BUCCANEERS 0 DUNMORE 52
A physically stronger and more experienced Dunmore had too much armoury for Buccaneers Seconds in their Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior Cup game played at wet and windy Dubarry Park on Sunday. The visitors, going strongly in the league, ran out 57-0 victors against a weak home squad who gave it their all to little avail.
Playing against the elements, the visitors made a perfect start with M.J.Gavin breaking through for a 5th minute try before a flowing counter-attack by Dunmore yielded a 23rd minute Dylan Brady try. Buccs were competing bravely and, after Gavin had incurred a yellow card, looked like opening their account on the half-hour mark. They opted to tap and go close in when perhaps kicking the penalty would have been the prudent option and Gert Jacobus intercepted on his own 22 to race away for a killer try.
Just before the interval, Michael Mannion barrelled over for a try to stretch the east Galway side’s lead to 26-0 at the break, helped by 3 Conor Burns conversions. Following a penalty to the left 3 minutes into the second half, Mannion powered over for his second try.
This was the first of 3 Dunmore tries scored in quick succession with a fast break from halfway being finished by Eoin Reddington before a thumping tackle in midfield turned over possession and Euan Groenewald was soon touching down between the uprights.
Buccaneers then had a good period of promising territory but lacked the grunt and guile to penetrate the westerners defence. Late tries by Conor Walsh and Burns meant that Dunmore scored 9 tries and sent out a signal that they will be serious contenders for the silverware later in the season. Buccs will now be consigned to the Plate competition while their upcoming league joust away to Tuam now takes priority.
BUCCANEERS:- H.Hughes; P.Malassou, K.Foxe, F.Lennon, J.Dowd; S.Tan, M.Egan; A.M.Abono, C.Brill, O.Donoghue; S.Fogarty (captain), F.McDonnell; G.Daly, R.Byrne and A.Markov. Replacements:- L.Giles (for Daly,50 mins), E.Naughton (for Abono, 50 mins), B.Foxe (for Donoghue, 50 mins), R.O’Reilly and G.Fallon.
DUNMORE:- G.Jacobus; B.Hughes, C.Burns (captain), C.Evans, D.Brady; J.Duvenage, J.Coen; C.Donlon, J.Geraghty, R.Mullin; A.Doherty, G.Duffy; M.J.Gavin, E.Groenewald and M.Mannion. Replacements used:- C.McDonagh, S.O’Toole, S.Burns, C.Walsh and E.Reddington.
Referee:- Cian Hough (Connacht).
