'Wegians, who exited the AIB Cup last Sunday, set the tone for this win with a fifth-minute try from powerful number 8 Ati Olive after some concerted pressure from the forwards.

But a break from Ireland U-19 international Luke Marshall teed up Ballymena's only try of this action-packed encounter. Flanker Andrew Kerr got the touchdown, with scrum half David O'Hara's successful conversion putting the Braidmen in front.

O'Hara added a penalty on the half hour for a 10-5 scoreline and although he added another before the break, 'Wegians blasted back to level the tie on the stroke of half-time.

Lock Brian McClearn stormed through for an unconverted try and out-half Ross Shaughnessy landed an injury-time drop goal, squaring it up at 13-13.

In a ding-dong second half, 'Wegians' superior defence frustrated the life out of Ballymena.

Midway through the half, the match-winning score arrived from a penalty from replacement centre Rob O'Beirne.

Although Marshall, Bob Young, captain Sam McKinney and full-back Jamie Smith tried desperately to engineer a response from the hosts, the scoreboard remained the same until full-time.

Best on the day for the Galway men were the Muldoons, Conor and Ivan, the hard-hitting Olive and John Cleary who covered and countered well at full-back.

Scorers:

Ballymena: Try: Andrew Kerr; Con: David O’Hara; Pens: David O’Hara 2

Galwegians: Tries: Ati Olive, Brian McClearn; Pen: Rob O’Beirne; Drop: Ross Shaughnessy.