BUCCANEERS HOST BRUFF AS AIL KICKS OFF
BUCCANEERS kick off this season’s Energia All-Ireland League with a home fixture against Bruff on Saturday when the action gets under way in Dubarry Park at 2.30 p.m. Buccs play in the new Division 2B South for this campaign.
Buccaneers will field a primarily youthful crew with a growing number of players coming through from the club’s successful U-20 squad of recent years. Darin Claasen is again Head Coach assisted by Garreth Hallligan after steadying the Pirates ship last season with Damien Curley coming in as Manager. The experienced James Kelly is a deserving choice as Captain; the prop can be counted on to show committed and passionate leadership.
Spanish front-rower Hugo Hernando looks an interesting recruit with prop Dylan Quinn being another arrival but otherwise the squad will have many familiar faces. Corey Reid, Orrin Burgess, Abel Bouwens, Tom Shine, Thomas Cotton, Rourke O’Sullivan and Leo MacFarlane are likely to be key figures in the backline. Conor Sheehan, Sean Glennon, Patrick Egan, Luke Balsiger, Ryan O’Meara, Niall Tallon and Dylan Bolger can anchor the pack. Oisin Dolan, Ross Murphy-Sweeney, Charlie Byrne, Harry Balsiger, Cathal Walsh and Sam Fogarty are others striving for starting berths
Exciting prospects such as Abu Saka, Aindriu Oates, Andrew Henson, Conor Dowling, Jack Quinn, Kailin Blessing, Filip Galbarczyk and Kyle Byrne are likely to feature during the season as could teenagers Darragh Glennon and Oisin O’Donoghue.
Not much is known about Bruff at this stage apart from shipping a heavy Munster Cup defeat against a strong Highfield side. But the Limerick club will surely be doughty battlers and likely to have a hardy pack so Buccaneers may need to maximise the space at Dubarry Park.
PRE-MATCH FUNCTION FOR BRUFF GAME
There will be a pre-match function at 12.30 p.m. for this game as Buccaneers begin their 75th year. Meal in The Bounty wlth complimentary wine, 100-page matchday programme and free admission to the game all for 35 euro. Groups and individuals catered for. Contact Geraldine at 0861732711 to book.
