YOUTHS NEWS
Buccaneers U-15’s finished their Connacht league campaign with a hard-fought win against last year’s Cup final opponents Carrick-on-Shannon. A try in each half by Hugo Hannon and Nathan Kelly, one of which was converted by Andrew Cotton, gave the Athlone team a 12-0 win in good Dubarry Park conditions on Saturday. Buccs could have scored more tries only for a series of unforced errors. The visitors got little room to move as the Buccs line speed and tackling put paid to any Carrick attacking aspirations. But Buccs will need to improve their handling and attacking options if they are to retain the Connacht Cup. Eoin O’Sullivan and Tadgh Coleman are wished speedy recoveries.
One minute’s silence was observed before this game in memory of the late Peter Layden, who was President of Carrick-On-Shannon and father of Buccaneers Senior player Shane.
BUCCANEERS:- C West, J Kelly, J Ryan, E Claffey, P Bourke, H Hannon, R Colleran( captain), N Kelly, D Cleary, D Dullea, R Dolan, R Nagle, F O’Brien, A Connors, J Bourke, O O’Donoghue, D Glennon, J Kelly, S Brett, P Finnan, A Bellacemi and E Killeen.
Trailing 12-0 away to Corinthians in their Connacht U-16 League Division One semi-final, hard-working Buccaneers did not panic and put in a strong finish to overhaul the Galway side by 17-12. Darragh Burke and Andrew Henson scored a try apiece with Henson adding one conversion and landed two penalties in their great comeback. They will now square up to Sligo in the final.
Buccaneers also progressed to the Connacht U-17 League final with a storming 36-19 victory over Sligo at Hamilton Park on Sunday. They put in a tremendous performance to overcome the fancied home side and now advance to a decider against table toppers Corinthians.
It was a good weekend too for Athlone schools in the Connacht Junior Cups. Colaiste Chiarain defeated Athenry Vocational School, Athlone Community College overcame St. Paul’s, Oughterard, while Marist College took the scalp of Roscommon CBS. Gallen Ferbane also advanced.
