BUCCANEERS 28 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN 26
A magnificent penalty kick from near the halfway line by Euan McKeigue, the final act of the game, salvaged a 28-26 J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier League 2 victory for Buccaneers U-20s over University College Dublin at breezy Dubarry Park on Sunday. After impressively building a 22-0 lead in the opening half hour, the young Pirates did their utmost to throw away the valuable points on offer.
Buccs made 6 changes in personnel, equally divided between backs and forwards, from the side that lost to a last minute try at Seapoint. They took early control of the proceedings despite the tricky crossfield breeze and had a bonus point in the bag before the half-hour mark. Following a penalty to the left, a great drive was finished by Stephen O’Connor for a 5th minute try. After Paul O’Sullivan was halted just short of the UCD line, it looked like the hooker had grabbed his second try but the referee disallowed this touchdown.
However, he did not have to wait too long to notch his second try, again in very similar circumstances to the opener. This conversion looked like it had gone in via the far upright but was not awarded. Buccs third try came in similar fashion to the opening brace with Kailin Blessing applying the finishing touch. Kaylum Curran was again off-target albeit being unlucky on this occasion as his conversion went wide via an upright. Nevertheless, the Pirates led 15-0.
After spurning a straight-forward penalty from in front of the posts, Buccs secured a bonus point try on 26 minutes. This was achieved in much the same manner as the opening three except that Blessing got the ball in a central position from where he thundered through for a try which Curran converted to push Buccs 22-0 to the good.
But Buccaneers dropped their focus and accuracy from hereon and, following a mazy run by Hugh Byrne, James Prendergast dotted down near the posts and Charlie Pender added the extras. This brought UCD’s Seconds, who trailed 22-7 at the break, alive and an early second half try by Hugo Maguire, further rejuvenated them.
The Students were right back in the contest on 54 minutes when Oisin Rowan finished off a swift counter-attack. The conversion did not look good but was awarded and suddenly their arrears were a mere 3 points. Buccs were very sloppy and error prone in the third quarter but Jack Quinn gave them a bit of breathing space with a 57th minute penalty to lead 25-19.
The Shannonsiders looked like turning a win into defeat when College went through an end to end move with Rowan allowed run in behind the posts for a 76th minute try. Maguire’s conversion gave UCD the lead for the first time but Buccaneers regrouped and their efforts were rewarded with a penalty just inside the visitors’ half. McKeigue bravely opted to take the long placekick in the difficult breeze but he boomed it straight and true with the final action of the match to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
This was a game that Buccaneers should have won quite comfortably particularly after their early scoring spree. Hopefully they will have learned to maintain industry and focus from start to finish. Tackling was inconsistent but the pack were on top in the tight. However, this late, late win gets their season up and running and they will surely improve with more time together on the training paddock.
BUCCANEERS:- E.McKeigue; D.Kelly, O.O’Donoghue, R.Colleran, P.O’Sullivan; K.Curran, O.Egan; K.Blessing, S.O’Connor, E.Rooney-Digan; C.Spellman, P.Bourke; T.Coleman, D.Doheny and K.Byrne (captain). Replacements:- A.Coonan (for Blessing, 26 mins), L.Leshona (for Rooney-Digan, h/t), M.Turner (for Coleman, h/t), K.Blessing (for Coonan, 51 mins), E.Rooney-Digan (for Leshona, 51 mins), S.Glennon (for Spellman, inj. 51 mins), J.Quinn (for M.Turner (for O’Sullivan, 60 mins), A.Coonan (for Rooney-Digan, 69 mins) and J.Kelly.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN:- H.Byrne; J.Prendergast, H.Maguire, N.Bastida, C.O’Connell; C.Pender, A.Russell; C.Harris, M.Wyse, D.Keogh; C.O’Neill, R.Murphy; K.Mebuin, H.Miller and A.Murray. Replacements used:- R.O’Neill, J.Murphy, B.Griffiths, L.Cormican, L.Kilmurray, D.Byrne and O.Rowan.
Referee:- Aaron O’Connor (Leinster).
