BUCCANEERS 29 NUI GALWAY 6
BUCCANEERS U-20’s completed the league section of the J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier 3 with a 100% win record, accounting for NUI Galway by 29-6 at The Green, Creggs, on Sunday. Weather conditions were atrocious for this duel between the Connacht sides in this division and, understandably, the fare on offer was error ridden in the wind, wet and cold. Indeed the conditions got so bad early in the first half that the referee prudently halted play for a period. The Students had first benefit of the strong breeze and kept Buccs pinned back for long spells but managed to score just a pair of penalties by their scrumhalf. The Athlone team replied with a super 11th minute try by Cian McCann who took off from the NUIG ten metre line and outpaced their defenders to score an excellent unconverted try. Halftime arrived with Buccs trailing by the minimum 6-5 and well placed to kick on following the change of ends.
This they did with an early second half try by Ben Daly. Then Kieran Egan made a massive impact following his introduction, powering through for a brace of tries in quick succession midway through the half. This assured Buccs of a bonus point and fullback Daly notched his second touchdown following a flying break down the right flank to complete the 29-6 winning margin. This confirms Buccaneers as winners of this section of the league and the top five teams now progress to the next section of this competition. McCann, Egan and Dara Fitzgerald were prominent in the forwards exchanges while Daly and Orrin Burgess looked pick of the backs in the testing conditions.
BUCCANEERS:- B.Daly; J.Finn, D.Colgan, T.Shine (captain), O.Burgess; M.Byrne, L.Duane; J.Connolly, E.Gallagher, L.Laoshvilli; F.McDonnell, C.McCann; D.Fitzgerald, G.Daly and K.Kiripati. Replacements:- K.Egan, C.Malone, C.Brill, J.Henson, R.Fallon and D.King.
