CARRICK-ON-SHANNON 21 BUCCANEERS 17
BUCCANEERS U-18.5 Girls took on Carrick-On-Shannon in a tense ten-a-side Connacht League final at Keenaghan on Sunday last when a late home try edged the verdict 21-17 in favour of the hosts. Having started out as a calm sunny morning, the weather quickly turned within the opening 5 minutes; raining heavily and a wind that took any high ball away. The Buccaneers girls fought the battling winds with Adi Bouki nailing her first tackle to set the tone of how this game was going to go.
Spending most of the first half in Carrick’s quarters the Buccs girls led the charge, phase after phase, rocking the home defence. Carrick were no match to Buccaneers hardy assault with Orla Turner edging through to score the first try of the game 10 minutes in and it was converted confidently by Cora Heneghan. Buccs held this lead up to the very last minute of the half when Carrick battled through in and levelled the game!
Conditions worsened as half time came, girls huddled and regrouped in the dugouts knowing they were going to give absolutely everything they had.
The second half started strong with try saving tackle from Lea Fleege, Amy Moran and Ella Sweeney removing one of Carrick wingers well out over the sideline. Scrum after scrum Buccaneers fought hard and won most while Turner controlled her backline confidently.
Carrick with a squad of 16 players came on with fresh subs and the barrage continued until Heneghan made her break and pushed through the Carrick defence with her first try of the game. Carrick fought hard after that but, with a strong pack led by Demercia Nyikasani, Buccaneers girls kept Carrick at bay. Strong tackling from Patricia Rodriguez and a chase from the half-way line by Sharon Onwukwe made sure Carrick did not get past the 10-yard line!
With conditions worsening the ball became slippery and hard to keep, knock-ons and turnover balls took over after that. Liz Osho retrieving ball and staying strong in the ruck made sure the Athlone girls kept possession.
Then came a breakthrough, Nyikasani led the phases in the far 10-meter line with push after push until it fluently came out to the backline where Heneghan was again waiting in the wings to score her second try. Buccs girls were on a high leading 17- 10 with the end in sight.
But with 9 minutes left to go Carrick availing of their full sub bench had fresh legs again…. they went on to score a levelling converted try. Buccs 10 girls started to feel the heaviness in their legs, with weather conditions not relenting. They held strong until the very last 2 minutes of the game when Carrick got in for an unconverted try to win the game.
However, Buccaneers U-18.5 girls can hold their heads up high, each and every girl on that pitch showed exactly what it means to play … honest, hard rugby; never giving up through horrendous weather conditions. Their coaches Tina Kiernan, Tom O’Connor and Jess Hoey as well as Managers Diarmuid Sloane and Amy O’Connor could not have been more proud of such courage and resilience. A fantastic match to end this league, but fire in their belly’s for the upcoming Bowl final in March.
