ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE/Galwegians...22 Garryown...12: Galwegians eased their relegation worries in Division One when their returning Connacht players helped the Glenina outfit to a worthy victory over league leaders Garryowen at Crowley Park on Saturday.

Galwegians, with nine of their 11 contracted players available, three of whom started on the bench, were deserving of this victory, dominating possession for much of the match.

However it took a 47th-minute try from full-back Ger Brady to separate the sides, contradicting Galwegians' current position near the bottom of the league table.

The home side, with Peter Bracken, Damien Browne, Johnny O'Connor and Michael Swift restored to forward duty, enjoyed a superiority up front that provided the platform and the possession for the victors.

Garryowen's David Wallace, returning from injury, made little impact on the game apart from two incisive breaks from midfield positions, while his opposite number O'Connor, and blindside flanker Swift, were very much on top, particularly in the loose.

Galwegians' Eric Elwood had edged his side into a 6-3 half-time lead with Billy Treacy converting Garryowen's single 15th-minute penalty.

The crucial score came seven minutes after the restart when full-back Brady ran from the halfway line untouched after Swift and left-wing Nigel Carolan had turned defence into attack. Elwood added the conversion and he added a 60th minute penalty to stretch the lead to 16-3.

However, Garryowen's Paul Neville, and substitutes Dominic Crotty, Tom Tierney, and Pat Humphries added impetus to the Limerick side's fightback, and when Treacy closed the gap to 16-9, it set up an uncompromising conclusion.

Yet their superiority up front, a well-organised defence, and Elwood's control of a measured Galwegian display were rewarded.

Two further penalties put the game out of Garryowen's reach, and Treacy spurned an 84th-minute chance to salvage a bonus point on Garryowen's first visit to Crowley park in the AIB League.

Scoring sequence: 8 mins: Elwood pen 3-0; 14 mins: Elwood pen 6-0; 16 mins: Treacy pen 6-3; Half-time: 6-3; 47 mins: Brady try Elwood con 13-3; 60 mins: Elwood pen 16- 3; 63 mins: Treacy pen 16-6; 67 mins: Treacy pen 16-9; 71 mins: Elwood pen;19-9; 76 mins: Treacy pen 19-12; 82 mins: Elwood pen 22-12.

GALWEGIANS: G Brady; B Liddy, P Duignan, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood, B Shelbourne; A Kershaw, G Flannery, P Bracken, D Browne, J Casserly, B Gavin (capt), J O'Connor, M Swift. Replacements: M Uijs for Flannery and D McFarland for Kershaw (45 mins), J Charlie for O'Connor (60 mins).

GARRYOWEN: D O'Riordan; C Tupinere, R Niland, K Keane, K O'Riordan; B Treacy, S McCarthy; J Giltenane, G Walsh, R Laffan, E Kelly, J O'Sullivan, C Varley (capt), D Wallace, P Neville. Replacements: T Tierney for McCarthy, P Humphries for Walsh, D Crotty for D O'Riordan (49 mins), P Malone for Varley (67 mins).

Referee: M Kilgore (Ulster).