Published: Wednesday, 17th February, 2010 5:00pm

Buccs reserves fall to Sligo as U21s defeat Young Munster

Sligo 54 Buccaneers 12

BUCCANEERS RESERVES' run in the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup came to a shuddering halt at Hamilton Park, Strandhill, where Sligo emerged convincing victors on a 54-12 scoreline in front of a modest attendance at the cramped seaside venue.

The north-westerners were afforded three first-half tries all too easily by the midlanders to lead 21-7 at half-time, which was not perhaps a true reflection on the proceedings to that juncture. Thereafter, however, Sligo were far too strong and slick for a willing but limited Buccs outfit who simply could not match the pace or panache of their hosts.

Sligo got a tonic start when Jordan Barrington got through the centre far too easily for the opening try after just five minutes, Paddy Pearson converting. Buccs recovered and got into the game, bravely working the line with a 15th minute penalty to the right. Kevin Creaven claimed possession at the back to set up David Burns for a try which Michael Donohoe converted to tie the scores at 7-7. However, Sligo struck back with the hugely impressive Pearson delivering a replica of the opening score for his side's second try seven minutes later.

Sligo continued to force the pace but Cormac Sheehy and especially Darren Costello cleared their lines with good use of the boot, before Barrington repeated his opening score when he weaved his way past floundering defenders all too handily to deliver a knockout blow four minutes before the interval, Pearson again adding the conversion. Buccs finished the half on the offensive but, although Sligo threw the ball the dead over their own goal-line, the referee did not give Buccs any chance to benefit from this infringement by whistling somewhat presumptuously for half-time.

Five minutes into the second half, Sligo really had their tails up when substitute prop Adrian McHale crashed through for a try and, within another five minutes, they added their fifth try through Andy Feeney when Declan Byrne was quite harshly yellow-carded for alleged off-side with Pearson adding one conversion.

Buccs continued to battle and got into promising positions on a number of occasions but, typical of their luck, an attempted grubber kick was blocked down and Sligo used their pace to sweep downfield from their own 22 to grab a 58th minute David Geraghty try.

Sligo were now out-gunning their visitors for whom the line-outs were torrid set-pieces with the much taller homesters calling virtually all the shots there. Buccs gave them plenty of food for thought in the scrums but such was the speed of foot and movement by a lightening quick backline that the midlanders were regularly roasted, especially when they coughed up loose ball.

Yet Buccs battled willingly and 'Milky' Creaven applied the finishing touch to some impressive driving and rucking for a deserved 63rd minute try on the right to put some respectability on the scoreboard at 40-12 adrift.

However, Sligo had the final say when substitute Niall O'Hara hit a diagonal ball for full-back Geraghty to swoop on to for a 70th minute try, before Ted Mulvanney finished off the haul of eight tries by the home side just two minutes before a premature finish to the second half also, although on this occasion Buccs were probably not complaining!

BUCCANEERS: C. Sheehy; K. McIntyre, G. Kelly, D. Byrne, M. Donohoe; D. Costello, C. O'Keeffe; B. Gilligan, D. Burns, G. McGill; B. McManus, Anthony Hughes; P. Galvin, K. Creaven and Adrian Hughes (captain). Replacements used: D. Lennon (for Burns, h/t), D. Dunning (for Galvin, 50); G. Walsh (for O'Keeffe, 66).

YOUNG MUNSTER 14

BUCCANEERS 19

BUCCANEERS U-21's recent run of decent form continued when they accounted for Young Munster in a lively, open encounter at Clifford Park, Limerick, on Saturday, winning their South-West Conference National League game on a 19-14 margin in ideal playing conditions.

Buccs got off to flying start, opening their account with a try by Jack Byrne after only seven minutes.

It was no real surprise when centre Byrne grabbed his second try, both of which were set up by exquisite passes from Adam Kennedy who added one conversion for a 12-0 half-time lead.

The forwards had been providing plenty of go forward ball in this period but, on the turnover, Buccs collectively seemed to take their feet off the pedal, not for the first time this season. This, allayed to some sloppy kicking, allowed Young Munster back into the game and they narrowed the arrears with a converted try.

Buccs steadied their ship when Mark Fitzgibbon intercepted on his own 22 to deliver a knockout blow to the Cookies with a tremendous poacher's try, which Kennedy converted to leave Buccs 19-7 ahead.

Now it was the midlanders' turn to come under the cosh as Young Munster threw everything at them, but gutsy and sustained defending restricted the Limerick side to a late converted try.

Byrne and Draper excelled in the backline with Kennedy adding glimpses of his pedigree while the returning David Fagan looked more comfortable at full-back.

Despite the absence of Conor Higgins, the front row trio of David Henshaw, Trevor Thompson and David Egan demolished their direct opponents while Shane O'Neill and Paul Robinson also did well in the forwards exchanges.

BUCCANEERS: D. Fagan; C. Hanly, J. Byrne, C. Draper, M. Fitzgibbon; A. Kennedy, C. Molloy; D. Henshaw, D. Egan, T. Thompson; R. Byrne, S. O'Neill; P. Robinson (captain), J. Hayes and K. Headd. Replacements:- J. O'Carroll (for O'Neill), L. Doran (for Egan) and J.J. Carey (for Henshaw).