Buccaneers host Naas in return to league action

Buccaneers resume Energia All-Ireland League action tomorrow (Saturday) with the return fixture against Naas taking place at Dubarry Park.

Naas ended Buccs’ impressive seven match winning streak with a final kick of the game penalty that went over via an upright at frosty Tullow RFC in December.

Nevertheless, the Athlone club commence the second half of the campaign still topping Division 1B, one point ahead of City of Armagh (the only other team to overcome the Pirates).

Buccaneers were below par in their pre-Christmas defeat in that fixture that was switched from snow covered Forenaughts. Shane Jennings, Oisin McCormack and Darragh Murray were all involved with Connacht on that date and it is likely that the midlanders will see less of this trio (particularly the latter) in 2023. Regardless, they had the opportunity to defeat Naas but did not take it, too many wrong options and unusual sloppiness not helping their cause.

Buccs will need to be firing and focussed from start to finish come Saturday. If the pack puts in a decent shift, then the home backline has the pace and panache to score.

The Cobras are unlikely to be too accommodating for they have been playing better than their results indicated and their win over the Shannonsiders has given them some breathing space over the bottom two clubs.

John Sutton, now a member of their backroom team, would love to put one over the Athlone outfit! Of course, Naas have quite a number of connections with the Dubarry Park club including current Buccaneers president Billy McMickan, who played for Naas in the last millennium, while former Athlone players Denis Murray and Vincent Keogh are both involved with the Co. Kildare club.

If Buccaneers play to their potential, they can get back to winning ways but will need a committed and disciplined team effort from start to finish to prevail. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.