Galwegians survived in the dying embers to ensure that they would keep the Plate out West for another year as Cooke suffered yet another final defeat.

It was a pulsating finish as Galwegians who ended the tie with 14 players on the field as Orla Fenton was sent off in the final quarter, were heroic in their defence. Cooke, who won the last two meetings between these two, played their socks off, just not going their way in the finish.

Galwegians were dominant in the opening half to take a 12-0 lead but did end the half with Fenton and Mollie Starr sent to the sin bin with yellow cards. Cooke came out fighting in the second half and did grab an early try, the momentum just failed to follow as Wegians had Roisin Maher to thank for two big tries in the game to ensure the win.

It was cagey early on, with possession mainly in the Cooke end of the field, Galwegians were strong on the attack from the start, as they got some space going they ran the phases and going wide Nolwenn Dubois stretched to get over in the far corner, a 5-0 advantage with eight minutes gone on the clock.

Wegians looked sharp on the wing, Gemma Faulkner went racing down the right wing but ended the move bundled into touch, they were enjoying going wide to use their pace as Cooke were equally as strong in the tackle to stop them in their tracks.

Pressure remained on Cooke despite a handling error from a lineout giving them a reprieve close to the line, Wegians regained possession, awarded a penalty they drove for the line and Roisin Maher was there to power over from close range to make it 10-0. Emma Keane added the extras for a 12-0 lead with 18 elapsed.

For the remainder of the half, Cooke were largely playing inside their own half of the field, Galwegians discipline let them down on not one but two occasions, Orla Fenton and then Mollie Star seeing yellow by the match referee due to a high volume of offences committed. 

Cooke showed signs of life all through the opening half, despite having little attack going in the period. The dancing feet of Katie Gilmour helped Cooke make strides toward the Wegians line, after a host of phases Cooke kept pressure on, a knock on however brought the phase and indeed the opening half to a conclusion. 

Cooke started the second half much stronger, after a dominant scrum ball remained inside the Wegians half, Wegians penalised once again a short while later and Cooke had a penalty in a dangerous position. 

Isle Van Staden opted to tap and go, the South African bulldozing for the line but was held up, Cooke went short yet again and when Van Staden got back to the feet, a second drive brought the try, Amanda Morton converted and the lead was reduced to 12-7.

Back to their full 15, Galwegians could make ground in the opposite half a short while after conceding that try, from the restart Cooke were pushed well back inside their half, after a handling error Wegians turned the ball over and inside the 22m line could get on the counter charge.

Running the phases and putting Cooke under pressure they had the chance and Maher again powered over from close range for their third try, Keane made no mistake to convert and the Bluebelles lead was back to 12 points before the hour mark.

Orla Fenton was shown a red card after 69 minutes for another infringement at the breakdown, this gave Cooke the chance to attack once again but heroic defending by Galwegians, first tackling Teah Maguire into touch before holding up another Cooke drive for the line.

Cooke did make it a grandstand finish, Stacey Sloan crossing from close range with minutes left on the clock and Morton made no mistake from the kicking tee. Cooke had to chase the game in the final minutes, they put everything into winning the contest, a forward pass in the end just seeing them fall short.

Post Match:

Gemma Faulkner

David Clarke