Posted by Rugby (Men & Women) on Thu, 29-12-2022
University of Galway RFC have won the 2022 Curley Cup after a convincing 43-10 victory over Corinthians in Ballyhaunis.
A hattrick from flanker Peter Magliocco and tries from Sean Cullen, Sean O’Grady, Patrick Smyth and David Burke spearheaded the students as they remain undefeated so far this season.
University of Galway got off to a quick start as the first try from Peter Magliocco and Sean Cullen gave them a 14-0 lead in the early exchanges. The second try from Cullen was something out of the Barbarians playbook as the college spread the ball wide in their own 22 and simple hands gave Cullen an easy walk in for the score.
Corinthians got out of the blocks after the first quarter of the game being dominated by University of Galway. They worked the ball well to the outside and fullback Ryan Guilfoyle got the score in the corner to bring them back into the game.
However the University of Galway replied in great fashion as Peter Magliocco ran the ball in out wide from around thirty metres out, breaking numerous tackles and showing some great footwork.
Fortunes got even better for the students as on the stroke of halftime, fly-half Sean O’Grady got an interception and ran the ball in from near halfway to give the University of Galway a 24-5 lead at halftime.
Corinthians came out in the second half with more intensity, camping themselves inside the University of Galway’s 22. Their persistence was duly rewarded as they dotted down in the corner once again to make it 24-10.
As the match reached its latter stages though, the University of Galway’s power and conditioning rang through. Prop Patrick Smyth burst over the line before winger David Burke finished off an exquisite backline move to give the students and unassailable lead.
The final score of the match was the cherry on top of the cake. The Italian Stallion Peter Magliocco scored a brilliant individual effort after he spun past several defenders and out-paced the last Corinthians defender to complete his glorious hattrick and give the University of Galway a 43-10 victory to clinch the Curley Cup.
That extends University of Galway’s unbeaten streak this season to eight games in all competitions. They are currently top of the Connacht League 1B, eight points clear of second place Ballyhaunis.
- Jonathan Brown
