1st XV v Garryowen
Rugby: Ballymena pay penalty
Dissent throws away victory
By Cormac Liddy (Sunday Life)
22 October 2006
GARRYOWEN 12
BALLYMENA 10
Garryowen stole a win over Ballymena at Dooradoyle and but for a bit of indiscipline the visitors would have enjoyed victory.
With the game deep in injury time Garryowen were awarded a scrum 22 metres out but a Ballymena player showed dissent and referee, Paul Haycock, instead gave a penalty.
Man of the match, Conor Kilroy, slotted over the kick to deny Ballymena a win they deserved.
Having lost to Shannon a week ago, Ballymena must be wondering what they must do to beat a Limerick side.
Their forwards dominated on this occasion and on at least three times they pushed Garryowen over their own line but could not manage to touchdown.
The visitors dominated the opening ten minutes but were stunned when Garryowen scored on their first visit to the Ballymena 22, which enabled Kilroy land a penalty after 13 minutes.
Ten minutes later Ballymena were in further trouble when Kilroy landed a huge penalty from inside his own half.
Ballymena's luck ran out when Dirkie Strydon saw his penalty come back off the upright but from then on the visitors got on top.
But they could not manage a first half score and went in 0-6 in arrears.
But backed by the strong breeze, and with the rain at their backs, Ballymena hit the front with the games only try. Fittingly it came from a push-over and Andy Graham got the touchdown with Strydom adding the conversion.
Kilroy landed another penalty for Garryowen but Ballymena looked to have snatched victory when Strydom dropped a sweet goal from about 35 metres after more good work by his forwards.
It wasn't to be but at least Ballymena earned a bonus point which they richly deserved.
GARRYOWEN: C. Kilroy, A. O'Loughlin, K. Hartigan,F. Quaglkia, Cillian O'Boyle; Alan Kingsley, G. Hurley; L.Og Casey, D. Varley, D. Lavery; M. Melbourne, M. Mackey; P. Neville, J. O'Sullivan, P. Malone. Replacements: E. McGovern for Lavery, injured 32 mins, E. Hickey for Kingsley, 47 mins.
BALLYMENA: C. Smith, P. Budina, J. Topping, J.McGrugan, C. Woods; D. Strydom, D. Drake; J. Steencamp, S. Douglas, T. Court; I. Caldwell, B. Young; A. Graham, G. Moore, C. Henry. Replacements: A. Kirkpatrick for Court, 48 mins, D. Hershaw for Douglas, 65 mins, D. Best for Graham, 77 mins.
REFEREE: P. Haycock (IRFU).
