BUCCS AWAY TO MALONE
After a quiet weekend Buccaneers face a busy fixtures schedule this coming weekend with our Senior squad making a long trip north to square up to Malone in the seventh round of the Energia All-Ireland League. This Division 2B game, Buccs second away fixture in a row, takes place at Gibson Park in east Belfast on Saturday with a 2.30 p.m. kick-off.
Malone got off to a perfect start this season, winning their three opening matches and currently are very comfortably placed third on the league table. After a couple of subsequent defeats they got back to winning ways with a 35-19 win over Sligo at Hamilton Park. Ross Todd, Zach Devine, Ben Gibson and Matty Rae are key operators for the Ulster side.
Buccs were decidedly unlucky to be pipped at Skerries, who overcame Malone up north. Their performance was a big improvement on the preceding outing and, had discipline been a lot better, then the Pirates would surely have prevailed. Darin Claasen looks like he may have a full squad to select from and if the midlanders play to their collective potential then it should be a battle royale against the Red Sox.
U-20’s HOME TO QUEENS
BUCCANEERS U-20’s also face Ulster opposition when Queen’s University come to Dubarry Park on Sunday for what looks like being a cracking J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier League 2 encounter. Queen’s top this pool and will provide formidable opposition for the Athlone side who slipped up away to Wanderers last time out. In the interim their fixture against Seapoint fell through with the Dublin club conceding.
Coach Patsy Gorman may not have a full deck to play with as a number of our U-20’s are likely to be involved in the AIL game v Malone. But there is some depth in this squad and Buccs will be keen to topple the leaders when the action gets under way at 2.30 p.m.
SECONDS HOME TO BALLINA
BUCCANEERS JUNIORS also have a tasty home match against Ballina in the Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior 1A League. Ballina are eager to regain their Senior status and are going well, lying in second place behind Dunmore but with a game in hand. However, this Buccs squad has been improving as evidenced in their impressive victory over champions Creggs last time out. If they can repeat that effort and enterprise they can continue their move up the league table. This enticing match also kicks-off at 2.30 p.m.
PRE-MATCH FUNCTION
There will be a pre-match function for Buccaneers final home AIL fixture of 2025 on Saturday week when Rainey Old Boys are the visitors to Dubarry Park. This will have a festive season flavour and groups or individuals can be catered for. Meal with complimentary wine and free admission to the game all for €35. Contact our Administrator Geraldine at 0861732711 to book.
