Buccs face long trek south

BUCCANEERS SENIORS face a long haul and tough test when they journey south to square up to Cork Constitution in their AIB League Division One match at Temple Hill, Cork, on Saturday (kick-off: 2.30pm). Cork Con have been, by their standards, somewhat inconsistent this season and indeed trail city rivals Dolphin in the table but have put in a couple of tremendous displays lately to keep very much in touch with the Top Four. They demolished Dungannon 49-3 up north last weekend and will prove a massive test for the midlanders. Powerful winger Richie Lane is in imperious form at present, scoring for fun, and Cronan Healy on the other flank has proved a thorn for Buccs in the past. Tom Gleeson and Daragh Lyons are other top-notch backs for the southerners who can boast a very strong squad. Ferbane"s David Kelly has, finally, been getting an extended run in their pack and it will be interesting to see how he has developed this season. He featured prominently in their long overdue Munster Senior Cup triumph. Tim Ryan, Ed Leamy, Brendan Cuttriss, Billy Holland and Merle O"Connell are other formidable forces in a big home forwards unit that will prove an acid test for Buccs. Buccaneers have some other worries to contend with. Garreth Halligan is doubtful following his injury sustained at UCD but Marcus Madden is a more than willing and able deputy. Benny Gilligan shipped a knock on his knee at Castlebar but of more concern perhaps will be the contribution by their second row pairing. Mentors had hoped that Clifford Richardson would have got game time at last away to Castlebar but that did not happen so, with a lengthy list of absentees in this key sector, Buccs will be stretched. However, if the pack front up decently, then the Buccs backline can ask questions of Cork Con, who came unstuck at home to Young Munster recently. Meanwhile, Buccaneers AIB League game against Galwegians has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 7 in Dubarry Park. This is a far from ideal date for either club with Buccs staging the U-20 International match the preceding night and Ireland taking on France in the Six Nations Championship at Croke Park on the same evening. This would most likely mean that Buccs supporters would be worn out after a long night"s hosting of the U-20s and/or absent cheering on the players in green at GAA HQ, so attendance would be considerably down. I understand that "Wegians too have difficulties with this rescheduling as they have an important event lined up for the night of the 7th. Hopefully, common sense can prevail and the game can be refixed for a more agreeable date. A midweek floodlit match looks the ideal compromise.