Published: Wednesday, 11th November, 2009 5:00pm

Reserves produce season's best display to overcome Westport

Buccaneers reserves produced their best display of the season to date when they defeated Westport 24-7 in their Connacht Junior League meeting at sunny Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Sunday. Buccs fielded just a handful of starters from their previous league outing and, following the hugely embarrassing situation when they could not muster a squad for their last fixture, this was a most encouraging improvement in all facets as the midlanders were clearly the better side all through.

The homesters welcomed back Conor Lavelle, Anthony Cloonan and Paul Galvin to active duty while Gavin Kelly, Sean Stapleton and Anthony Hughes bolstered their side. Confidence quickly oozed through the team when Lavelle, operating out of position at scrum-half, intercepted inside three minutes to snatch an opportunist try on the right. Although Michael Donohoe was unable to convert from the wide angle, Buccs already had their tails up in conditions that were ideal despite the preceding wet week. Buccs forced the pace from the off but, when a second score did not quickly follow, Westport came more into the game but squandered a very easy penalty kick at the end of the opening quarter.

They were soon to regret that profligacy when Stapleton stormed down the centre to make decent inroads into the visitors' 22 to set up a spell of sustained home pressure. Buccs made a few sorties to the Westport line before Lavelle made a blindside break that was repelled but the midlanders retained possession and wing forward Galvin was strong and alert to pounce over when a gap appeared for a 28th minute try on the left which Donohoe did very well to convert. Late in the half, Buccaneers were awarded a kickable penalty following an indiscretion by the 'Port loosehead prop but when the fiery Stapleton retaliated the penalty award was reversed and the versatile young Tipp man spent ten minutes in the sin bin. However, Buccs maintained their 12-0 advantage up to the half-time break and indeed until the centre returned to the fray.

Then he resumed at hooker following an injury to Kelly with substitute Mark O'Carroll coming in on the right wing, his St. Brigid's clubmate Cormac Sheehy switching to fullback and Decie Byrne moving to the centre on 49 minutes. This failed to inhibit Buccs and, just one minute later, Brendan McManus stormed through from halfway showing unexpected Jensen Button style acceleration for a quite magnificent try with Donohoe's conversion shaving the wrong side of the upright. Then, approaching the hour mark, the impressive Galvin fastened on to a Westport knock on just inside their 22 and he careered through for Buccaneers' fourth try. Donohoe duly converted this bonus point try for a clearcut 24-0 lead.

Nine minutes from time, Westport scored a consolation try when Sheehy lost track of an up and under in the sun. The visitors converted but Buccs piled on further pressure with good forays by Stapleton, Lavelle and Sheehy but no further scores despite a strong home finish. Lavelle did very well in his unaccustomed role while Stapleton and Byrne featured prominently in a back line that delivered some slick handling. McManus excelled in a strong pack showing with solid support notably from Adrian Hughes and flanker Cloonan in a fine, all-round team performance.

Buccaneers:- D. Byrne; C. Sheehy, J. O'Connell, S. Stapleton, M. Donohoe; T. Hynes, C. Lavelle; G. McGill, G. Kelly, P. Doran; B. McManus, Anthony Hughes; P. Galvin, A. Cloonan and Adrian Hughes (captain). Replacements used:- M. O'Carroll (for Kelly, inj. 49 mins) and K. Sloyan (for Galvin, inj. 65 mins).

Referee:- Tom Horkan (Connacht).

Buccaneers 32

Galwegians 7

Buccaneers thirds also bounced back from recent adversities to record a comprehensive 32-7 over hitherto unbeaten Galwegians Thirds in this Connacht J2 League meeting at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Sunday. Buccs were more prepared on this occasion and it paid dividends with a much improved showing.

This too was an entertaining affair with both sides willing to run the ball in the fine conditions. Buccs gradually became more dominant as the game progressed and led 10-0 at halftime. Mark O'Carroll opened the home scoring with a well-taken try converted by Gerry Fallon who also landed a penalty in that opening period. Buccs steadily pulled away from their opponents with a second try by O'Carroll and further touchdowns from Marty Kilduff and Odran McIntyre. Fallon converted two of these tries and added another penalty while the Tribesmen could only muster one converted try.

Outhalf Fallon and wing O'Carroll did well in the home backlin where Cormac Keeffe really caught the eye while Sean Byrne, Gerry Glynn and Richie Curley impressed most in the forwards exchanges.

Buccaneers- O. McIntyre; M. O'Carroll, M. Kilduff, M. Bannon, K. O'Neill; G. Fallon, C. Keeffe; R. Curley, D. Lennon, A. Daly; P. Hynes, G. Duffy; G. Glynn (captain), G. O'Loughlin and S. Byrne. Replacements used:- K. Sloyan (for Duffy), J. Seery (for O'Loughlin), K. Grehan (for Bannon) and P. Kelly (for O'Neill).

Cork Constitution 22

Buccaneers 15

Buccaneers U-21's misfortunes continue as they suffered another narrow defeat in the South-West Conference of the National League when going down 22-15 to Cork Constitution at Temple Hill, Cork, on Saturday. Despite a determined and battling performance, Buccs paid dearly for some poor defending, their first up tackling not being up to the mark while their placekicking woes continue, a nil return on this occasion.

Their cause was not helped by the absence through injury of Keelan Headd, Andrew Hyde and John Hayes, while Adam Kennedy and Conor Higgins were not involved. John O'Brien did make himself available and put in a sterling contribution, initially at full-back and more especially at centre in the second half. Conditions were wet underfoot but the teams escaped heavy rain for the duration of a competitive encounter.

Cork Con, who fielded a physically bigger pack, opened the scoring with a fifth minute penalty but persistent Buccs play was rewarded when Conor Hanly did well to finish off some sustained pressure for a 18th minute try on the left. The home fullback waltzed through the centre much too easily for a 32nd minute Cork Con try and, just before halftime, their strong centre burst in for a second home try which was converted to leave Buccaneers trailing 5-15 at half-time.

But Buccs were not fazed by that and replied with a try on 55 minutes, O'Brien setting up Eoin Doolan to touchdown on the right.

However, the sturdy Cork Con centre crashed through for his second try on the hour mark and the conversion stretched the southerners' lead to 22-10. Buccs fought on valiantly and dominated the final quarter but only had a 75th minute Henry Reilly try to show for their stirring endeavours, the conversion and a penalty both being missed. Thus a losing bonus point was something less than Buccs could have earned from this joust despite scoring three tries away from home.

O'Brien excelled for Buccaneers with wing Hanly having his best outing to date in the backline while Shane O'Neill and David Egan led by example in a pack that belied their size, proving sturdy and sound in the scrum and also coming out tops in the lineouts where the jumpers never put a foot wrong.

Buccaneers:- J. O'Brien; J. Byrne, E. Doolan, C. Draper, C. Hanly; D. Fagan, C. Molloy; D. Henshaw, D. Egan, T. Thompson; S. O'Neill, R. Byrne; H. Reilly, J. O'Carroll and P. Robinson (captain). Replacements used:- L. Doran, R. Reid, T. Nolan, D. Kelly and O. McIntyre.