Buccs resume league action with clash against UL Bohs

BUCCANEERS resume All-Ireland League action when they travel to Limerick on Saturday to tackle UL Bohemian at Annacotty. This Ulster Bank League Division 1B encounter kicks off at 2.30pm (referee Eanna O'Dowd). Buccs enjoyed a memorable performance on their visit here last season coming away with a clear-cut win after a tight opening half. However, they can expect matters to remain close for the duration of this clash against UL Bohs who lie in fifth spot in the league table, three points adrift of the second placed Pirates. UL Bohs went down narrowly 14-12 in their opening game away to Belfast Harlequins but then scored a notable 12-5 home win over fancied Dungannon which they followed up with a fine 19-9 defeat of UCC in Cork. They are hugely dependant on the boot of J.J. Hanrahan for their scores and, if Buccs' discipline is good, then they will reduce the opportunities for the Ireland U-20 player to add to his tally. UL Bohs have more or less the same squad as last season with Martin McPhail being a key operator in their backline where fullback Ed Torrie and scrum-half Cathal Sheridan are vital components. Their pack is hard-working and honest with prop David Kilcoyne in excellent form at present. Locks Ed Kelly and Dave Foley are solid with Sean Rennison, Sean Rossiter and young Connacht player Conor Kindregan dangerous on the break. A much changed and youthful Buccaneers squad has made a hugely promising start to the campaign, winning their three opening fixtures. Victories over Bruff at home and away to Ballymena were solid returns from decent team performances. The final scoreline in the most recent home win over UCD was much closer than it should have been but, hopefully, Buccs will have learned from that close call. The Athlone side excelled in the opening half and will need to reproduce that form more consistently. If they do, then John O'Brien, Paul Harte and Shane Layden will poach scores while Jack Carty and Adam Kennedy can pin back the opposition. The pack is youthful too, yet competitive and mobile with Eoghan Grace and David Heffernan impressing and Daniel Qualter and Michael Kearney forming a formidable pairing in the second row. Young props Denis Buckley and James Robinson are being nursed along nicely by Garreth Halligan, while Buccs will be hopeful that influential captain Kolo Kiripati will be fit to resume at No. 8. It looks like being a keenly contested tussle with, perhaps, underfoot conditions being a contributing factor on a pitch that can hold water. Buccs must make their tackles count and be more clinical, but if they can maintain their work-rate, cohesion and discipline from start to finish, then they can eke out a crucial away win. Buccaneers Development Squad are also on the road this Bank holiday weekend when they make the short hop to Galway to play NUIG in the Connacht Junior 1B League at Dangan on Sunday, kick-off 3pm. On paper, Buccs should prevail but they should note that they survived more than a Halloween scare or two when these sides met in last season's Junior Cup, the midlanders squeezing through after a replay. However, if this squad is near full strength and plays to its collective strengths, then they should have too much guile and power for the Students.