BUCCANEERS 24 ST MARY’S COLLEGE 17
BUCCANEERS moved to the top of the J.P.Fanagan Leinster U-20 League Premier 2 following a hard-fought but richly merited 24-17 victory at wet and windly Dubarry Park on Sunday. With a swirling breeze and greasy conditions it took some time for this game to come to the boil but once the players got to the tone a competitive and compelling encounter unfolded.
Buccs made one change from last week’s win over DLSP with Patrick Egan returning in the back row. The cool breeze generally favoured the visitors in the opening half, although it was often a hindrance to both teams. The midlanders had first opportunity to score when Abu Saka forced a penalty inside the first minute. Buccs should really have taken the kickable penalty to get the scoreboard ticking but opted for a punt to the Bounty corner where they lost the lineout. They continued to enjoy most of the territory and possession but lacked the necessary sharpness to profit early on.
It took St. Mary’s almost 20 minutes to get into the home half when Daniel Daniel hared down the right wing to score an unconverted try. Buccs wobbled a little bit for awhile and were lucky to escape a blocked clearance. The impressive Jack Halpin’s mazy run almost unlocked the home cover before good handling sent in Sam Ryan for the metropolitans second unconverted try on 36 minutes. But as the floodlights came on in the now murky conditions Buccs finished the half as they had started, on the offensive. Following a high tackle on Egan, Niall Tallon showed great desire and strength to dive over near the uprights for a try. Charlie O’Carroll’s conversion narrowed the Shannonsiders arrears to 10-7 at half-time.
Buccs realigned for the second half which was more competitive and keener. Ewan Joyce-Whyte came on at fullback and Dylan Duffy switched to the left wing. Injury forced the talismanic Tallon off at the interval but the energetic Cormac Ryan slotted in well at No.8. The visitors were held up over the home line on two occasions while the breeze was not as influential. In between, Buccs enjoyed a decent spell of pressure that yielded a 55th minute penalty which O’Carroll stroked over to level the scores.
Eleven minutes later Duffy’s kick ahead along the stand side somehow stayed in play and the Cavan man showed the greater determination in chasing up to win possession and dive over for a try with O’Carroll landing a splendid conversion. Shortly afterwards the flyhalf punted a delightful crossfield kick to the left where Duffy took possession before chipping past the final defender to notch his second try. O’Carroll added the conversion to push Buccs 24-10 to the good but, in the final move of the game, Cathal Enright burst through for a try and Ethan Kenny’s sole conversion salvaged a losing bonus point for St. Mary’s.
Buccaneers victory sees them sharing top spot with Blackrock College in this Super Six Group One group. It was a solid all-round team effort in which O’Carroll, Duffy and Tom Sheehan shone in the backline. Niel Botes, the abrasive Saka and Egan were very prominent in the forwards battle in testing conditions.
Special mention to referee Michael Honan who travelled from Enniscrone for Saturday night’s Junior League game and returned again on Sunday; great commitment and fine officiating.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; C.Kelly, T.Cotton, T.Sheehan, L.Cassidy; C.O’Carroll, D.Connolly; S.Doyle, S.Rohan, R.Foxe; A.Saka, C.Sheehan (captain); N.Botes, P.Egan and N.Tallon. Replacements:- C.Ryan (for Tallon, inj. h/t), E.Joyce-Whyte (for Cassidy, h/t), A.Oates (for Doyle, 48 mins), O.Donoghue (for Foxe, 55 mins), E.McMickan (for Rohan, inj. 73 mins), E.Murtagh and J.Clarke.
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE:- J.Halpin; D.Daniel, W.Hook, S.Ryan, L.Weber; E.Kenny, Z.Doyle-O’Brien; R.Smyth, T.Keogan, C.Scott; O.Reid, L.Policky; H.Lorente, L.Jennings (captain) and L.Flaherty. Replacements Used:- C.Enright, J.Molloy, P.Power, J.Durkan, E.Dillon, C.de Lacy and H.Judge.
Referee:- Michael Honan (Connacht).