Buccaneers set to host Bruff in league opener
BUCCANEERS kick off this season's Ulster Bank League Division 1B campaign with a home fixture against Bruff in Dubarry Park on Saturday at 2.30pm.
Buccs took the honours against the Limerick on the two occasions they met last season but, after surviving the threat of relegation in the play-offs, Bruff will surely give the midlanders a searching test in Athlone.
Buccs will field a much changed squad to that of last season. Conor Higgins and Stephen Burke have both headed to Australia in search of work while Colin Watters is sojourning in the USA for a year. Aidan Wynne and Shane Monahan were both released by Connacht while Jaryd Bennett has moved nearer home to further his studies and has joined Dungannon.
However, Buccs have a burgeoning number of exciting young players in their ranks and indeed Connacht's all conquering U-20 team had no less than 6 young Buccs starting in last week's win over Munster with another two also in the squad. Jack Carty, Callum Boland, Robert Henshaw, Conor Finn and Shane Layden all played prominent roles in the Connacht backline while Daniel Qualter was Buccs' sole representative in the pack. Substitute Isaac O'Grady and the injured Diarmuid Higgins were also involved in the western squad.
The Athlone outfit has also recruited a number of highly promising operators including Michael Kearney - who was Qualter's second row colleague in the Ireland U-20 side last season - and backrower David Heffernan, while richly talented scrum-half Mark Dolan rejoins his hometown club. Young props Denis Buckley and John Rowe have also arrived at Dubarry Park, so competition for the front-row berths will be keen. Eoghan Grace could be a key signing as the former Shannon and Exeter Chiefs player will bring not only his talent but considerable experience to the pack.
Of course, many of the stalwarts of recent seasons are still very much involved in a team that will be captained this year by Kolo Kiripati. The popular Samoan can be counted on to lead by example in the pack where Garreth Halligan, James Tormey, Michael Diffley and Eoin Rooney have a wealth of experience. Flankers John Hayes and Michael Ward will be hoping to break through to the First XV as will the versatile Sean Stapleton but pacey winger Rory O'Connor is ruled out through injury. John O'Brien, Paul Harte, Alex Hayman, Padraig de Burca and Conor Lavelle all missed last week's game at Corinthians but are hopeful of being fit for selection.
Their availability would be a decided boost for coach Hendre Marnitz as Buccaneers under-performed in the Connacht League. However, the coach had a lengthy absentee list to deal with due to a wide number of injuries and, of course, a high number of young players involved with Connacht U-20s. If he has a full deck to play with, then Buccs will be well placed to commence with a home victory.
However, Bruff are doughty and canny operators who, despite their AIL difficulties last season, captured both the Munster Senior Cup and then the All-Ireland Cup. A splendid double built, primarily, on the industry and cohesion of their pack allayed to a very high percentage return from placekicks. Here, the home pack must front up while, overall, the Pirates must be disciplined.
Bruff have already shown that they do not intend releasing their grip on the Munster Senior Cup, beating Midleton in the quarter-final and then thumping Shannon 31-14 in last week's semi-final. Tries by Mike Carroll, Cathal O'Regan and John Shine as well as a brace by Paul O'Brien did the damage there with Tony Cahill continuing his family's tradition with placekicks. David Horan, Alfie Laffan, Brendan Deady and Tony Cahill are others who will give it their all in Bruff's cause, so Buccs will need to match fire with fire.
All in all, a right good ding-dong battle looks in prospect in this opener but, if Buccaneers are close to full strength and hit the ground running, then they can make home advantage pay.
Meanwhile, Buccaneers Development squad, boosted by their impressive win over Ballinrobe, will be in optimistic mood heading to Gort on Sunday for their Connacht Junior 1B League clash (2.30pm).
No fixtures as yet to hand for the Thirds but the U-21 squad commence their South-West Conference campaign at home to Thomond on Saturday week.
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