Buccs lose out to Shannon in high scoring cup encounter

Buccaneers, forced to make six changes in personnel, were outscored 49-26 by League champions Shannon in a fairly entertaining AIB Cup Second Round game played at scenic St. Munchin's College grounds, Limerick, on Saturday. Shannon were more resourceful overall and they really capitalised on a Buccs sin-binning when the match was finely balanced. A three-try scoring salvo in five minutes at this juncture ensured that Shannon were not going to be dumped out of the AIB Cup at home at the first attempt for the second successive season. The midlanders were short Colm Rigney, Billy Henshaw and J.H. Potgeiter due to injury, whilst flu ruled out Anthony Hughes and Gavin Kelly. John O'Brien had GAA commitments and with Conor Higgins in France on Connacht duty the previous night, the young prop was on the bench due to the tightness of his schedules. This resulted in a hugely-realigned starting XV while Shannon fielded as selected, lock Fergal Walsh passing a late fitness test. On a warm, sunny afternoon, the host club had the advantage of the slight breeze and were quickly on the scoreboard, Andrew Finn retaining possession well to crash over for a home try after a mere 4 minutes. Four minutes later, Stephen Kelly profited from Les Hogan's rampaging break to add a second try and already Buccs were 0-12 in arrears. One feared for a landslide at this early stage as the midlanders' makeshift side struggled not only with Shannon's typically intimidating reputation but also to acclimatise to new positions and team-mates. However, Brian Touhy's chip and chase on 16 minutes yielded a Stephen Burke try after Buccs had got up quickly to blockdown Rob Guerin's attempted clearance. Limerick Gaelic footballer Kelly read a Shannon counter well to grab a 24th minute try on the left, but Buccs replied with a terrific break by Sean Stapleton, operating in an unfamiliar left wing role, that set up a Padraig Burke try just three minutes later. Adam Kennedy converted both touchdowns to narrow the arrears to 14-17 before Stephen Burke almost notched his second try but lost possession in a crunching tackle close to the home line. David O'Donovan, who converted Shannon's opening try, completed the first-half scoring with a penalty deep in added time to make it 20-14 in favour of the Limerick club at the break. Five minutes into the second period, Buccaneers stunned the home supporters when Touhy did particularly well to tidy up a difficult kick ahead before getting away with a forward offload to Stephen Burke who quickly linked up with Paul Harte just inside the home half. Harte, manning the centre for this tie, had a lot of work and distance to cover but he outmanoeuvred the Shannon defence down the right flank for a superbly-taken try. Kennedy too was up to the task when he slotted over the conversion from the touchline to nose Buccs 21-20 ahead. At this stage, Shannon may have been fearing Cup déjÀ vu but, four minutes later, Kennedy was yellow-carded for a high tackle as Shannon made inroads close to the visitors' goal-line. O'Donovan edged Shannon back in front with the resultant penalty and they set about making the most of their temporary numerical superiority. Although they stretched Buccs, the midlanders toiled ceaselessly and looked like escaping the sin-binning without further punishment, while Shannon conceded a high tackle and shortly afterwards prop Kevin Griffin got a long lecture for a late lunge but, crucially, they retained their full complement on the park. The pressure was eventually rewarded, good handling in the lead up to Finn's second try on 57 minutes. Two minutes later, the homesters too got away with a forward pass as Kelly provided the overlap to notch his hat-trick. O'Donovan converted both tries and the damage was irretrievable for Buccs. Within a minute of Kennedy's return, Shannon capitalised on an ill-judged Buccs clearance and prop Hogan dotted down to give Shannon a lead of double scores 42-21 that did not do justice to the midlanders' efforts. Buccs refused to throw in the towel and Touhy, whose elusive running caused Shannon many problems throughout, made another gliding break on 69 minutes and substitute Ian Kilbride was up in support to score Buccs fourth try of a free-flowing encounter. Shannon had the final say, however, when Eoghan Grace broke strongly on 75 minutes to get their seventh try which O'Donovan converted. Buccaneers were denied a fifth try when Kennedy's quick restart caught Shannon napping but Touhy could not secure the try his endeavours merited when control let him down at the vital juncture and thus Buccs bow out of the Cup on a 49-26 scoreline. Nevertheless, bearing in mind the patchwork-quilt nature of the team fielded, Buccs can take encouragement from the willingness, defiance and regrouping displayed in this game. Their collective spirit is to be admired and, one feels, all the side needs is a bit of overdue good fortune to get the confidence and results flowing again. However, the propensity to concede early scores simply must be eliminated. Stephen Burke was immense again in the forwards battle where he received sizeable support from Martin Staunton against his former club. Colin Watters and Brendan McManus too did well with their first competitive outings in the pack. Touhy looks a class act while Alex Hayman, operating at out-half on this occasion, put in a sterling amount of work. Stapleton was perpetual motion throughout, Marcus Madden made an impact when introduced, and Kennedy is settling into his pivotal role with more composure game by game. SCORERS - Shannon: S.Kelly (3 tries); A.Finn (2 tries); L.Hogan, E.Grace (1 try each); D.O'Donovan (2 pens & 4 cons). Buccaneers: P. Burke, S.Burke, P.Harte & I.Kilbride (1 try each); A.Kennedy (3 cons). SHANNON: M.Lawler (captain); D.O'Donovan, M.O'Driscoll, A.Finn, S.Kelly; R.Mullane, R.Guerin; L.Hogan, B.Duggan, K.Griffin; P.O'Brien, F.Walsh; J.O'Connor, E.Grace, D.Quinlan. Replacements used: P.Loughnane (for O'Driscoll, 52 mins), S.Duggan (for Walsh, 67 mins) and K.O'Neill (for Griffin). BUCCANEERS: T.Hynes; S.Stapleton, B.Touhy, P.Harte, B.Carpenter; A.Hayman (captain), A.Kennedy; M.Staunton, G.Halligan, B.Gilligan; B.McManus, J.Tormey; P.Burke, C.Watters, S.Burke. Replacements used: M.Madden (for Carpenter, inj. 32 mins), C.Higgins (for Gilligan, 60 mins) and I.Kilbride (for Hynes, 67 mins). REFEREE: David Keane (Leinster).