Galwegians' treble on hold after cup draw

THE RAIN poured down on a saturated surface at the Sports Ground, Galway yesterday. And while the conditions inevitably imposed their own considerable demands, not least on stamina and standards, at the end of what has been a very arduous season, Galwegians and Ballina still managed to provide a worthy contest in the final of the Connacht Senior Cup, a competition sponsored by Smithwicks.

Nor was the destination of the title decreed, as the teams drew 13 all, so it is back to the same venue for the replay next Sunday. While both clubs will reflect on lost opportunities, on balance a draw was probably a just outcome. Both will hope that nature will be in a more benign mood next Sunday.

The background of the participants could scarcely have been in sharper contrast. Galwegians, the holders, were in pursuit of what would have been a 25th title, and were contesting the final for the 38th time. Ballina, whose last success was achieved 18 years ago, have won the cup on only two occasions in six final appearances.

They were not, however, in any way daunted or intimidated by the illustrious record of their city opponents, who, in addition to trying to reach that notable landmark of a 25th cup success, were also in pursuit of what would have been a treble. Earlier this season, they won the Connacht League and more recently, won promotion to the second division of the All Ireland League.

Not surprisingly with such a catalogue of achievement, Galwegians went into the final as warm favourites against the Co Mayo team. But in the end, it was a favouritism that they failed to justify. Indeed with two minutes to go, it looked as if Ballina had got the crucial score that would have heralded a major upset.

But the Ballina cheers of acclamation were turned to the frustration of disappointment when referee Robbie Gallagher decreed that a pass from flanker Thomas Loftus to centre Sid Hopkins was forward, before Hopkins dived over the line for what would assuredly have been the winning score.

A marginal decision? Perhaps. But the referee was very well placed to make the ruling. He had earlier ruled out a Galwegians `try' when left wing Alan Connolly had appeared to beat a defender to the ball over the Ballina line.

In many ways, those incidents offered a telling assessment of this match, near misses and lost opportunities. And Galwegians have more reason to reflect on what might have been.

Playing with the aid of the wind in the first half, they led 13-10 at the interval, a very tenuous advantage in the prevailing climate. Galwegians missed four kicks at goal in that period. But place kicking was not an easy mission off a greasy surface and in a disconcerting wind.

Galwegians, had, too, to erase a 10-3 deficit before building that three-points advantage with a penalty try a crucial element in their total.

In fact, Ballina got off to a great start, inspired by full back William Ruane, the most accomplished player on the field. He kicked a 30-yard penalty in the first minute and, while Galwegians out-half Ken Barrett equalised after nine minutes, it was Ballina who struck again after a quarter of an hour. Ruane made a great break to near the Galwegians line and from the ensuing ruck, second row Martin Byrne forced his way over the line. Ruane converted and Galwegians knew that there would be no easy passage to victory.

Stronger in the scrum and more authoritative in the maul, and with Paul Casserly winning some good line-out possession, Galwegians, however, enjoyed a marked territorial advantage. But Ballina defended with great resolution, sometimes at the cost of penalty concessions.

Barrett kicked a second penalty for Galwegians in the 18th minute, but a few other chances were missed. However, in the 28th minute, Graham Heaslip, playing on the flank, was almost over the Ballina line. But from the ensuing scrum, Ballina were forced into the concession of a penalty try and Barrett converted to give Galwegians the lead for the first time at 13-10.

That was how it stood at the interval when Ballina realigned their force, including moving flanker Ken Dohery to the centre.

After Barrett had been wide from 32 yards with yet another penalty chance, Ruane kicked a superb penalty for Ballina from nearly 50 yards to bring his side level in the 49th minute.

Subsequently, Galwegians had no fewer than four five-yard scrums, but the Ballina defence stood firm and their full-hearted endeavour up front, with hooker Darragh Quinn especially good in the loose, held Galwegians, who then had that late scare, but survived.

One unfortunate, unsatisfactory and unacceptable element was the misleading numbering of some Ballina players and their refusal to name a panel of replacements prior to the match. That is a discourtesy to the paying public and is scarcely calculated to market the game.