Poor display leaves Buccs in dire straits

BUCCANEERS conceded a last minute score that turned potential success into galling defeat when they lost 9-8 to Galwegians in a hugely disappointing AIB League encounter at Dubarry Park, Athlone. Had they not dropped these points, the midlanders would be nestling in the top half of Division One, instead the sceptre of relegation is looming into view. The rescheduling by the IRFU of this match on the same day as a home Six Nations fixture was very contentious but, in hindsight, that may have been a blessing as perhaps the smallest ever attendance at a home Buccs league game witnessed a turgid tie. It was even worse than the UL Bohemian league game which, coincidentally, ended in the same scoreline after a similar finish. Health warnings have been issued for less! Adding gall to the outcome was the fact that Galwegians were very poor but, unfortunately, Buccs were worse for too much of this contest. "Wegians won"t mind, however, for this crucial win lifts them two places up the league table and now the midlanders are really looking over their shoulders with growing anxiety and evaporating confidence. Both sides fielded changed line-ups from their recent abandoned meeting. Alex Hayman was Buccs latest injury victim with Aidan Wynne slotting in at centre while Danny Riordan operated at full-back due to John O"Brien"s involvement with Ireland U-20s. Simon Rolleston (a flu victim the previous day) and Conor O"Loughlin formed the half-back partnership. In the pack, Marcus Madden started at hooker while Colin Watters came in at wing-forward with Kolo Kiripati switching to lock in place of Louie Tonkin, who was on the bench along with fit again Garreth Halligan. Galwegians had a new halfback pairing also, young Cormac O"Beirne replacing the injured Matt Brandon to link up with Kieran Campbell. Barry Lee was preferred in the three-quarters line to Chris Rodgers while Andrew Browne came into the pack for the unavailable Joe Moran. "Wegians had whatever advantage there was from the elements in a quite dreadful opening half. Buccaneers were strangely lethargic in a stop-start affair, and the one hundred or so souls who ventured to the game must have been seriously considering the wisdom of their decision. Riordan was prominent twice in the opening minutes for the home side, but "Wegians took the lead after just 8 minutes when Rolleston"s shoulder tackle was penalised and Robert O"Beirne stroked over the penalty kick. Wynne put in a thumping tackle on 15 minutes and did not release the player, but O"Beirne missed this penalty. However, he duly slotted over his next placekick after Kevin Moran had been flagged by a touch-judge on the half-hour mark. This put the westerners 6-0 to the good, a lead they held at half-time. Riordan was again prominent in the opening stages of the second half when there was more urgency and interest shown by Buccaneers, but the match was at the three-quarters stage before they got a scoring opportunity in a dire contest. Then Alan Gaughan converted a fine penalty from the ten-metre line after "Wegians strayed offside. Five minutes later, Buccs were awarded a penalty a shade further out. Three weeks ago, the broken crossbar frustrated Buccs when leading 6-0 and, on this occasion, the upright denied them a levelling score when Gaughan"s fine penalty attempt rebounded into play and the visitors cleared the danger. Scoring chances were at a premium throughout but Buccs were now dominant and finally forcing the tempo. Paul Harte looked set to finish off one promising raid but Browne got across very well to get in a crucial ankle tap that stopped the home winger. Their pressure brought them close to the "Wegians line and forced a penalty which O"Loughlin tapped and, a couple of passes later, Riordan angled in for a smartly-taken 70th minute try on the left which Gaughan failed to convert. Nevertheless, the homesters were now 8-6 ahead and Galwegians were rarely threatening at this stage. But the light blues made one final flurry in the last minute and Moran flapped in needlessly from the side to concede a penalty to the visitors on the 22. It was a tricky enough kick from the right but full-back O"Beirne, whose place-kicking has been vital for Galwegians this season, was not found wanting on this occasion and he duly put a nail in Buccs coffin. So, yet again, Buccaneers failed to hold on to a late lead. Worryingly, they just cannot close off a game and, overall, they lacked spark, cohesion and confidence in a very poor game in which only Kieran O"Gorman played anywhere near potential for the homesters as he claimed the "OYSTERhomes Man of the Match" accolade. Minute"s Silence One minute"s silence was observed before this game in memory of the late Michael Hanley. BUCCANEERS: D. Riordan; P. Harte, A. Gaughan, A. Wynne, S. Carey; S. Rolleston, C. O"Loughlin; M. Diffley, M. Madden, K. Moran; K. Kiripati, J. Tormey; C. Watters, K. O"Gorman, A. Hanley (capt.). Replacements used: L. Tonkin (for Tormey, 51 mins); G.Halligan (for Madden, 56 mins). Temporary blood sub: Tonkin (for O"Gorman, 14/17 mins). GALWEGIANS: R. O"Beirne; J.P. Cleary, C. Briegl, B. Murphy, B. Lee; C. O"Beirne, K. Campbell; J. Naughton, C. Muldoon, J. Stephens; D. Nolan, A. Browne; L. Scahill, I. Muldoon (capt), L.Casserly. Replacements used: C. Rodgers (for Lee, 20 mins); D. McHugh (for Naughton, 75 mins); D. Boyd (for Casserly, 75 mins); A. O"Sullivan (for C. Muldoon, 77 mins). Temporary blood sub: Boyd (for I. Muldoon, 40/42 mins). REFEREE: R. Kerr (Ulster).