Cup final joy on the double for Buccaneers young guns

By Michael Silke

Buccaneers retained the Bank of Ireland Connacht U-16 Cup when deservedly coming out on top by 32-10 over Sligo in a lively decider contested at sun-drenched Dexcom Stadium on Sunday, April 21.

Two early tries set the Shannonsiders on their way and they kept the north-westerners at arms-length thereafter to ensure that the Enda O’Rourke Memorial Cup remained “home” in Athlone.

Philip Finnan opened the scoring after just four minutes following a penalty to touch on the right from which possession was moved smartly infield and the livewire full-back flashed over the Sligo line for a try on the left.

John Paul Flanagan opened the Yeats County boys' account with a penalty three minutes later but Buccs responded quickly. Owen Egan blocked an attempted clearance and the busy scrumhalf then won the race to touchdown for a ninth-minute try. Ruairi Dolan, whose first conversion rebounded off an upright in the diagonal breeze, found the range with a 13th-minute penalty won following an end-to-end attack to put Buccaneers 13-3 ahead.

Buccs were dominating but a couple of over-elaborate passes spoiled further try opportunities. One of these, an unnecessary skipped effort, was to prove costly as it gave possession to Sligo who then went through the phases to score a try wide on the left by Daniel Allen. Flanagan matched this endeavour with a fine touchline conversion to tighten the margin to 13-10 after 28 minutes.

The Pirates' retort was instant, forcing a scrum from the restart before slick hands moved the ball to the right where Darragh Glennon’s desire and strength was rewarded with a try. Dolan’s conversion put the Athlonians ahead by double scores 20-10 at the interval.

Sligo needed the first score following the change of ends but Peter Bourke put in a try-saving tackle in the early moments of the second half. Ten minutes into this period, an impressive maul by Buccs was finished off by James Kelly for an unconverted try.

They then held their opponents scoreless throughout the second half. Nathan Kelly powered over between the uprights following a tapped penalty and Dolan’s conversion completed the 32-10 victory for this exciting Buccaneers crew.

Buccs were highly impressive for vast swathes of this encounter, displaying sharp handling on the offensive but also showing relentless and disciplined defending when necessary. All in all, it was a near complete performance apart from an occasional lineout blip.

Glennon was imperious in the backline where Finnan and Egan also caught the eye. Nathan Kelly had key moments in a solid contribution by a well-balanced Pirates’ pack.

Connacht President Michael O’Hehir complimented both teams on an exciting and sporting final before Ciaran West was presented with the Enda O’Rourke Cup by Alan Noone of Bank of Ireland.

Buccaneers: P. Finnan; J. Paul, D. Glennon, O. O’Donoghue, A. Cotton; R. Dolan, O. Egan; C. West (captain), J. Kelly, A. Brown; E. Claffey, P. Bourke; H. Hannon, R. Colleran, N. Kelly. Replacements: D. Dullea, P.D. Sunny, F. De Tena, T. Coleman, J. Walshe, A. Connor, J. Bourke, S. Nugent, D. Cleary, E. O’Sullivan.

Sligo: L. McLoughlin, J. Kiernan, C. O’Hehir, R. Mullan, D. Allen; J.P. Flanagan, G. Gambi-Whelan; R. Galvan, H. Óg Arnold, A.N. Jimenez; O. McNamara, F. Kavanagh -Beirne; J. Kells, E. Ezema, C.Moffat. