Dubarry Park to stage double header

BUCCANEERS host an enticing double-header of vital matches in Dubarry Park on Saturday afternoon, with the seniors entertaining St. Mary"s College in an AIB League Division One clash at 2.30pm. This will be preceded by a South-West Conference U-20 League play-off between Buccaneers and Garryowen at 12.30pm. Both fixtures promise a feast of entertaining and competitive rugby that should attract a good-sized crowd to the Athlone venue. In the senior game, Buccs will be hoping to build on their recent overdue win against Terenure College. That 43-11 victory should have renewed confidence in the home squad, especially as they again notched another Bonus point through their try-scoring, while the win also lifted the midlanders up a couple of berths in the league table. Buccs are unlikely to have many changes from that recent home win. Conor O"Loughlin may come back into the frame if fit but Mark Bruce acquitted himself well against "Nure, while Danny Riordan is not available due to his involvement with Ireland in the World Cup Sevens in Dubai. There is likely to be an internal battle for the services of John O"Brien, who would be a decided asset to both the senior and U-20 sides. One player that the Seniors may have in their squad is Clifford Richardson, who is back training and has featured with the Reserves recently. His return would be a welcome boost as Buccs have struggled for consistency in the second row. St. Mary"s currently lie in 7th position in the league and will be keen to secure a place in the top half so that they will be among the 'elite eight' in next season"s two-tier Division One. They had a good southside derby win over Blackrock College last time out and have also defeated Cork Constitution so, on their game, they are a match for any side in the top-flight. Their defensive qualities edged them to victory in their win over the table-toppers. Conor McInerney, Hugh Hogan, Rob Sweeney and Matt Duggan are formidable operators in their pack while Shaun McCarthy and Simon Gibney look a potent half-back pairing. Darragh Fanning and Conor McPhillips are others who will need containing in the backline. Player-coach McCarthy is, arguably, their key performer. Buccs will look to their pack to match the visitors and, if Kolo Kiripati, Michael Diffley, Kieran O"Gorman and company front up effectively, then the homesters can lay a platform for lively backs such as Alan Gaughan, Sean Carey and Paul Harte to profit from. Alex Hayman and Simon Rolleston will again be tasked with providing the necessary steel while, if the team overall shows disciplined mettle and work-rate, this can be a very competitive game. Buccs U20s v Garryowen The Buccs U20s suffered a blip last weekend at UL Bohemian but fared well for an hour or thereabouts, when a yellow card and injuries plus the absence of some rested personnel proved costly. Their strength is their collective will to work for each other, and also to listen and learn as they have improved immeasurably since they kicked off their campaign in mid-October. They have lost just two games in the league, both away and to the two teams who head the league table just above third-placed Buccs. The Athlone side will hope that Ireland U-20 squad members John O"Brien and Conor Higgins will be available. Full-back O"Brien may also be required by the senior side while prop Higgins sustained an injury last week when both players impressed in Limerick. Colin Draper and Conor Murtagh were both injured in that match and centre Draper is almost certain to be ruled out, but David Fagan, Billy Henshaw and Adam Kennedy are other backs who will have no inhibitions about tackling Garryowen. Indeed, Buccs defeated the Munster outfit 16-11 when the sides met in Dooradoyle in January. Kennedy was sin-binned in that game as he was last weekend, so the half-back must show improved discipline and focus to match his undoubted talent and skill. If John Connellan is available, he would provide another string to Buccs backline bow where Rory Walsh and Terry Hynes can also be counted on. Prop Niall Harney captains the squad and is part of a formidable front row where Trevor Thompson and David Egan have made strong claims for starting berths. Keelan Headd has been terrific in the second row where his likely partner is the competitive Rory Byrne. No. 8 Joe Kenny and the perpetual industry of Kevin Creaven have been key components for Buccs this season. Paul Robinson and Shane O"Neill will also hope to feature in the back row. Having beaten a Garryowen side containing Ireland U-20 half-backs Andrew Burke and Conor Murray (who both started in Dubarry Park against France), Buccs have justified confidence in their capabilities even against a bigger physical side such as the Limerick club. If Buccaneers" attitude and application measures up again and their lineouts and decision making both improve - and, no doubt, David Henshaw, Noel Mannion and their backroom team will surely have them focused - then they have the potential to scalp Garryowen again and progress to the next round of the play-offs.