Buccs face Ballymena in last home league game of the season
By Michael Silke
BUCCANEERS play their final home game of this season’s Ulster Bank League when they host Ballymena at Dubarry Park tomorrow night (Saturday).
This floodlit game, sponsored by Glasson Country House Hotel & Golf Club, has a 7pm kick-off.
Ballymena, a club steeped in rugby tradition and history, have had a torrid season. The one time All-Ireland League winners currently lie in last place with just two wins to date. However, one of those victories was in their most recent fixture when they defeated Bruff, who are now above Ballymena only on scoring difference. Both trail third from bottom Dungannon by ten points with just three rounds of fixtures remaining.
Consequently, the Braidmen are in dire need of league points but they now travel with a ray of hope of avoiding automatic relegation and Buccs will be prudent to be wary. However, the Pirates should possess too much class and enterprise and, if they move the ball with pace, they can keep on the heels of the leading trio.
Buccs face Bandon in U-19 semi-final
Buccaneers square up to bandon in the semi-final of the u-19 all-ireland cup at galway sportsground tomorrow (saturday,) kick-off 2.30pm.
Buccs captured this Cup just two seasons ago and the current crop of rising stars will be keen to advance to the final in Naas. However, they will surely face a searching test from this year’s Munster kingpins from the home town of Graham Norton.
This is a well-balanced Buccs squad although perhaps lacking a bit of height in the pack. With Jacob Walshe unavailable, John Gormley, Scott Flanagan, John O’Meara, Conor McGrath and Saba Meunargia will be battling for starting berths in the front row. Josh O’Rourke, Cian White and Niall Carr are vying at lock while Ross Moony-Enraght put his hand up last Sunday for inclusion in the backrow where Evan Galvin, Brian Cooper and Conor Morrissey have strong claims to start.
Scrum-half Rob Ashe is the team’s only injury worry with Barry Goode a likely replacement if necessary. Ben Carty has the nous and skills to control matters at fly-half as well as being a prodigious place-kicker. The two Seans - Dempsey and Doyle - could form the centre partnership but Conor Langdon’s inclusion would not weaken this sector. Harry Hughes is a try-poacher supreme while Rob McMickan or Mark O’Reilly are very able operators on the other flank. Eoghan O’Reilly is a solid, attack-minded fullback so, all in all, this a pretty rounded band of Pirates.
Bandon claimed the scalps of Bruff and Sundays Well with home advantage but doled out a good beating to Highfield in the Munster final so they will pose a stiff test. However, Buccs too had a solid Connacht final win.
If Buccs play to their collective strengths, hold their nerve and keep both focus and discipline, then their experience of the Sportsground can be a vital ingredient against the boys from west Cork. They are certainly worthy of supporters taking the now short trip west along the motorway so let’s see and hear a big crowd cheering on these young Buccs.