BUCCANEERS 26 SLIGO 33
BUCCANEERS went down 26-33 to fellow Connacht opposition Sligo in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B fixture at Dubarry Park on Saturday. Buccaneers had to deal with a number of injuries and sickness issues which meant having to field quite an experimental team. The omens were not favourable but that did not prevent a hugely spirited display by the young Pirates on a bright but very breezy dry afternoon.
Buccs made a number of enforced changes for the visit of their Connacht counterparts in this fixture sponsored by Ganly’s of Athlone. Injury and illness ruled out backs Corey Reid, Gearoid McDonald and Tom Shine while U-20 scrum half Conor Dowling was drafted into the starting XV which now included four U-20s with a further trio on the bench.
The visitors had first benefit of the strong breeze blowing into the far corner but Buccs made a lightening start with the pack driving over from a lineout maul for Oisin Dolan to apply the finish. Dylan Duffy made no mistake with the difficult conversation. The lead was short lived as Sligo came roaring back and after a large number of phases Matthew Earley went over with Cillian O’Neill adding the extras to tie the game at 7 points apiece. Buccs continued to play with abandon and Sam Meecham drove over from close range with Duffy again slotting over the conversation. In the 18th minute Sligo again scored after a series of pick and goes with Kuba Wojtkowicz scoring and O’Neill restoring parity with the conversion. Sligo then went ahead with captain Earley getting his second from another close in drive. O’Neill was not on target on this occasion and Buccs will be happy enough to have only trailed by five points 14-19 at half time having played against a strong wind. However, they did have a man advantage as a Sligo player was sent to the bin for a deliberate knock on.
As Buccs did in the first half, Sligo scored within 6 minutes of the restart with Wojtkowicz getting his second as Sligo threatened to overpower the young Pirates. O’Neill’s conversion stretched the lead to 12 for the visitors. The signs looked ominous but, aided by the elements, the home side dusted themselves off and attacked with great intent. With 20 minutes to go substitute Niall Tallon smashed over. Duffy appeared to have added the extras but referee Cathal Roddy overruled his touch judges who had raised their flags. Buccs then lost Adam Cooper to the bin for a no arms tackle and the game appeared beyond them. Buccs continued to press and a super run by Tom Cotton ended with a try under the posts which Duffy converted to tie the match at 26-26.
Sligo, who were fighting for a play-off place, again raised their game for second row Ciaran Cassidy to force his way over. O’Neill was again on target. Try as they might Buccs could not peg the visitors back but salvaged 2 bonus points which keeps them in 7th place in the league.
Buccs gave a wholehearted display against all the odds, in this their last home match of the campaign, with scrum half Dowling having a very effective outing. Bouwens and Cotton were best of the home backs but it was the forwards who shone with the back row prominent and captain Meecham playing his part. The scrum was under pressure for most of the day with the lineout faltering late in the game after an excellent opening half.
All round this was an encouraging display and greatly at odds with the off day in UL Bohs but a trip to league champions Galwegians will be a tough final assignment next Saturday. Meanwhile, the attendance at the game’s pre-match function included players from the Athlone U-18 squad that won the club’s first national title 25 years ago — the All-Ireland Cup — in 2001.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; S Tan, R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Cotton, O Burgess; A.Bouwens, Conor Dowling; A.Cooper, O.Dolan, C.Byrne; C.Sheehan, S.Meecham (captain); P Egan, D.Donovan and J Crampton. Replacements:- H Hughes, N Tallon, S.Glennon , J.Kelly and A.Oates.
SLIGO:- E. Brown; F. Young, C. Creaven, C. Griffith, M. McGlynn; C. O’Neill, A.Durkin; K.Wojtkowicz, M. Earley (captain), A. Czeck; C. Cummins, C. Cassidy; E.Ryan, B. Hynes and F. Dellamea. Replacements:- S O’Hehir, L. Timms, E. Ballantine, J. O’Hehir, A. Ward.
Referee:- Cathal Roddy (IRFU).
