BUCCS AWAY TO OLD WESLEY
BUCCANEERS face Old Wesley in their final away fixture of the Energia All-Ireland League which takes place on the 4G surface at Energia Park, Donnybrook, on Saturday commencing at 2.30 p.m.
Buccs have encountered some bumps in recent outings, primarily due to the absence of many regulars for various reasons. But they will be prepared to give of their best as they strive to retain a play-off berth in an ever-tightening finish to the league. City of Armagh (Buccs final home opponents) retain pole position on 57 points, Old Belvedere are on 52 with Buccs a further point adrift. Highfield are next on 50 while Old Wesley are on 44, still harbouring ambitions of a final flurry that could elevate them into a play-off spot.
So, it is all to play for as the league goes down to the wire. Old Wesley will be confident that they can prevail, particularly on their own artificial surface, but Buccs are capable of regrouping at the end of a season in which they have exceeded expectations. An enthralling contest looks likely.
U-20’s AWAY TO CORINTHIANS IN CUP SEMI-FINAL
Ironically next up in this Leinster Rugby Purcell Cup run is another Connacht club with the Cup semi-final in Galway against a really strong Corinthians outfit who have completed an excellent Leinster League season in which they lost really tight games to champions Terenure College. They could now be re-enforced by returning players especially from Cistercian College Roscrea and Grand slam winning Ireland U-20’s players.
On paper the fearless Buccaneers will be going into this semi-final as real underdogs not having beaten Corinthians in nearly two years. The westerners are Connacht U20s kingpins who may psychologically feel that at home they have already booked their place in the decider (against probably Terenure) in the Energia Stadium on Sunday the 16th of April. But just as Buccs surprised Queen’s University in the Bateman Cup All-Ireland Semi-Final, each Pirates player will wear their jersey with pride, turn up on the day fully focused and keep playing until the final whistle. If they do, anything is possible.
Club Captain and U20s head coach Martin Staunton, with his management team, will relish preparing for the challenge posed by former Buccaneers coach Michael Harding’s Corinthians U20s. In what promises to be an entertaining encounter, as the live streaming service is unavailable, please support our young warriors on the day by getting over to Clounacauneen to cheer on the Pirates who are mostly all underage again next season. Kick-off is 3 p.m.
THIRDS AWAY TO PORTUMNA IN CUP SEMI-FINAL
Following their impressive win over Westport Seconds, Buccaneers Bank of Ireland Ard-Na-Cregg Cup voyage continues with a trip down river on the Shannon to Portumna on Sunday where they take on the home side’s Firsts in the semi-final which kicks off at 2 p.m.
Portumna dished out a home 45-10 demolition of Connemara Seconds at their Castle Avenue pitch so will be well fired up for a Pirates raid. But Buccaneers have a nice blend of canny experience and exuberant youth which may prove decisive after what will surely be a searching test that could well go to extra time.
