McKenna's try settles UCD nerves

All-Ireland League / UCD 15 Galwegians 14: Not exactly a match for the purist. But the high error count will not matter to UCD after they stuttered to a precious victory on Saturday to keep alive their faint Division One play-off hopes.

Darren McKenna's late try in the corner separated the sides but it was the high number of missed kicks at goal that marred the contest. Unfortunately, the visitors seemed to lose their way late on as they placed enormous pressure on kicker David Delaney to win it for them.

Galwegians' disastrous season is a knock-on result of the provincial set-up finally getting its act together with an expanded Celtic League format.

The reserves in the west are not strong enough for everyone to thrive. Connacht are raising eyebrows all over Europe, Buccaneers are shining but Galwegians - with so many players lost to Michael Bradley's rotational system - are on the steep descent into Division Two.

All is not lost though; they still have to play many of their fellow relegation strugglers, and for periods on Saturday they looked well capable of reaching the standards required to escape the drop.

David Blaney crossed for the students' first try in the ninth minute, converted by Niall McNamara, but Galwegians ensured they led at the break when winger Ger Brady finished off a classy backline move.

Outhalf Delaney missed the difficult conversion and also spurned two other tricky penalty opportunities to leave his side only leading by a single point, 8-7, at the break.

A McNamara penalty had UCD back in front early in the second half, but he then also turned villain with three missed attempts.

Delaney finally found his range with two successful penalties, but McKenna's try meant Galwegians needed to score again. When the pack put Delaney within range to win the contest the outhalf's drop-goal attempt sailed wide.

The future is looking bleak for Galwegians; their season finale against St Mary's on April 17th may prove crucial, if they are still in touch with the others.

Scoring sequence: 3 mins: D Delaney pen 0-3; 9 mins: D Blaney try, N McNamara con 7-3; 27 mins: G Brady try 7-8; 43 mins: McNamara pen 10-8; 56 mins: Delaney pen 10-11; 69 mins: D McKenna try 15-11; 78 mins: Delaney pen 15-14.

UCD: P Bredin; J Norton, K Kennedy, P Hickey-Dwyer, D McKenna; N McNamara, D Geraghty; J Moran, D Blaney, I Lynam, P Callanan, S Crawford, K Croke, A Carroll, C Davis. Replacements: J Montgomery for Moran (41 mins), S Moore for P Hickey-Dwyer (55), S Abbott for Callanan (63).

GALWEGIANS: B Bartley; G Brady, J Littleton, D Balcombe, J Cleary; D Delaney, M Roche; A Conboy, M Uijs, F Farrell, C Murphy, B McClearn, J Casserly, J Muldoon, M Carroll. Replacements: S McGrath for Conboy (21 mins), H Bourke for Uijs (55).

Referee: L Mayne (Munster).