DLSP 3 BUCCANEERS 17
Buccaneers U-20’s maintained their winning form when defeating De La Salle Palmerstown 17-3 in this J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier League 3 at Kirwan Park. In the Dublin mountains on Sunday afternoon, overlooking Dublin city, the young Pirates got themselves on the score sheet first with winger Ben Daly receiving a cross field kick from fly-half Ruaidhri Fallon in which he touched down in the far corner catching the DLSP defence cold.
Fallon missed the conversion but redeemed himself by nailing an impossible kick from the touchline with his weak foot. He converted the try from Longford man and flying winger Jack Finn who bulldozed his way over the whitewash to put Buccaneers 12-0 just after half time.
Next on the score sheet was skipper Tom Shine who, after some fantastic offloading play in a move involving 8 Buccs players, went flying over the try line. DLSP would score 3 points themselves near the end of the second half to complete the 17-3 scoreline.
Notable performances were that of scrumhalf Adam Flanagan who gave quick ball all day long, putting DLSP under huge pressure. Flankers Gavin Daly and Daragh Fitzgerald threw themselves into tackle after tackle throughout the game. The excellent front row of Jim Connolly, Cameron Brill and Kieran Egan put in a fearless performance for the young Pirates, making a massive contribution to scrum and lineout for Buccaneers. Second rows Fionn McDonnell and Cian McCann displayed great ferociousness around the park with McCann showing how great his footwork skills are developing as he popped up on the wing to outrun the home winger. No.8 Luke Balsinger was brilliant in attack, carrying ball all day to put DLSP on the back foot.
Fly half Fallon ran the game for the Athlone side with first centre Orrin Burgess dominating his DLSP opposition. Skipper Shine led by example throughout making vital carries and distributing great ball to the wider players. Both wingers Daly and Finn got their names on the score sheet and worked well with full back Dylan King (DK Nozzle) to form a formidable back three for Buccaneers
Replacements Joe Henson and Ethan Friel both came off the bench to impact the game in their respective positions of prop and scrum half. A great win for the young pirates as they continue unbeaten in Leinster.
BUCCANEERS:- 1. Jim Connolly 2. Cameron Brill 3. Kieran Egan 4. Cian McCann 5. Fionn McDonnell 6. Daragh Fitzgerald 7. Gavin Daly 8. Luke Balsinger 9. Adam Flanagan 10. Ruaidhri Fallon 11. Ben Daly 12. Orrin Burgess 13. Tom Shine (captain) 14. Jack Finn 15. Dylan king (DK Nozzle). Replacements:- 18. Joe Henson 19. Ethan Friel, 20, Kolo Kiripati 21, Lasha Laoshvilli 22, Rory Kilgariff.
Niall Quinn thanks all the squad, Sam Fogarty and coaches Martin Staunton, Damien Shine, Niall Daly, Gerard Fallon, Eoin O’Reilly, Sam Kroupe, Brian McDonnell, as well as Tom O’Neill and physio Aishling Fox plus the growing numbers of supporters at our games.
