Naas 20 Buccaneers 24
Buccaneers U-20’s captured a first ever Leinster title when they defeated Naas 24-20 in a keenly contested J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier 3 Division encounter at Forenaughts, Naas, on Sunday.
Victory over their closest challengers ensured that the Pirates were champions with one round of this league yet to be played.
On a wet and windy afternoon at 5.15 pm, 135 minutes after their top of the table game started and 8 months into their league campaign, the young Pirates became league Champions.
With the title in the balance between two ferociously competitive teams the referee announced two minutes to go, Lorcan Fallon made a very fast and determined 50-yard metre break to set up Cian McCann on the wing to score in the corner to win the game and this Leinster U20’s league.
Ruaidhri Fallon nailed the conversion and Buccs won a dramatic event filled game 24-20.
Earlier in this epic encounter following great play from David Colgan, Lasha Laoshvilli got the game’s first try from a pick and go with Ruadhri Fallon converting putting Buccs 7-0 up at half-time.
Despite Buccaneers scrum and lineout dominating all day, next to score was Oscar Cauley for Naas with Shane Penrose converting under the posts 7-7.
Then the unstoppable Kieran Egan powered over for the first Buccs try of the second-half. Buccs back in front 12-7 until Patrick O'Flaherty touched down with the Naas stars striking back with some fine play from former Newbridge College boys to score under the posts.
Naas were building momentum now in the home straight and looked like taking control of the game following a Penrose penalty that pushed them 17-12 ahead.
Down by five points, inspirational sounds could be heard from the Buccs players’ huddle behind their own post, the mantra was “stick to our plan and we will win, lads” even against a gale force wind and a slope in the second-half.
These players never stopped believing in themselves and the young Pirates started building phase after phase with powerful forwards Aaron Burke, Koronata Kiripati, Cian Malone, Joe Henderson, Luke Balsinger, Fionn McDonald, Evan Gallagher and Cameron Brill all gaining yards with strong disruptive runs into the Naas defensive lines.
On the 12th phase of possession the talented opportunist Cian McCann makes it 17-17, getting his first try of the afternoon from a close range surging drive.
Buccs were back in the game and a draw would have been enough to secure league glory. But neither team were going to settle for a draw.
The referee gave a penalty to Naas off the next kick-off. Penrose maintained his 100% record as he slotted it over to great jubilation from the home supporters who now believed 20-17 should be enough to see off the challenge from the Athlone men.
It was a Deja Vu moment for Buccs under their own posts again in the huddle as captain Tom Shine rallied his troops to give it one final push.
The talented Orrin Burgess won the kick-off and gained territory for a ruck to be formed in the centre of the pitch where the excellent Luke Duane fed his halfback partner Fallon who off loaded to the light-footed forward Lorcan Fallon.
With power, pace and elegance he started breaking tackle after tackle until he was at top speed racing for the corner with his entire team chasing him in support as the covering Naas full-back David O'Sullivan was coming to meet him.
Fallon perfectly offloaded to his fellow lock, a sprinting McCann who dived over the try line to score in the corner.
Buccs were back in front and up stood Ruaidhri Fallon with ice cool composure to convert from the touchline to edge Buccs ahead 24-20.
Ben Daly dealt with the high ball restart and passed to Mark Glynn, both of whom were comfortable all day dealing with everything the home backline had to offer in attack as the midlanders saw off the challenge of the Co. Kildare club in a game that was officiated excellently by referee Jason Le Lievre.
Naas: D.O’Sullivan, B.Noone, S.Farrell, J.Shanahan, A.Murphy, S.Penrose, O.Cawley, J.Downey, B.Redmond, C.Early, J.Murphy, P.McMahon, D.Walsh, U.Casserly, N.Smith. Replacements: J.McKeon, P.O’Flaherty, C.Halpenny, M.O’Siochru.
Buccaneers: B.Daly, D.Colgan, T.Shine (c), M.Byrne, O.Burgess, R.Fallon, L.Duane, L.Loashvilli, E.Gallagher, K.Egan, F.McDonnell, C.McCann, D.Fitzgerald, K.Kiripati and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- C.Brill, C.Malone, A.Burke, J.Henson, L.Fallon, M.Glynn, D.King.
Referee: Jason Le Lievre.
Seconds Stun Creggs
Creggs 24 Buccaneers 31
Buccaneers seconds stunned league table toppers Creggs on Sunday when a late penalty try proved the decisive score in a Connacht Junior Cup quarter-final that ebbed and flowed at the Green, Creggs, where the Athlone side edged the verdict on a 31-24 score-line.
