RAINEY 23 BUCCANEERS 22
Not for the first time this season, Buccaneers conceded a costly late score with Dan O’Neill’s 78th minute pushover try earning Rainey a 23-22 Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B victory over the midlanders at windswept Hatrick Park, Magherafelt, on Saturday. Thus the Pirates had to settle for a losing bonus point that really should have been more while O’Neill’s second touchdown sealed a bonus point home win for the Derry club.
Buccs made three changes from the game against Clogher Valley. Fit again Corey Reid and David Colgan returned in the backline with Patrick Egan starting in the back row. Rainey had two changes in personnel from the side that lost at Dubarry Park with Lorcan Quinn coming in at scrumhalf and Ewan Bolton at lock.
The Ulster side had first benefit of the bitterly cold breeze on a heavy surface. An early Buccs knock-on was compounded by holding on to the ball too long, gifting a penalty to the hosts. This was punted towards the right corner and, following lineout possession, ultimately led to Adam Montgomery’s 9th minute try. The Shannonsiders replied within 2 minutes, Gearoid McDonald atoning for his knock-on with a fine penalty kick.
Ross Murphy-Sweeney then made a promising break along the right flank that came to nought but, shortly afterwards, Reid burst forward to link with Thomas Cotton and his fellow centre’s footwork and pace saw him surge in for an unconverted 13th minute try on the left and an 8-5 lead. Following a tap free, Rainey found Buccs left flank unguarded as they punted a 50/22 to the corner. Following a number of pick and goes, Quinn notched a smart try to edge the northerners back into the lead.
Buccaneers finished the half strongly, their fierce pressure yielding a series of close-in penalties. Rainey’s defence held them out for a period before the ball was spread right to left where Colgan dived over near the corner flag. McDonald squeezed over his touchline conversion that gave the Athlone side a deserved 15-10 advantage at halftime.
O’Neill scored a pushover try for Rainey 5 minutes into the second half to level the scores and Buccs now had to endure some pressure. Reid made a smart read to intercept inside his own half to send Cotton racing forward. The U-20 looked like making it all the way to the home line but was tackled just short. Buccs now enjoyed another good spell of territory and Sean Glennon’s breakaway was whistled back due to a tight forward pass decision.
Skipper Reid intercepted a second time on halfway and had the legs to dot down between the uprights. McDonald’s conversion gave Buccs a 22-15 lead after 68 minutes before Scott McLean finally found his range with 6 minutes later to set up a tight finish.
Buccs restart went dead and their pack that had utterly dominated the scrum for 50 minutes were somehow now being pinged by the referee, giving further encouragement to the beefier home unit on the testing surface. Adam Cooper was the unlucky player to be sin-binned as a consequence of these penalties three minutes from time and Rainey promptly profited. The homesters took full advantage and kicked a penalty to within five metres of the Buccs line. From there they mauled over for O’Neill’s match-winning try.
So a long and disappointing drive home after such a promising position. Again minor mistakes caused major problems. Little use was made of the significant breeze having done some splendid work playing against it in the first half. An incapacity to close out the match proved fatal once again despite a significantly improved overall display that deserved a better outcome.
RAINEY:- K.Thornton; A.Donaghy, J.McCartney, J.McMurray, A.Brown; S.McLean, L.Quinn; A.Nevin, D.O’Neill, C.Smyth; R.McCusker, E.Bolton; A.Montgomery, T.Hutchinson and M.McCusker (captain). Replacements used:- M.Nevin, T.McNicholl, D.Devlin, J.Bell and D.Ennis-McManus.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Colgan; R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Cotton, C.Reid (captain), O.Burgess; G.McDonald, A.Bouwens; A.Cooper, S.Glennon, C.Byrne; S.Meecham, R.O’Meara; C.Sheehan, P.Egan and D.Donovan. Replacements:- J.Kelly (for Byrne), J.Crampton (for Sheehan), T.Shine (for Murphy-Sweeney), D.Bolger and H.Balsiger.
Referee:- Andrew Munce (IRFU)
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