Garryowen edge out Ballymena
Saturday, 21 October 2006Garryowen held on for a tight 12-10 victory over Ballymena as full-back Conor Kilroy's haul of four penalties proved enough for them in a scrappy Division One affair.
In slippery conditions at Dooradoyle, where the visitors have only won once in the league (in April 2000), Garryowen's pack dominated the early exchanges with Kilroy landing two penalties.
Turning around 6-0 down at the break, Ballymena battled bravely and notched a deserved try when flanker Andy Graham powered over.
Dirkie Strydom converted and tagged on a penalty but with neither side's backs allowed any considerable space, Garryowen won the contest up front to post their third successive league win over the Braidmen.
The visitors ventured south with Ulster and Ireland 'A' prop Tom Court included in their front row for the first time, and although Ballymena's pack gnarled away at the hosts for the full 80 minutes, some indiscipline crept into their play.
Two early errors allowed Kilroy, who was Garryowen's top scorer last season with 139 points, fire his side into the lead. With both teams opting to keep ball in the tight, they looked like being crucial scores.
While Kilroy was having a better day with the boot, Ballymena's Zimbabwean-born full-back Dirkie Strydom was off colour and off target with a brace of chances during the second half.
Strydom did redeem himself when he converted Graham's effort from close range and added a penalty to cut the gap to two points near the end, but despite seven minutes of injury-time and a hammer-and-tongs drive right at the death from the visitors' pack, Garryowen won out to make it a Limerick 1-2-3 at the summit.
Scorers:
Garryowen: Pens: Conor Kilroy 4
Ballymena: Try: Andy Graham; Con: Dirkie Strydom; Pen: Strydom
