Mallow secured a crucial win away to Galbally RFC on Sunday last in their opening tie of the new league format.
It was a dull afternoon and weather conditions deteriorated quickly as the game wore on. Mallow began the game playing with a strong wind and driving rain in their favour. The visitors dominated the opening quarter of the match, kicking for territory and using the elements to good effect. After 10 minutes, Mallow forced the home side into an error and from the resulting midfield scrum, they took advantage as Sean Glynn picked from the back of the scrum and fed Darren O'Riordan who in turn passed it out to Jimmy Glynn. Glynn poked a well-weighted grubber in behind the defence which the pacey Eoghan Barry chased to dot down in the corner for his fourth try of the season. Mallow followed up shortly afterwards with a penalty from the boot of Jimmy Glynn to go into a 10-0 lead. Galbally were denied a try thanks to an excellent defensive shift from Mallow on their own line, with Stephen Hayes getting himself underneath the attempted grounding. The visitors dominated possession and territory for the remainder of the half but failed to turn their superiority into points on the board, with some unforced errors and poor knock-on's costing them dearly on a few occasions. Glynn added a further penalty on the stroke of half-time to go into a 13-0 lead.
Galbally came out after half time with a pep in their step and the elements in their favour. Mallow managed to hold them out until the hour mark when the home side dotted down through Danny Hayes, which John Keirins converted. The home side continued to threaten as the final whistle drew closer but Mallow's defensive integrity remained in tact. Playing into the the strong wind, the North Cork side found it difficult to play for territory. Galbally huffed and puffed and threatened Mallow's line but the visitors just about clung on thanks to a huge defensive effort in the closing moments.
Mallow's next game see's them host Abbefeale on Sunday, February 6th at 2.30pm. As ever, your support is greatly appreciated