DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 27 BUCCANEERS 24
BUCCANEERS and Dublin University served up highly entertaining and competitive fare in their Leinster U-20 Purcell Cup quarter-final played at College Park, Dublin, on Sunday when the hosts held out to win 27-24. A big crowd, many of them curious overseas visitors, gave vocal encouragement in the sun at the hallowed venue where the pitch was bone dry due to the current remarkable weather.
Buccs, missing players due to Gaelic games and injuries, made five changes from the side that recorded a last gasp win over Navan with Dylan Duffy and Kyle Mahon starting in the backline and Abu Saka, Niel Botes and Oisin Donoghue coming into the pack. An angled but changeable breeze aided Buccs in the opening half and Duffy was narrowly off the target with an early drop goal attempt.
However, it did not take long for the Shannonsiders to open their account. A strong drive following a scrum saw Niall Tallon burst through for a 4th minute try at the uprights. Eight minutes later the No.8 read Joshua Gordon’s intentions and intercepted his pass to race in for his and Buccs second try, again at the posts. Duffy converted both scores to give the Pirates an encouraging 14-0 lead.
A Thomas Cotton crossfield kick was just a fraction too far for Callum Kelly to profit before Trinity struck back with Benjamin Dyar stretching over the Buccs line for a 20th minute try converted by Federico McGuckian. Tallon almost secured a hat-trick moments later but was tackled short of the College line before Duffy’s penalty edged the midlanders 17-7 ahead after 22 minutes.
Buccs continued to press and Eoin Naughton was next to go close for his side who then also suffered a sucker punch when Rory Finlay intercepted Conor Sheehan’s offload to send Ciaran Woodcock in for a 29th minute unconverted try. In the final move of the half Trinity mauled over the line for another unconverted try, this one by Milo Lavelle, that left the sides level 17-17 at half-time.
Buccs punted a penalty to the left at the home 22 but a loose pass following the lineout in this promising position was fastened onto by Edward Nicholson and good handling ensued before Ryan Sheridan got in for a 55th minute converted try to take the lead for the first time. The Pirates made an instant retort with Patrick Egan making a strong carry that earned a penalty which was kicked to the right corner. From the lineout, a splendid maul was finished by Sean Rohan and Duffy’s conversion tied the scores 24-24 after 58 minutes.
But from the restart, Buccs did not claim the ball and indeed it was spilled into touch in a dangerous position. Trinity camped in the Buccs 22 for a spell stemming from this error and their pressure was eventually rewarded with a penalty by Mark Russell. It took Buccs quite a while to get out of their danger area until Egan made a rumble forward. Then Cotton drilled a smashing 50/22 but another really good position was spoiled by a crooked throw in.
Buccaneers threw everything they could at the Students in a rousing finale but just could not deliver a score before time ran out. Nevertheless, these young Buccs can be justifiably proud of their season, during which their ever improving performances earned them a Leinster League title.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY:- G.Keane; R.Finlay, C.Woodcock, J.Kelly, R.Sheridan; F.McGuckian, J.Gordon; O.Storey, J.Corr, A.Walsh; H.O’Doherty, B.Dyar (captain); M.McQuiston, M.Lavelle and O.Scott. Replacements:- U.Smyth, F.Walker, F.di Giacomo, P.O’Neill, H.O’Shaughnessy, M.Russell and E.Nicholson.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; C.Kelly, L.McCormack, E.Joyce-Whyte, K.Mahon; T.Cotton, D.Connolly; O.Donoghue, S.Rohan, B.Foxe; A.Saka, C.Sheehan (captain); N.Botes, E.Naughton and N.Tallon. Replacements:- C.Dowling (for Joyce-Whyte, h/t), P.Egan (for Botes, 44 mins), A.Oates (for Foxe, 53 mins), S.Doyle (for Donoghue, 60 mins), S.Sweeney (for Connolly, inj. 68 mins), S.Browne and L.Giles.
Referee:- Michael Kirk (Leinster).
