MONKSTOWN 24 BUCCANEERS 28
Displaying both their attacking potential and defensive qualities, Buccaneers forged a thrilling 28-24 Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B South victory over Monkstown at Sydney Parade on Saturday. On an absolutely pet day weather wise, conditions were ideal for the free-flowing encounter that unfolded at the Dublin venue.
Buccs made four changes, three enforced, from their dismal display last time out. Charlie Byrne and Corey Reid sustained injuries in that outing while illness ruled out Orrin Burgess. Dylan Quinn returned at tight-head prop with Ross Murphy-Sweeney, Rourke O’Sullivan and Andrew Henson starting in a reshuffled backs unit. Monkstown had three personnel changes and a couple of positional switches. Ruadhan McDonnell returned at lock while Andrew O’Leary came in at fly-half and Conor Lohan on the right wing. Matt Stapleton was now sited in the centre from where Johnny Cahalan moved to flanker.
Buccaneers made a lightening start and were 10-0 ahead after just 8 minutes. Following a penalty to the right, Luke Balsiger won good lineout ball that was transferred to Henson who was held up just short of the home line. But possession was transferred to Sean Glennon and he powered over for a 3rd minute try.
Five minutes later a penalty was punted to the opposite flank. Following the lineout Buccs had a couple of snipes from left to right before a long pass found Henson and he capped his debut with a try close to the corner flag. Within 4 minutes Monkstown made ground too easily up the left wing and Tom Griffin dotted down for a try converted by Stapleton.
Jack Quinn got his radar working with a 16th minute penalty following a high tackle that edged Buccs 13-7 ahead. Town’s scrumhalf Sean Crowe was sin-binned shortly afterwards and Buccs piled on the pressure. Initially, they were held out but, following a fine catch by Darragh Glennon, Henson took off and off-loaded to Conor Dowling who did well to ground the ball, again at the right corner, for a 24th minute try. Jack Quinn added a super conversion to this excellently created touchdown.
The Pirates continued to attack at every opportunity and, after Oisin Dolan had made some ground, Murphy-Sweeney finished off this move to secure Buccs bonus point try at the left corner flag. Outhalf Quinn’s conversion rebounded off an upright but the Athlone side were looking good 25-7 ahead after half an hour.
Rob Wynne replied swiftly for the hosts with an unconverted try on the right. Then in the final move of a fast and frenetic opening 40 minutes, Stapleton’s try reduced Monkstown’s arrears to 25-17 at half-time.
Visiting supporters pondered at the interval if their standard bearers, featuring 6 U-20s (with another pair on the bench) in their starting XV would last the pace in a contest that was akin at times to a Barbarians match. Those concerns would have deepened when the metropolitans penned the midlanders back and Monkstown got a lucky break when a knock back was snaffled up and Marc Kelly’s 46th minute try at the posts, converted by Stapleton, reduced their deficit to a single point.
Kailin Blessing replaced Dylan Quinn at this stage and it was backs to the wall for the Shannonsiders for much of the third quarter but their tackling, that was sometimes suspect in the opening half, was immense as was their workrate. Then the Pirates got a fresh wind in their sails for the final quarter and again took the game to the hosts with Dylan Bolger now on for Dolan.
On reflection it is surprising that Jack Quinn’s 68th minute penalty was their only reward for their second half endeavours. But it was enough to keep their opponents at bay in a topsy turvy thriller. This was a wonderfully exhilarating and sustained team effort with every player making key contributions in what was a remarkable transformation from the side’s previous game.
Henson, Buccs youngest player, really caught the eye and was involved in all four Buccaneers tries. Balsiger, often unsung, won a couple of crucial Monkstown lineouts at vital stages. Blessing, another teenager, made a significant impact following his introduction but every player can take credit for this splendid victory that moves Buccs up a couple of notches on the league table. In defeat Monkstown’s pair of bonus points keeps them in mid-table.
MONKSTOWN:- T.Griffin; C.Lohan, A.Moulatif, M.Stapleton, C.O’Donoghue; A.O’Leary, S.Crowe; C.Dods, R.Wynne (captain), N.Macklin-Copeland; R.McDonnell, J.Browne; J.Cahalan, M.Hayes and M.Kelly. Replacements:- D.Khelaia (for Macklin-Copeland, 28 mins), M.Byrne (for Crowe, h/t), C.Stack (for Khelaia, 65 mins), C.Hurley (for McDonnell, 65 mins), L.de Carlo (for Browne, 65 mins) and S.Crowe (for Byrne).
BUCCANEERS:- A.Henson; C.Dowling, R.O’Sullivan, D.Glennon, R.Murphy-Sweeney; J.Quinn, L.MacFarlane; J.Kelly (captain), S.Glennon, D.Quinn; C.Walsh, M.Zander; O.Dolan, L.Balsiger and N.Tallon. Replacements:- K.Blessing (for D.Quinn, 45 mins), D.Bolger (for Dolan, 63 mins), A.Bouwens, T.Shine and F.Galbarcyzk.
Referee:- Kevin Coffey (IRFU).
