NAAS 51 BUCCANEERS 31
BUCCANEERS U-20s exited the Purcell Cup when going down to Naas 51-31 in a high-scoring quarter-final at Forenaughts on Easter Sunday afternoon. The homesters were more fired up for this duel while the Shannonsiders, missing a number of key personnel including a trio on duty with the Ireland U-19 squad, were generally playing catch-up in a lively encounter on a windy but bright day.
Buccs were sluggish at the start and conceded 2 converted tries in the opening 9 minutes. In between, they lost lock Eoghan McLaughlin to injury and Kailin Blessing to the sin bin for slowing possession illegally. Injury forced Danny Reid off shortly afterwards but Buccs finally got some momentum following a number of tapped penalties with Conor Dowling showing good desire and strength to score a 21st minute try converted by Dylan Duffy.
But an overhit Garryowen carried too far in the strong breeze and some porous defending then ensued as Naas got in for a soft try. The conversion and a penalty pushed the hosts 24-7 ahead before a Duffy penalty narrowed the arrears before halftime.
Blessing scored the try of the match, thundering forward through a number of tackles from halfway to touchdown between the posts. Naas responded swiftly and somewhat fortuitously as their scorer appeared to gain possession in an offside manner. The Pirates replied through good handling and driving with Niall Tallon applying the finishing touch on 58 minutes. Duffy’s conversion left the game finely balanced 31-24 at the hour mark.
Buccs had a chance to score next but knocked on in an attempt to intercept and Naas countered to score their fifth try. The midlanders rallied and Thomas Cotton finished off some neat interplay to score his side’s fourth try with Duffy’s conversion completing Buccaneers tally, now 36-31 in arrears.
The visitors were tiring, three of them having played with the Seniors the previous afternoon, and their error count grew with a knock-on near their own line giving Naas the platform to add another try while missed tackles contributed to the Co. Kildare side’s next touchdown. Naas scored their eighth try in the final move of the game with Stephen O’Connor incurring a needless red card in this move.
Naas were the better outfit on the day but Buccs did not help their cause through too many missed tackles and also a tendency to concede a score soon after they themselves scored. Nevertheless, the squad had a highly successful campaign, retaining the Leinster Premier 2 League title (a feat not previously achieved by a Connacht club). There is a fine group of young talented players coming through, so well done to them and to their coaching/management team.
NAAS:- J.McGuirk; J.Kehoe, D.Culligan, C.Croke; J.Osborne, S.McCafferty; C.O’Loughlin, J.Breen, S.O’Loughlin; R.Scully, J.Cutler; C.Butler, P.Forde and J.Ward. Replacements:- P.Clear, P.Quinn, J.Murphy, D.Brownen, J.Dempsey, L.Malone and R.Ahearne.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; C.Kelly, G.Murphy, M.Turner, D.Reid; J.Quinn, C.Dowling; K.Blessing, S.Glennon, A.Oates; A.Saka, E.McLaughlin; S.Rohan (captain), E.McMickan and N.Tallon. Replacements:- P.Egan (for McLaughlin, inj. 4 mins), T.Cotton (for Reid, inj. 19 mins), R.Costello (for Turner, 47 mins), K.Byrne (for Rohan, 50 mins), S.O’Connor (for McMickan, 63 mins), A.Coonan (for Glennon, 75 mins), T.Trainor (for Costello, 75 mins) and E.McLaughlin (for Oates, 75 mins).
Referee:- W.K.Murphy (Leinster).