Buccs made four changes from their previous round win over Dunmore with Graham Lynch and Harry Balsiger coming into the backline and Cathal O’Grady and Jack Scouler starting in the pack, the latter a late replacement for Brian McDonnell who failed a fitness test.
A primarily cross-field but swirling breeze made life difficult for the contestants but otherwise conditions were good on a sunny but cool afternoon.
Buccs were not fazed by the partisan support and, while a Brian Diffley break was an early threat, the Pirates hit the front on 11 minutes. A super diagonal kick by Lynch found touch deep in the home half and the Athlone side piled pressure on the home line where after a number of pick and goes scrumhalf Lynch had the strength and determination to get over for a try which Colin Daly converted.
But that lead was eroded within four minutes. Mark Purcell slotted over a penalty almost from the restart and then he made a fine break before sending Shane Dowd away to outpace the Pirates cover for an unconverted 15th minute try that nosed the hosts 8-7 ahead. A careless tackle earned Fergus Galvin a 23rd minute trip to the sin bin. Following the resultant penalty Creggs mauled forward at a rate of knots and a try seemed inevitable but Rory Grenham bravely pilfered possession and skipper Daly tidied up.
However, centre Purcell soon added a second penalty. Coming up to half-time Hopkins made a fine break that was carried on by Ross Murphy-Sweeney that stretched the home defence and then Cedric Fokam stormed forward through the centre as Buccs finished the half on the offensive but Ryan O’Meara was somehow held up over the home line and so Creggs led 11-7 at the break.
Placekicker Purcell landed his third placekick just two minutes into the second half to leave his side ahead by double scores. Twelve minutes later he kicked another penalty although Buccs supporters felt this award should have gone the other way but the midlanders then got a break just before the hour mark when a long low kick ahead was fumbled in front of the posts.
The Shannonsiders dominance in the scrum earned them a free following the set-piece and this was tapped swiftly and smartly with O’Meara not to be denied a second time as he powered over between the uprights for a try converted by centre Daly.
But just as they had done after their opening try, Buccaneers conceded another try as Shane Dowd found a gap in midfield and he hared away from halfway to notch his second try which Purcell converted.
However, Buccs struck back immediately when Harry Hughes intercepted on his own ten metre line and he sped like greased lightning to score a 64th minute try to which Daly added the extras. The Pirates skipper soon tapped over a penalty to level the scores at 24-24 and set up a grandstand finish in front of the passionate supporters of both teams.
A replay now looked a distinct possibility but Buccs found a new gear and piled on the pressure, going through a protracted sequence of phases, executed calmly and with swift disciplined support.
They gradually got close to the home line, forcing Creggs into desperate measures in which Shane Dowd incurred a yellow card.
Buccs now went for the jugular and opted for a five-metre scrum with time ticking away. At the second attempt, the referee rewarded the Athlone side’s scrummaging superiority with a penalty try which decided the outcome on a 31-24 margin.
Although Buccs were clearly dominant at scrums, the match official did not always see it that way and it was somewhat ironic that he awarded this late decisive score when it was not one of the Pirates better scrums!
It was a highly committed and typically intense Cup tie that was in the balance right to the very end. Both teams endeavoured to move the ball whenever possible but a steadily improving Buccaneers were that bit sharper overall although Creggs seemed to find an avenue up the middle a bit too easily on a number of occasions.
The Pirates front row trio were outstanding and Galvin and O’Meara made hard yards regularly while Cian Daly made an impact when introduced. Colin Daly and Hopkins were steadying and influential forces in a youthful backline.
This fully deserved victory earns Buccaneers a home semi-final against Ballinrobe on Sunday week. Meanwhile, Creggs season ends in further disappointment following their league final defeat but the nucleus of their squad is youthful with bags of potential on which they can build on.
Creggs: S.Purcell, M.Dunne, M.Purcell, E.Coyle, R.Dowd, S.Dowd, M.Dowd, T.Fleming, M.Buckley, A.Leech, B.Donohoe, C.J.Corcoran, R.Cahill, B.Diffley.
Replacements: D.Arnold, P.Lohan, A.Hession, T.Callaghan, C.Duignan, T.O’Brien.
