORT

139

Galwegians ease into cup quarter-final with seven try blitz
BY LINLEY MACKENZIE

Galwegians 37 Old Belvedere 8
Galwegians, the only Connacht representatives remaining in the AIB Cup, cantered through their third round joust with Old Belvedere on Saturday. They will be hoping to continue that form this weekend when they host Lansdowne in another important league clash tha could consolidate their position in the upepr half of the table. Enjoying home advantage

against Belvedere, Galwegians were ahead at the break by 15 - 8 and at that stage it was still anyone's game. However two tries in rapid succession early in the second half killed off any chance of a Belvedere revival. Old Belvedere looked a useful enough side in the opening half, and enjoyed more than their fair share of possession until they were completely outlclassed by the home side in the second half. However Galwegians will be mindful that the

Dubliners were missing several squad members when they meet in Anglesea Road in a crucial league match later in the season. In the meantime Galwegians can now look forward to a quarter-final meeting with either Malone or Bruff. Given that they will enjoy home advantage again, and that big guns like Cork Constitution and holders Garryowen fell in the weekend's round, Galwegians have a rare opportunity to progess all the way to the final. The other quarter-finalists are Blackrock College v UCD;

Clontarf v Garryowen; and St Mary's College or Clonakilty v Shannon. Last Saturday both sides were forced to endure foul weather conditions, yet they endeavoured to play honest and open rugby. Old Belvedere, having missed an early penalty, opened the scoring after nine minutes with a classic lineout and drive from a penalty kicked to touch. However it did not get much better for the visitors as the home side started to find their rhythm. Scrumhalf Robbie Shaw, who replaced Tom Tierney

after just five minutes, proved a key figure for the home side - his 15th minute try coming from his own half-way break, chip, and chase. Two minutes later captain Louie Tonkin secured the drop-out, and set up the second, breaking through before finding support from prop Brian McGovern and hooker Joe Merrigan who scored. Belvedere, however, kept in touch with a Brian Collins penalty on 22 minutes to reduce arrears to 10-8 before Galwegians finished the half with a try from McGovern to open up

a 15 - 8 lead. Galwegians soaked some late first-half pressure with strong defensive work from Liam Casserly, Ian Cullinane, and Tuivelaka before regaining the initiative after the restart. It took just five minutes after Tuivelaka turned over crucial ball from a tackle before Brett Sweeney finished off to make it 20 - 8. When Casserly bagged the fifth try four minutes later after charging down Collins' clearance, it was all over as a contest. Galwegians ran in

another two tries from flanker Martin Webdale and replacement hooker Conor Muldoon to complete the rout, while Old Belvedere scored a consolation try from Richie Murphy in injury time. Galwegians: P Durcan; J Cleary , B Sweeney, T Fletcher, A Tuilevaka; C O'Beirne (sub: J Wakely 55), T Tierney ( R Shaw 7); J Naughton ( J Lyne 62), J Merrigan ( C Muldoon 62), B McGovern; B McClearn, L Tonkin ( A Browne 55); M Webdale, L Casserly, I Cullinane

Moycullen Flying start for Galway basketballers athletes start 2008 in style
Team Garveys, St Mary's Castleisland 64 An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen 68
Moycullen basketballers started their New Year in style when avenging their worst defeat in nine years of National League basketball by overcoming Team Garveys, St Mary's Castleisland. After being embarrassed in their first meeting of the season, losing by 80 - 38, An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen were determined to restore pride And they did, delivering a tremendous battling performance, establishing a big first-half lead, and then defending it against the second-half onslaught from the home team. This away win puts An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen back in control of their fate. Four points behind leaders Team Meadowlands, St Brendan's Tralee, and with a game in hand, Moycullen can still top the division going into the play-offs if they win their remaining five games. On Saturday Moycullen got the worst possible start when Declan Wall nailed a three pointer for Castleisland. Another two baskets saw the home team out to a 7-0 lead. However excellent team defence enabled Moycullen to close down Wall and Limerick inter county footballer John Galvin, limiting Castleisland to just five more points in the quarter. At the other end Cian Nihill connected on three early threep o i n t e r s , while Mindaugus Kurcenkovas came off the bench to add further scoring punch and Nollaig Cunningham, giving his best performance of the season, connected on two late scores to leave An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen ahead 21-12. Moycullen continued to dominate. Kurcenkovas added a three pointer and two excellent lay-ups, while the pressure he applied defensively alongside James Loughnane had the Castleisland guards totally out of rhythm. Glenn Hynes, despite struggling with a thumb injury, chipped in with an excellent driving lay-up and Eoghan Maxwell gave solid minutes off the bench as Moycullen stretched their lead to 4221 at half time with a superb three-pointer from the impressive Loughnane. However Castleisland were a team transformed on the resumption. Defensively, they got out to Moycullen's shooters and defended the dribble much better. At the other end, a more patient offensive approach saw them free up John Galvin who converted from play and the free throw line. With Cian Nihill, John Cunningham and Glenn Hynes in foul trouble relatively early, it became a damage limitation exercise for the away team. Five points from Cunningham in the quarter helped stem the flow but, by the end of the quarter, the margin was down to nine points, 52-43. Once again, Kurcenkovas gave them the spark they needed, connecting on two lay-ups and a free throw to match scores from Michael Broderick and Galvin at the other end. A threepointer from Declan Wall saw Castleisland within six. With John Galvin proving a real handful for the Moycullen defence and Glenn Hynes fouling out, Moycullen looked in trouble. As the game entered its final minute, a free throw from Paul O'Brien restored Moycullen's six-point lead before Galvin connected on a hopeful three-point attempt. However Moycullen maintained their composure and when Cian Nihill was fouled, he connected with his second free throw to seal an excellent win on the road, 68-64. This was only the club's second ever senior win in Castleisland. An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen: Cian Nihill (19), Mindaugus Kurcenkovas (19), Nollaig Cunningham (11), James Loughnane (8), John Cunningham (7), Glenn Hynes (2), Eoghan Maxwell (1), Paul O'Brien (1), Dylan Cunningham, David Lee, James Brophy. Coach: Zbigniew Mardon Team Garveys, St Mary's, Castleisland: John Galvin (27), Declan Wall (9), Michael Broderick (8), Tommy Fleming (8), Paudie Fleming (6), Maurice Casey (4), Niall Murphy (2), Ruairi Rahilly, Donal McCarthy Eamon John O'Donoghue. Coach: Maurice Casey, Assistant Coach: James Weldon

