Galwegians Captain Brian McClearn celebrates winning the Heineken Junior Cup on Sunday at the Sportsground

Galwegians 16

Monivea 10 

Galwegians beat Monivea at the Sportsground on Sunday to win the Heineken Junior Cup after taking their chances and making good use of a superior pack.

Monivea may have had one eye on their play off against Waterpark for entry into the AIB league next week, but will be well aware that they'll have to improve on Sunday's performance if they're to play in the AIL next season. 

With Galwegians outhalf Eamon Molloy in superb kicking form, Wegians took full advantage of Monivea indiscipline in the first half, which began in the sixth minute. Molloy kicked over from 40 metres in front of the posts but it was only a taste of what was to come as he further extended their lead on 22 minutes and again six minutes later with two further penalities. With neither side able to break the others defence in what was proving to be a very tight game, it stayed 9-0 to Galwegians until half time.

Monivea began the second half brightly and reduced the deficit after nine minutes with a penalty of their own. Ian Murphy kicked over an easy penalty from 19 metres out in front of the posts but after that Galwegians discipline improved and it became apparent that if Monivea were to score again, it would have to be a try. 

Galwegians continued to win the battle up front and went further ahead with ten minutes remaining after a break from number eight and man of the match, Richie Dodd. Dodd broke to the right from the back of a scrum on the Monivea 22 and after going into contact scrum half Tom Ellard passed wide to Molloy before releasing Dave Rodgers who went in under the posts. Molloy added the extras to make it four kicks from four for the afternoon and with just under ten minutes remaining, Monivea knew that only two converted tries would save them from defeat.

However, the Junior League Division One champions showed why they're in a play off for qualification by displaying their fighting instincts and immediately getting into the Galwegians 22. With the clock ticking down, Galwegians repeatedly offended, taking advantage of the fact that their opponents didn't have time to take the three points on offer. On 80 minutes referee Tom Horkan had seen enough and sin binned Paddy Devaney for repeated fouling. But despite it being so late in the game, Monivea kept fighting and were duly rewarded when Ger Divilly went over in the far corner for a great try out wide seven minutes into injury time. Ian Murphy then kicked over a great conversion from the touchline to reduce the deficit to six, with the final kick of the game. 

Scorers:

Galwegians: 

Try: Rogers

Con: Molloy 

Pens: Molloy (3)

Monivea: 

Try: G Divilly

Con: Murphy 

Pen: Murphy

Galwegians:

B Murphy; B Lee, M Roache, D Rogers, R Shaughnessy; E Molloy, T Ellard; J Naughton, R Fitzgibbon, D McHugh; D Nolan, B McClearn (C); J Moran, N McCarthy, R Dodd. 

Replacements:

C O'Freighaill for Naughton, 34 mins; A McGettigan for McCarthy, 65 mins; E Dowling for Nolan, 80+2 mins; K Gottche for Murphy, 80+2 mins; J Mackey for Naughton, 80+2 mins.

Monivea:

K Higgins (C); I Murphy, M Concarr, F Cloonan, G Divilly; S Fahy, G O'Connor; N Burke, P Devane, F Farrell; W Parker, D Divilly; E Rooney, D Boyle, L Mitchel. 

Replacements:

P Devaney for Devane, 40 mins; D Blade for Fahy, 60 mins; R Murray for D Divilly, 80+6 mins.

Referee: Tom Horkan