Teenager Staunton sinks Galwegians

Teenage out-half Jeremy Staunton made a marvellous debut for Garryowen at Dooradoyle on Saturday and inspired them to a runaway victory over a totally outclassed Galwegians side. Staunton, who won't be 19 until April, completely overshadowed an out-of-sorts Eric Elwood.

Galwegians had prop Mick Finlay sent off by referee David Tyndall 10 minutes into the second half, but the game was as good as over at that point, with Garryowen already 32-0 ahead. The winners brought on six substitutes, giving several youngsters the experience of league rugby for the first time. Garryowen scored six tries through Colin Varley (two), David Wallace, Melvin McNamara, Killian Keane and Kieran Ronan and they were also awarded a penalty try. Keane also contributed four conversions and a penalty.

Scoring sequence: 7 mins: K Keane pen, 30; 9 mins: K Ronan try, Keane con, 10-0; 15 mins: D Wallace try, 15-0; 17 mins: C Varley try, Keane con, 22-nil; 24 mins: M McNamara try, 27-0; 48 mins: Varley try, 32-nil; 62 mins: Keane try, con, 39-nil; 68 mins: Penalty try, Keane con, 46-0.

Garryowen: D Crotty; M McNamara, R Durno, K Keane, K O'Riordan; J Staunton, T Tierney; N Hartigan, P Cunningham, K Ronan, S Leahy, P Hogan, C Varley, D Wallace, B Cronin. Replacements: M Roberts for McNamara (67 mins); S Whelan for Keane (70 mins); P Humphreys for Cunningham (half-time); R Laffan for Ronan (60 mins); F Costello for Leahy (67 mins); A Bermingham for Varley (63 mins). Galwegians: H O'Toole; N Carolan, P Duignan, M Murphy, A Reddan; E Elwood, D Reddan; P Kay, K Tierney, M Finlay, G Heaslip, J Duffy, J Casserley, G Dineen, B Gavin. Replacements: D Meskell for D Reddan (43 mins); D Lee for Tierney (67 mins); P Casserley for Duffy (63 mins); D Dobson for Dineen (50 mins). Referee: D Tyndall (Leinster).