BUCCS HOME TO CASHEL
BUCCANEERS welcome Cashel to Dubarry Park on Saturday where the sides will battle it out in the third round of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A. Kick-off in Athlone is at 2.30 p.m.
Cashel are one of four clubs in this division who have secured bonus point victories in both their outings to date so another tough test awaits the Pirates. The men from Tipp have scored 38 points in each of their fixtures, a narrow opening day Munster derby win at Old Crescent followed by a more clearcut victory last week at home to Banbridge.
Forwards Mikey Wilson and the two Brendans — Crosse and Ryan — will be familiar to Buccs from previous encounters. They have a formidable typical Munster competive pack while Alan Flannery and Josh Pickering are backs who will need curbing. Buccs will be anxiously awaiting well-being reports on skipper Frankie Hopkins and centre Corey Reid who were both forced off due to injuries at Barnhall but may have better news on Gearoid McDonald who has yet to taste AIL action for the Shannonsiders. Despite results, the pack has shown improvement but the team needs to tighten up defensively and do the basics correctly.
OTHER FIXTURES
BUCCANEERS SECONDS have another testing away assignment when they travel to Ballina on Sunday for a Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior 1A League match kicking off in Heffernan Park at 2.30 p.m. The Mayo club, relegated from the AIL last season, will be warm favourites here. Buccs U-17s Yellow squad are also on the road on Sunday for a league game at Claremorris, kick-off 12 noon, while the U-18 Girls side have a league game away to Ballinrobe on Saturday, also a 12 noon duel.
Meanwhile, at time of writing, it looks like Dubarry Park will an absolute hive of activity at the weekend. Five fixtures as well as the AIL match are scheduled for the Athlone venue on Saturday with three more games taking place there on Sunday along with Minis coaching.
SATURDAY:-
U-16s v Creggs 2.30 p.m.
U-15s v Loughrea 2.30 p.m.
U-14s v Galway Bay 1.30 p.m.
U-13s v Dunmore 1.30 p.m.
U-15s Girls v Creggs 12 noon.
SUNDAY:-
U-18.5s v Galwegians 12 noon
U-17s Black v Galway Bay 12 noon
