Not for the first time, Galwegians were left to wonder what bounty this season might have yielded if only they had the services of their contracted players for the duration of the campaign. Blackrock, too, were left with plenty to ponder as their hopes of a top-four finish became unlikely after this defeat at Crowley Park.

Blackrock, essentially needing a bonus point win to lay claim to a semi-final spot, will be disappointed that a match they looked like winning early in the second half should culminate in a defeat by more than double scores.

Their ball retention going forward deserved more, but they met an impressive defence where Mervyn Murphy, Bryan Shelbourne and Nigel Carolan were outstanding.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4 mins: Bracken, try; Elwood, con 7-0; 8: Elwood, pen 10-0; 12: Elwood, pen, 13-0; 17: Turner, try, Kilroy, con, 13-7; 20: Elwood, pen, 16-7; 28: Ferris, try, 16-12; 33: Kilroy, pen; 16-15; 43: Kilroy, pen; 16-18; 54: Murphy, try, Elwood con, 23-18; 63: Elwood, pen; 26-18; 79: Uijs, try, Elwood, con; 33-18; 83: Brady, try, Elwood, con, 40-18.

GALWEGIANS: G Duffy; G Brady, P Duignan, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood, B Shelbourne; A Kershaw, J Flannery, P Bracken; D Browne, J Casserly; J Muldoon, B Gavin, J O'Connor. Replacements: D McFarland for Kershaw (41 mins); M Uijs for Flannery (41 mins); Kershaw for Bracken (75 mins); I Muldoon for O'Connor (80 mins); F McLaughlin for Murphy (80 mins).

BLACKROCK: N Turner; A O'Neill, G Brown, D Quinlan, J Ferris; C Kilroy, B Willis; I McLaughlin, G McEvoy, N Treston; B Casey, J Fitzgerald; D O'Brien, G McCarthy, R Woods. Replacements: P Wallace for Treston (41 mins); D McGettigan for O'Brien (64 mins); T Hogan for McCarthy (72 mins).

Referee: G Doyle (Ulster).