The victorious u-14 girls' relay team, Galway City Harriers' Aedin Hanahoe, Helen Ruane, Eithne Nic Aodha Bhui and Emma Johson

BY LINLEY MACKENZIE The sporting calendar for Galway's athletes got off to a flying start at the weekend with the County Indoor Track and Field Championships for juveniles and seniors. Craughwell AC and Galway City Harriers were the two dominant clubs at this year's event held in Nenagh, home of Ireland's only year round indoor athletics stadium. A rapidly improving Athenry AC also made an impact, while Ballinasloe & District, Loughrea, and Tuam were well represented also. The relays, always a highlight of indoor competition, produced some tight battles across all age groups and some impressive team performances. Craughwell AC dominated the younger age groups, winning gold medals in u-11 and u-12 sections, while

Galway City Harriers can claim to be the strongest sprints club in Galway, claiming five relay golds in u-13 girls , u-14 boys, u-15 boys and girls, and u-17 girls. Athenry AC claimed gold in the u-14 girls and u-17 boys,while Ballinasloe & District claimed gold in the u-13 boys. In the high jump Connacht schools' record holder Catriona Farrell of Craughwell was most impressive with a comfortable 1.65m clearance in the u-17 event. Claire Ryder and Marie McNamara, also of Craughwell, were impressive in winning their age groups. In the middle distances Linda Porter's 2:33 800m was the outstanding run of the day. Daniel Loughnane of Loughrea was also impressive in the senior men's event, while Irish schools' international athlete Rachel Shaw was

comfortable in winning the u-17 girls' 800m. Aidan Connelly of Craughwell was one of many outstanding performers in the long jump, winning the u-12 boys' event in 3.79m. Former Irish schools medallist Conor Caulfield of Athenry and Alan Campbell of GCH had an exciting battle in the u-17 event with Caulfield shading it in 5.41m. Catriona Farrell claimed her second gold of the day when winning the u-17 long jump in an impressive 4.73m. Joey Quinn of Athenry was outstanding in the u-12 shot put with an enormous throw of 8.07m. Paul McGill of Craughwell, a national championship record holder in this event, also impressed with a 12.03 effort in the u-15 section. Athenry's Emma Grady was the most impressive winner among the female shot putters with an outstanding 8.33m in the u-13 age group. GCH's Simon Callaghan

and Maria Cooney of Athenry impressed in their respective u-16 and u-14 hurdles, while in the sprint events Laura Costelloe of GCH, Aidan Connelly of Craughwell. and Orlaith McGrath of Athenry were the winners over 60m in their juvenile categories. Gary Sweeney of Athenry and Aedin Esslemont of GCH grabbed sprint doubles over 60m and 200m in the senior events, while the u-17 boys' 60m was one of the battles of the day. Athenry's Kevin Madden pipped clubmate Conor Caulfield for gold, while Ronan Coyle of GCH deprived Athenry of a clean sweep by passing Conor Kindregan inches from the line. Ruaidhri Geraghty had a fine performance in winning the senior men's 3,000m after a battle with GCH clubmate Niall Cunningham, while Laura Shaughnessy had a comfortable win in the women's 3000m.