Last gasp drop goal leaves unlucky Buccs bottom of the table

A DAVE CLARKE drop goal with the very last kick of a compelling match dashed Buccaneers' aspirations in most dramatic circumstances as Galwegians snatched a 12-11 victory in a keenly contested AIB League Division 1B encounter at well attended Crowley Park, Galway, on Saturday. These arch Connacht rivals went about their business hammer and tongs from the off and never relented until that vital strike deep into added time of an absorbing encounter. Victory keeps 'Wegians within touching distance of the leaders but Buccs, despite a gallant and sustained effort, remain bottom despite picking up another bonus point. The midlanders made five changes, some enforced, from last week's home defeat to Ballymena. Conor O'Loughlin and Aidan Wynne were on duty in Spain with Connacht while Stephen Burke (injured against Ballymena) and Paul Harte (injured in training) were both ruled out while Benny Gilligan got the nod at prop ahead of young Martin Staunton. Kolo Kiripati made his first start of the season in place of Burke, Brian Touhy replaced his Connacht team-mate Wynne in the centre, John O'Brien came in for Harte, and Adam Kennedy was restored at scrum-half ,where former Ireland international Kieran Campbell was his opposite number. Galwegians had five changes from the starting line-up when these two clubs previously met. Tiernan O'Halloran, with the Ireland U-20 squad, and Ronan Loughrey, with Connacht, being their two notable absentees but they had Ati Olive back at No. 8. Crowley Park escaped the bitter frost and blanket fog that shrouded the new motorway all the way west to Oranmore where it suddenly evaporated into brilliant sunshine. Buccaneers played down the slope in the opening half and were promptly on the offensive. Their positive play earned early reward with J.H. Potgeiter slotting over a 10th minute penalty. Soon afterwards, the out-half blocked down an attempted home clearance and Padraig Burke made good ground before off-loading to Alex Hayman but the centre was stopped very close to the Wegians line when, perhaps, it may have been more profitable had he spread the ball wide to his left. Galwegians were under the cosh at this stage but were relieved to be awarded a clearing penalty in front of their posts as eager Buccs piled forward. This was kicked to touch near midway but Buccs pressure turned possession over following the lineout and the backs got quick ball from right to left with Touhy linking well and Conor Lavelle evaded the clutches of the chasing defenders to scamper down the left flank for an excellent 21st minute try. Although Potgeiter was unable to add the conversion from near the touchline, Buccaneers led 8-0 and were clearly the dominant force. The home side came more into the game as the second quarter progressed and Rob O'Beirn opened their account with a 28th minute penalty after a Buccs handling offence. Nine minutes later, Colm Rigney was deemed to have come in from the side and O'Beirn added a second penalty to narrow the home side's arrears further. Hayman made a smashing break down the left but the westerners got cover back just in time to stop the Buccs centre. The visitors held the advantage 8-6 at the break as the fog now began to reach Glenina. On the restart, it was 'Wegians turn to surge forward but, despite being penned back, Buccs' defensive work was committed and disciplined until the 48th minute when Kiripati needlessly strayed offside and was then duly yellow-carded after infringing. This was careless play by such an experienced player and, in hindsight, was arguably the key incident in the game. O'Beirn completed his hat-trick of penalties with the resultant place-kick to give the hosts the lead for the first time. Now Buccaneers had an uphill battle in more ways than one but, shades of Munster, they denied Galwegians any further chances while depleted numerically. Staunton replaced Gilligan on the hour mark when Brian O'Carroll was introduced at fullback with Lavelle switching to the right wing in place of Sean Stapleton. Buccs now regained their momentum and upped the tempo forcing 'Wegians back more and more. One swift counter attack on 67 minutes saw possession move to James Tormey and he surged forward with O'Brien in support. The lock did his utmost to commit the cover but they remained patient and when the ball was moved to O'Brien the winger just did not have enough space to get in. The influential Olive was injured at this stage and his replacement by the substituted hooker Murphy was a peculiar one that may be worthy of close inspection by Buccs. Buccs were now picking and driving to very good effect and, five minutes later, O'Brien looked like he had got over in the right corner but no score emanated. Then in the 78th minute, the midlanders seemed to have gained their just rewards when, after a poor Potgeiter drop goal attempt was blocked down, a home player could not resist picking up the loose ball in an offside position and Kennedy coolly converted the resultant penalty to edge Buccs 11-8 ahead with time ticking away. But 'Wegians battled on from the restart and won possession in midfield. The light blues didn't look like they would put a match-winning move together as the game ebbed deep into added time but, with victory in sight, a Pirates defender was tempted offside on the halfway line. Following a quick consultation with the referee, 'Wegians held their nerve to punt the penalty into touch on the right just inside Buccs 22 where they won the resultant lineout. Possession was promptly moved infield to centre Clarke who dropped the sweetest of goals with the very final piece of action to turn ecstasy into agony for the visitors. So bitter disappointment for Buccaneers who desperately needed more than a bonus point from this encounter. Overall, they were the busier, more fluent side but paid dearly for a couple of errors. However, there was plenty to draw encouragement from in this performance, a vast improvement on the previous week's showing. Burke put in a huge effort as did Tormey in the second row while Gilligan made an impact and Colin Watters did very well. Kiripati too apart from his sin-binning contributed greatly. Touhy and Hayman teamed well in the centre, Lavelle took his try very well, O'Carroll showed his potential when introduced and O'Brien looked Buccs' most dangerous back although not getting quite enough ball to make his class pay. BUCCANEERS: C.Lavelle; S.Stapleton, B.Touhy, A.Hayman, J.O'Brien; J.H.Potgeiter, A.Kennedy; B.Gilligan, G.Halligan, C.Higgins; P.Burke, J.Tormey; K.Kiripati, C.Watters and C.Rigney (captain). Replacements used: M.Staunton (for Gilligan, 60 mins); B.O'Carroll (for Stapleton, 60). GALWEGIANS: R.O'Beirn; B.Murphy, A.Esera, D.Clarke, J.Cleary; R.Shaughnessy, K.Campbell; J.Naughton, C.Muldoon, J.Stephens; L.Scahill, B.McClearn; A.Conboy, I.Muldoon (captain) and A.Olive. Replacements used: D.Boyd (for McClearn, inj. 54 mins); C.Muldoon (for D.Murphy); D.Murphy (for Olive, 68) and R.Dillon (for O'Beirn). REFEREE: Richard Kerr. (Ulster).