Buccs U20s claim Connacht Cup

BUCCANEERS" season ended on a high note when their U-20 squad captured the Connacht Cup with a 24-13 victory over Galwegians in a competitive and hugely entertaining final at Galway Sportsground on Wednesday night. A lovely evening and decent attendance provided the ideal backdrop for a match worthy of the final with two well-drilled and enterprising teams giving their all in a sporting contest in which Buccs better all-round balance and desire ensured the trophy would be heading to the midlands. Buccaneers, despite being inactive for several weeks, settled quite quickly and generally dominated matters from an early stage, although Wegians refused to capitulate and battled very gamely to the bitter end. The midlanders, in the absence through injuries of a handful of regulars, realigned their forces with Henry Reilly filling the No. 8 role, versatile David Egan at flanker and welcomed back John Connellan to the pivotal out-half role. They got off to a positive start and looked like notching a 7th minute try but Conor Molloy put a foot in touch as he was shepherded wide on the left flank. However, Adam Kennedy settled nerves with a well-placed penalty on 11 minutes for a lead they never relinquished. Seven minutes later, the scrum-half doubled Buccs tally with a lovely struck penalty after John O"Brien had been tackled late. Soon afterwards, Connellan lofted a teasing up and under which Billy Henshaw (operating at centre) was unlucky not to hold on to, but this gave Buccaneers another foothold in Wegians territory and moments later their pack drove over for a Kevin Creaven try on 23 minutes. Kennedy"s conversion extended Buccs advantage to 13-0. Galwegians responded with their best phases to date and Jimmy McNicholl forced his way over wide on the right for a 27th minute try but Darragh Mullins" conversion attempt fell short. Shortly afterwards, Henshaw did well when dealing with a dangerous kick through as Wegians grew in confidence. However, Buccs retorted with another Kennedy penalty following a handling offence, the scrum-half being deadly accurate with a 32nd minute place-kick. Although David Fagan was sin-binned for 'hands in' just before the interval, Buccs led 16-5 at the break as Wegians were again short with their penalty kick. Three minutes after the change of ends, it was Galwegians time to breathe a sigh of relief when they were guilty of not rolling away but Kennedy"s penalty kick shaved the wrong side of the upright. Molloy was again denied a try when a forward pass was spotted on 45 minutes before Wegians (who made three substitutions at half-time and a fourth within five minutes of the restart) narrowed the arrears six minutes later with a Rob O"Beirne penalty after Rory Walshe was caught in possession. But Buccs restored their eleven points margin on 56 minutes after another O"Brien rampage caused consternation in the Wegians ranks in the build up to Connellan"s neat drop goal. Creaven and O"Brien were prominent soon afterwards in another fine attack but Connellan"s diagonal kick did not reach it"s intended target. However, this was the forerunner of another spell of concerted pressure by Buccs with Conor Higgins driving forward before the prop was stopped short of the line but skipper Creaven was, as ever, up with the action and he gobbled up possession to peel away for a smartly taken 63rd minute try which Kennedy did not convert. Buccs were now comfortably ahead 24-8 but got a warning when Connellan was blocked down although the stand-off recovered quickest to retrieve the situation. Buccaneers could soon afford to unload their bench and one of the substitutes Darragh Mooney made a terrific break up the left flank but it was a Galwegians replacement Robin Piggott who completed the scoring when, after the westerners had been patient and persistent going through phases, he got in for a 84th unconverted try which their gritty and sustained endeavours, best epitomised by lock Joe Moran, warranted. Nevertheless, Buccaneers were full value for this fine 24-13 victory which put the seal on a splendid season by this group of promising players. Captain Creaven was, undoubtedly, man of the match with the elusive O"Brien running him close. Halfbacks Kennedy and Connellan gave the midlanders a crucial edge while the Buccs forwards packed too much power and guile for the light blues. Connacht Branch President Mick Grealish presented the Connacht U-20 Cup to victorious skipper Creaven and complimented both clubs on the quality and sportsmanship of an absorbing encounter and he also duly acknowledged the match officials. BUCCANEERS: J.O"Brien; D.Fagan, B.Henshaw, R.Walshe, C.Molloy; J.Connellan, A.Kennedy; L.Doran, T.Thompson, C.Higgins; P.Robinson, S.O"Neill; D.Egan, K.Creaven (captain) and H.Reilly. Replacements:- D.Mooney (for Molloy, inj. 64 mins), L.Walshe (for Egan, 74 mins), C.Murtagh (for Kennedy, 75 mins), R.Aherne (for Fagan, 78 mins) and E.Doolan (for R.Walshe, 78 mins). GALWEGIANS: J.McNicholl; D.Kerr, J.Shanahan, M.O"Flaherty, R.Parkes; D.Mullins, B.Dolan; M.Rouse, J.Kelly, P.Moran; J.Moran, R.Fayne; M.Killeen, L.Griffith and G.Leader. Replacements:- D.Murphy (for Kelly, h-t), R.O"Beirne (for McNicholl, h-t), C.Moyles (for Kerr, h-t), S.Quain (for Dolan, 50 mins) and R.Piggott (for Killeen, 70 mins). REFEREE: Joe Doyne (Connacht).