BUCCS FACE SLIGO IN SENIOR CUP FINAL
BUCCANEERS face an Easter Sunday showdown against Sligo in the Bank of Ireland Senior Cup final at the Sportsground, Galway. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Sligo will be really fired up for this battle as they strive to atone for their late, late loss to Buccs in the final round of the Connacht Senior League early this season. They were ten points up with just four minutes remaining in that encounter but the Pirates raided two converted tries in a dramatic conclusion with the victory denying the north-westerners a second league title.
Sligo have been motoring nicely in Division 2B of the Energia All-Ireland League. They have won four of their past five matches so have hit a decent run of form that has moved them up to fourth place. They have a powerful front row including Jason East and Kuba Wojtkowicz. The O’Hehir brothers and Rob Holian are other highly competitive forwards. In the backline outhalf Euan Brown can make ground as well as being a prolific placekicker while Jack Keegan, Ryan Feehily and Brendan Cunningham will need curbing.
Buccaneers will be keen to retain the Cup and thus record a rare Senior double but, of course, they will have to do it without any Academy players while injuries rule out key operators Shane Layden and probably Steveni Lombard. Thus major onus will be on Danny Qualter, Martin Staunton and Ruairi Byrne to lead their younger cohorts Sean O’Connell, Ryan O’Meara, Fergus Galvin, Oisin Dolan, Cian McCann and James Kelly in the forwards battle. U-20’s Fionn McDonnell, Dylan Bolger and Robbie Byrne have been playing well of late and could feature.
Frank Hopkins, Stephen Mannion and Conor FitzGibbon will set the tone in the backline where Michael Hanley’s line and place-kicking will be vital. Saul O’Carroll will surely start after his recent injury and he will bring an attacking potency as will Ross Murphy-Sweeney to this sector where Tom Shine and Orrin Burgess are possible inclusions.
It looks like being a very finely balanced and ‘egg-citing’ decider with the outcome possibly decided by which side discounts the occasion and manages the game better.
AUCTION
Please note the date in your diary for BUCCANEERS PREMIUM AUCTION which takes place in The Bounty Bar & Restaurant on Sunday, April 30th from 3.30 p.m.
TABLE QUIZ
Buccaneers Touch Rugby thank all who supported their Table Quiz.
