Kolo ‘very proud’ as Buccs secure dramatic promotion win
Going into last weekend's All-Ireland League Division 2A promotion decider against Queen's University in Belfast, Buccaneers coach Kolo Kiripati was under no illusions about the challenge facing his side.
"We played Queen's twice during the year, so we knew how tough it was going to be," he said. "Throughout the whole game it was a battle - back and forth, back and forth."
In the end, the battle came down to the last kick of the game.
An attempted conversion by James Humphreys of Queen's rebounded off the upright to seal a dramatic 18-17 win for the Athlone visitors.
Having played with distinction for Buccaneers for many years, Kolo said he found it more tense having to follow the action from the sideline.
"In the whole week leading up to the game, and throughout the 80 minutes on Saturday, it was nerve-racking," he said. "I'm just very proud of the boys and the way they played. They fought right through the whole game and never gave up.
"Our defence won us the game. Our pack really stood up. We knew what Queen's could do, so we had to outmuscle them in the front. We knew their back three, their backline, was good but thank God our backline really stood up as well.
"Our boys were really up for it, every single one. They knew they all had a job to do.
“Queen's were the favourites all year, and for us to go up there and come away with the result was just unbelievable, amazing."
He paid tribute to the members of the Buccs' backroom team, mentionin Cormac Ward who has been working with the group on strength and conditioning.
"I had a Zoom call with Cormac during Covid and at the time I told him; 'You're going to play a massive part in this. I want my boys to be strong, physical and fit'.
"Our boys have changed massively from when they first started to now."
He said the increased number of players involved at various grades in Buccaneers had also helped add momentum to the club.
"The numbers that we have now are amazing, and it makes your job even more exciting. Going into training, you have 30-40 guys training on a Tuesday and a Thursday which makes it more enjoyable."
Looking ahead to next season in Division 1B, he said the experience gained during this campaign will stand to this Buccaneers side.
"One of the things we wanted to build was a culture, and a trust, between the guys. If you don't have that culture then you won't have each other's backs on the pitch. They look after each other off the pitch and on the pitch."
Following the memorable win in Belfast on Saturday, the group returned home to celebrate their success at The Bounty.
"We all came back to the club and just enjoyed the moment. Everyone had played their part," added Kolo.
Buccaneers (v Queen's): Ruaidhrí Fallon; Josh O’Connor, Shane Layden, Stephen Mannion, Saul O’Carroll; Michael Hanley, Will Reilly; Martin Staunton, Declan Adamson, Sam Illo; Darragh Murray, Danny Qualter; Oisin McCormack, Evan Galvin (captain), Ciaran Booth. Replacements: Frank Hopkins (for Reilly, 70 mins), James Kelly (for Staunton, 76), Darren Browne, Ruairi Byrne, Graham Lynch, Tabo Maree, Rory O’Connor and Ryan O’Meara.