Buccaneers: J.Nagle, R.Murphy-Sweeney, H.Balsiger, Colin Daly (c), H.Hughes, F.Hopkins, G.Lynch, C.Fokam, R.Grenham, S.O’Connell, S.Kroupa, F.Galvin, C.O’Grady, J.Scouler, R.O’Meara.
Replacements: S.O’Carroll (for Murphy-Sweeney, 50 mins), Cian Daly (for O’Grady, 55 mins), T.Thompson (for Fokam, 63 mins), R.Teape and A.Evans.
Referee:- Dave O’Riordan (Munster).
Womens Team Shock Olbc
Buccaneers/Corinthians 17 Our Lady’s Boys Club 15
The Buccaneers/Corinthians women’s squad caused a much great shock when knocking out the recently crowned League champions Our Lady’s Boys Club in the semi-final 17-15.
This tight contest was played at Corinthian Park last Sunday and the reward for the fledgling alliance is a place in next Sunday’s final against Galwegians Seconds.
This decider kicks off in Galway Sportsground at 2 p.m. as the combination team bid to create their own piece of history.
Senior cup final on St. Patrick’s day
Buccaneers and Ballina contest the Connacht senior cup final at Galway Sportsground on St. Patrick’s Day with a 1 pm. kick-off.
This promises to be a keen and even battle for silverware with the Greens seeking a very rare double as they captured the Connacht Senior League crown early in the season. Enroute to that triumph they defeated Buccs 26-12 at Dubarry Park last August.
Buccs were well off the pace at that stage of the season and trailed 19-0 at halftime but they could not reel the north-westerners in despite an improved second half showing.
Hooker Billy McVann and captain Luke Sweeney are key figures in the Ballina pack. This is an area Buccs must dominate, otherwise backs Darragh Whyte, Ronan Molloy or Alex Corduff are capable of picking off scores.
Callum Quinn gives a physicality in this sector where Micky Murphy has the smarts to operate at 9 or 10.
Although the Pirates cannot play their Connacht Academy crew in this fixture, the Athlone squad has improved immeasurably as the season has progressed. Skipper Evan Galvin and Shane Layden (who was captain when Buccs last won this splendid trophy in 2019) can be counted on to lead when the going gets tough as can Danny Qualter, Ruairi Byrne, Martin Staunton and Tabo Maree in the pack.
Darren Browne could be joined by Sean O’Connell and the returning James Kelly in the front row while Cian McCann, Ryan O’Meara, Fergus Galvin and Sam Kroupa are other contenders for inclusion. Ruaidhri Fallon, Michael Hanley and Stephen Mannion may be young but they have compiled considerable AIL experience already and they are capable of opening the Ballina defence.
There are three strong contenders for the pivotal link role at scrumhalf in Eoin O’Reilly, Graham Lynch and Frankie Hopkins while Rory O’Connor, Saul O’Carroll, Thomas McGann and Harry Hughes are among the options out wide.
The Pirates, who lie in 3rd place in Division 2A, must guard against complacency against Ballina, currently second from bottom in 2B following five defeats in their last six fixtures.
It must be remembered that the Mayo club (who won their first Senior Cup in 1951 the year Athlone RFC was founded) inflicted a surprise defeat on the Shannonsiders when an injury time try earned them the spoils in 1979. Leo Galvin, uncle of Buccs captain Evan, and Tony Henshaw, father of Robbie, featured in the Athlone pack on that occasion.
Ticket and Match Arrangements
Tickets can be purchased online in advance of the Senior Cup final at a discounted rate of €10 for adults and €5 for juniors. Tickets will be available at the gate where only card payments will be accepted. Tickets will be more expensive there at €12 for adults and €6 for juniors so best value is to purchase in advance at https://www.connachtrugby.ie/club-and-school-finals-tickets/
Car parking is limited at the Sportsground and is “pay and display”. Let’s see big support for Buccaneers at the final when they square up to league champions Ballina. Note kick-off time is 1 p.m.
Condolences
Deepest sympathy is extended to Paddy McCaul and family on the death of his brother Gerard.
Collection for Ukraine
Buccaneers RFC is supporting the Ukraine Food Appeal. We are seeking donations of non-perishable food (rice, pasta, cereal bars, canned food, bottled water and pet food) as well as items such as toiletries, nappies, baby wipes and baby formula. NO CLOTHES REQUIRED. Items can be dropped off at the club’s office at Dubarry Park during the week or come along next Saturday, March 19th, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. where Paul Hamilton and his team of volunteers will gladly accept your donations. For further information contact Paul at 0879834953.
