BUCCANEERS JUNIORS 31 GALWEGIANS JUNIORS 32
BUCCANEERS JUNIORS and their Galwegians counterparts served up competitive and entertaining fare in the semi-final of the Christy Reid Cup played at sunny Dubarry Park on Sunday when a final kick of the match edged a 32-31 victory in favour of the visitors.
Both teams were much changed including jersey colours from the previous week’s pool encounter. Buccs had 8 fresh starters, virtually all in the backline where Danny Reid was the only survivor albeit at fullback instead of flyhalf on this occasion. Wegians had one less alteration. The teams traded early penalties with Gearoid McDonald opening the scoring on 12 minutes and James Deacy replying 2 minutes later.
The home pack gradually got to grips with the opposing unit and, following a fine McDonald penalty to touch at the Bounty corner, the forwards got to work and Oisin Donoghue applied the finishing touch for a try which McDonald converted with the final act of the half to give the Pirates a 10-3 lead.
6 minutes into the second half Robert Teape surged forward and Bobby Foxe carried the move on before Reid scored Buccs second try in style. McDonald’s conversion pushed Buccs 17-3 to the good. But shortly afterwards, Cian Daly was yellow-carded and Galwegians promptly made the most of their numerical advantage. Deacy notched a 50th minute try which he also converted and 5 minutes later Nathan Lee dotted down to narrow the westerners arrears to 17-15.
The Tribesmen were soon in the lead, a powerful 62nd minute charge by Fionn Roussel yielding a try converted by Deacy. Buccs responded and applied fierce pressure, going close several times before Orrin Burgess powered over on the left. McDonald added the conversion via an upright to regain the lead.
Fortunes continued to sway and a Deacy penalty edged Wegians back in front. However, the Shannonsiders struck back following an excellent McDonald penalty to touch close to right corner from where Buccs got a super maul going after Sam Fogarty had won good lineout possession. Burgess added his bulk to the pack to surge over for his second try and, with just 2 minutes remaining, McDonald’s conversion should have sealed a home win.
But Buccs were tardy dealing with the restart and Wegians never say die attitude was rewarded with a final move try by Rory Wilson. Deacy duly slotted over the conversion with the final act of the game to snatch a dramatic 32-31 victory. At that stage of an energetic and entertaining contest, the Pirates should have been able to hold on to their late lead. Instead, they will have to look at the benefits they will have derived from two vigorous contests against Galwegians ahead of the Junior League kick-off when tackling will need to be sharper.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Reid; B.Daly, O.Burgess, T.Sheehan, K.Czerniak; G.McDonald, Colin Daly; Cian Daly, O.Dolan, A.M.Abono; S.Fogarty (captain), L.Giles; B.Foxe, G.Catarino and A.Saka. Replacements:- O.Donoghue (for Cian Daly, 27 mins), A.Oates (for Abono, 27 mins), R.Teape (for Burgess, h/t), D.King (for Czerniak, 57 mins), A.M.Abono (for Donoghue, 59 mins), O.Burgess (for Teape, 64 mins), E.Friel (for Colin Daly 66 mins), C.Malone (for Oates, 70 mins), K.Foxe and P.Malassou.
GALWEGIANS:- D.Fuller; J.Allnutt, T.Berry, J.Deacy (captain), H.Shalaby; C.Elwood, L.Casserly; G.Ukwuoma, N.Lee, C.McGrath; N.Duggan, B.McHugo; J.Burke, R.Wilson and R.Conneely. Replacements:- A.Kavanagh, M.Harty, F.Roussel, M.Conlon, A.Abkary, B.Donnelly, C.O’Reilly, O.Kennedy and R.McHugh.
Referee:- Cian Hough (Connacht).
