BUCCANEERS 28 GALWEGIANS 33
by Michael Silke
BUCCANEERS and Galwegians Seconds teams served up hugely entertaining and committed fare in the Connacht Junior Plate final before a last move of the match try separated the two whole-hearted squads with Wegians prevailing by 33-28 at sun-drenched
Buccs, who got a walkover in the semi-final, made five changes from their quarter-final win over
The light blues, playing down the slope, were really dominant in the opening quarter with their bulkier forwards causing steady problems for a primarily younger and lighter Pirates pack. But Buccs snatched an opportunist 19th minute try when Nick Purcell fastened on to loose possession close to his own 22 and the scrumhalf had both the pace and composure to hare up the right flank before touching down for a try at the posts with David Fagan’s conversion giving Buccs a 7-5 lead against the run of play.
But Buccs knocked on from the restart and Wegians made the most of possession and good fortune. They earned a penalty which they punted to touch on the right and, following the lineout, they dinked the ball over the top where Purcell was blatantly impeded as he was about to catch the ball. Referee Shane McElwee was well positioned but, incredibly, let play continue and Armstrong profited to notch his second try near the posts. Shaughnessy converted to put the light blues 12-7 ahead after 23 minutes but the Athlone side surely should have had a relieving penalty instead in this critical incident.
However, Buccaneers were now settling into the contest and their improving territory and possession earned them a brace of penalties which Fagan duly slotted over to edge them 13-12 ahead by the half hour mark. A 37th minute Shaughnessy penalty gave Galwegians a 15-12 halftime advantage although it could have been greater as Paddy Finn (brother of Buccs Conor) made a powerful break down the right flank where Glen Costello did just enough to force the centre put a foot in touch before he could ground the ball.
Buccs began the second half in similar manner to Wegians in the first period and the Pirates applied growing pressure on the Tribesmen. Scott Flanagan made a rousing charge forward that led to a sustained spell close to the Galwegians line and the Shannonsides forced a series of close-in penalties. The light blues scrum was now in trouble and twice the referee whistled a shade prematurely to negate two James Donoghue touchdowns whilst awarding penalties to Buccs in the process! Nevertheless, the pressure paid off when Sean Flynn burrowed through for a 49th minute unconverted try but a Shaughnessy penalty within three minutes levelled the scores at 18-18.
Just two minutes later the referee finally lost patience with Galwegians persistent scrummage infringements and prop Kurtis Kyne was sin-binned. Buccs promptly added to their opponents’ difficulties when, following good lineout possession won from the resultant penalty to touch, Brian Campbell drove forward and when the ball was recycled Flanagan surged through for a well-taken unconverted try. The midlanders now looked like getting the upper hand but a Shaughnessy penalty just before the hour mark stemmed the tide.
Then Buccs conceded a penalty in a promising position and, following the placekick to touch near halfway, Wegians put their best move of the game together switching play from right to left and Ronan Burke joined the line to score a smashing 63rd minute try, matched by Shaughnessy’s conversion, for a 28-23 lead. Hughes soon made a good break for Buccs but the final pass lacked precision and the game remained finely balanced approaching the closing minutes. Then Galvin turned over possession near halfway and Fagan made a snipe before grubber kicking ahead. Hughes won the race for possession to ground the ball wide on the left for a 76th minute try but Fagan was off-target with a third successive conversion. This left the match deadlocked at 28-28 and extra time looked inevitable.
But from the restart, Buccs were penned inside their own 22 and just could not clear their lines and, eventually, Wegians snaffled possession on the right before smartly moving the ball to the opposite wing where substitute Michael O’Hare emerged the hero when dotting down for the match-winning score in the final move of an absorbing contest. It mattered not a whit to Galwegians that Shaughnessy’s conversion fell short as the City side took the honours on a 33-28 margin after a high-scoring decider.
Buccaneers were justifiably aggrieved that Galwegians second try was allowed — it proved the difference between the sides — but they will also rue poor tackling early on and, more crucially, too many unforced errors throughout a contest in which they gave as good as they got after taking the opening quarter to get to the pitch of the duel. Promotion in the league was their primary goal and they achieved that. Now they know what they have to do when they square up to sides such as this Wegians outfit next season. The margins were finite and Buccs can take great heart from their performance in what was a highly commendable final.
BUCCANEERS:- G.Costello; D.Griffiths, S.Flynn, B.Walsh, H.Hughes; D.Fagan, N.Purcell; K.Grehan, S.Flanagan, B.Campbell; R.Byrne, S.Byrne (captain); P.Hennessy, E.Galvin and J.Donoghue. Replacements:- B.Pears (for Walsh, h/t), N.Flynn (for Hennessy, 63 mins), G.Fallon (for Purcell, 63 mins), R.Grenham, K.Langdon, J.Lopez and M.Lyons.
GALWEGIANS:- R.Burke; G.Armstrong, D.Symes (captain), P.Finn, S.Madden; R.Shaughnessy, D.Quill; C.Gavin, C.Dunne, K.Kyne; S.Perkins, C.O’Malley; E.Touhey, R.Moore and E.Hannon. Replacements:- M.Fox (for Gavin, h/t), C.Mackey (for Finn, inj. h/t), L.McKnight (for Perkins, 61 mins), M.O’Hare (for Madden, 70 mins) and A.Byrne (for Hannon, temp. 57/64 mins).
Referee:- Shane McElwee (
BUCCANEERS 3
Despite a strong start, Buccaneers Womens team were unable to maintain their impetus against a better balanced and more rounded Sligo side who claimed the Connacht Womens Invitational Cup by 13-3 at
With Saturday being a work day, Buccs were short a number of players including Christine Mannion and Aislinn Kelleher while Mele Kiripati was another absentee due to a bereavement. Nevertheless, their rejigged side started brightly and spent lots of time inside the Sligo 22 and indeed much of that within ten metres of the north-westerners’ line. Emer Phelan looked like getting an early try but came to ground tantalisingly short of the line and, following this initial dominant spell, all Buccs had to show for their efforts was a Colette McSpadden penalty.
Gradually, Buccs line speed and shape fell off and
Nevertheless, the Buccaneers ladies can take considerable credit from a season in which they have regrouped and rebuilt. They may have no silverware to show for their endeavours but they reached both the League and Cup finals, no mean achievements indeed. A lot of girls new to rugby have gained invaluable experience that will stand the squad in good stead for next season.
BUCCANEERS:- M.Reynolds; E.O’Brien, F.Cooney, S.Griffin, N.Gough; C.McSpadden, H.Kilduff; T.Finnerty, S.Kelly, K.Hynes; D.Cromar, K.Bradley; D.Farrell, A.Kemmy and E.Phelan (captain). Replacements:- M.Devaney, T.Kiernan, L.Stuart-Trainor, R.Jordan and G.Goldrick.
FIRSTS AWAY TO BALLYMENA
BUCCANEERS face a long round-trip to
U-2O’s Cup Semi-final at Galwegians
BUCCANEERS and Galwegians square up to one another again in the semi-final of the Connacht U-20 Cup at
Bag Pack volunteers needed
BUCCANEERS have two days of bag-packing at Smith’s Supervalu, Monksland, on Friday and Saturday, April 17th and 18th. Volunteers from all adult and youths teams are sought for this venture.
Congratulations
Congrats to Luke Carty and Conor Kenny who played with Ireland U-18 Clubs and Ireland U-19’s respectively over the Easter period. Well done too to Athlone Institute of Technology on retaining the Ireland Colleges Senior Cup crown.
Condolences
Deepest sympathy is extended to Hugh Campbell and family on the death of his mother Rosanna.