BUCCANEERS SECONDS 0 CONNEMARA 31
On an unseasonably mild night, Buccaneers Seconds came away empty-handed from their Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior 1A League meeting played under the Dubarry Park floodlights on Saturday. Buccs had five changes from their previous starting XV with Richie Greene, Goncalo Caterino, Cedric Fokam, Gerard Fallon (tempted back from retirement) and debutant Estiaan van Rensburg in from the kick-off.
Henry O’Toole opened the scoring for the Blacks with an 11th minute try and Ian Staunton finished off some enterprising play by the visitors for their second touchdown seven minutes later. Ian Heanue was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on in between and the exchanges were relatively even for most of the first half with Harry Balsiger making a couple of promising breaks for the hosts. However, a Buccs lineout overthrow close to their own line gifted possession to the men from the west and Staunton took full advantage to touchdown for his second try on 32 minutes. The hooker also added a pair of conversions that gave Connemara a 19-0 lead at the interval.
Within a minute of the restart Michael O’Toole gathered his chip over the cover to send Oran O’Neill in for Connemara’s bonus point try. Two minutes later former Pirate John O’Brien rolled back the years to make 70 metres to lay the platform for another try by the Blacks, now 31-0 to the good.
With a realigned backline Buccs battled with commendable spirit against more aggressive and streetwise opponents. Too often their players were isolated in possession, conceding relieving penalties to the men from Clifden. Connemara were the better outfit but the scoreline did not do justice to Buccs efforts. If they can provide swifter support to the ball carriers, they can fare better in their remaining fixtures. Sam Fogarty, Cormac McDonagh and the Balsiger brothers did best for the Pirates.
BUCCANEERS:- B.Daly; H.Balsiger, D.Colgan, C.McDonagh, R.Greene; G.Fallon, E.von Rensburg; C.Daly, C.Morrissey, C.Fokam; J.del Olmo, S.Fogarty; J.Scouler, G.Caterino and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- D.Bolger (for Daly, 24 mins), J.Brady (for del Olmo, h/t), E.Naughton (for Fogarty, 59 mins), C.Brill (for Brady, 62 mins), K.Connolly (for Scouler, 65 mins) and J.del Olmo (for Colgan, 65 mins).
CONNEMARA:- H.O’Toole; E.Bourke, E.Griffiths, I.Heanue, M.Connelly; S.Sweeney, M.O’Toole; B.Lyons, I.Staunton, N.Staunton; J.Keaney, D.Manning; O.O’Neill, D.Roche and K.Keogh. Replacements:- M.Gorham, C.Laffey, J.O’Brien, P.Barry and J.Vaughan.
Referee:- Cathal Ruddy (Connacht).
