UL BOHEMIAN 70 BUCCANEERS 22
BUCCANEERS were hit for a perfect ten when UL Bohemian recorded a facile 70-22 victory in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B match played in glorious sunshine on the 4G pitch at University of Limerick on Saturday. While promotion chasing UL Bohs would have been strong favourites to win, this was nevertheless a most disappointing error-ridden performance by the Pirates who shipped ten tries all converted by Cian Casey.
Buccs made four changes, three in the backline where Orrin Burgess, Dylan Duffy and Sam Tan started while Patrick Egan replaced the injured Luke Balsiger in the pack. The Red Robins had two changes in personnel, both in their backs unit, where Evan Lacey and Joe Johnston came in.
Conditions were near perfect, a slight diagonal breeze being welcome on the balmy afternoon. UL Bohs came flying out of the traps and Padraig Galvin was touching down for a try inside two minutes. Five minutes later a terrific maul was finished by Tom Cullen. They built up a 21-0 lead inside the opening quarter hour, Sean Quirke scoring their third try.
Buccs had some good moments but an inaccurate pass ended a very promising attack but when they retained the ball for a period Tom Shine strode through for 22nd minute try. UL struck back quickly with Killian Dineen securing their bonus point try between the uprights just three minutes later.
Buccs responded equally swiftly, Dan Donovan’s quickly tapped penalty setting a move in motion that was finished by Charlie Byrne. The midlanders finished the half strongly and the Limerick side coughed up a number of penalties that perhaps should have yielded a card. Ryan O’Meara and Sam Meecham both went close before Byrne notched his second try. It was third time lucky for Gearoid McDonald with his conversion kicks as Buccs reduced their arrears to 28-17 at half-time.
But any hopes of a turnaround evaporated in the opening three minutes of the second half with a brace of home tries from deep. Liam Neilan broke from the ten-metre line and had the strength to get over just a minute into the second half and, two minutes later, Oisin Fagan fastened on to a chip ahead in style and raced through from halfway to touch down. Then on 48 minutes he intercepted to scamper away for another try and suddenly UL Bohs were in a commanding 49-17 lead.
Buccs continued to battle and U-20 starlet Egan burst down the left flank to secure a bonus point try on 56 minutes. But the Red Robins got motoring again and Liam O’Shanahan dotted down at the right corner after a move that began with a lineout on the opposite flank. He added a second five minutes later when he was the beneficiary of a splendid crossfield kick.
Lacey scored a final move try for the hosts and outhalf Casey maintained his 100% success rate from placekicks to add the conversion and complete the 70-22 scoreline.
UL Bohs and Clogher Valley are vying for home advantage in the promotion playoff and, with the Ulster club away to champions Galwegians, UL Bohs were intent on getting the win that could give them the edge in that race. But Wegians were upstaged at home by Clogher who also recorded a bonus point victory that keeps them four points ahead of the Munster club with just two rounds of fixtures remaining.
Buccs simply could not match UL Bohs intensity and organisation, missed tackles and poor passing regularly costing the Athlone side dearly in a display that was well below par.
UL BOHEMIAN:- O.Fagan; G.Fitzgerald, K.Dineen (captain), P.Clancy, J.Johnston; C.Casey, E.Lacey; K.Sheehy, T.Cullen, J.Ryan; S.Staunton, P.Galvin; J.Mills, S.Quirke and L.Neilan. Replacements:- S.Buckley (for Staunton, 18 mins), D.Ferrar (for Cullen, 46 mins), J.Considine (for Ryan, 46 mins), Z.O’Loughlin (for Clancy, 53 mins), L.O’Shanahan (for Fitzgerald, 53 mins), T.Cullen (for Galvin, 56 mins), P.Clancy (for Cullen, 66 mins) and J.Ryan (for Sheehy, 72 mins).
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; T.Shine, O.Burgess, T.Cotton, S.Tan; G.McDonald, A.Bouwens; A.Cooper, O.Dolan, C.Byrne; R.O’Meara, C.Sheehan; P.Egan, D.Donovan and S.Meecham (captain). Replacements:- J.Crampton (for Donovan, 42 mins), D.Colgan (for Tan, 49 mins), S.Glennon (for Dolan, 49 mins), J.Kelly (for Byrne, 56 mins), S.Tan (for McDonald, 62 mins), A.Oates (for Cooper, 65 mins) and G.McDonald (for Duffy, 66 mins).
Referee:- Michael Reidy (IRFU).
