Cleary Class Tells For ‘Wegians
Galwegians confirmed themselves as the top-ranked Connacht club for another AIB League season as they took a bonus point in their penultimate game of the league campaign against relegated Terenure.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, April 11
GALWEGIANS 26 TERENURE COLLEGE 14, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: John Cleary 4; Cons: Rob O’Beirn 3
Terenure College: Tries: Brian Moroney, John Bollard; Cons: Graham Flanagan 2
Galwegians have one man to thank for that – right winger John Cleary. He claimed four tries in a man-of-the-match display, a club record for a Division One game.
Terenure, already relegated and with little to play for, clearly struggled for motivation.
Cleary’s opening two tries, one converted by full-back Rob O’Beirn, had the hosts 12-0 ahead at the break.
The 29-year-old Cleary had the Midas touch and he romped through for two more touchdowns – after 45 and 60 minutes – with O’Beirn converting both.
With the result beyond doubt, some of the gloss was taken off the ‘Wegians performance when Terenure registered two late tries.
Graham Flanagan converted efforts from Brian Moroney and John Bollard as ‘Nure salvaged some pride and the men from the west moved up to ninth in the table.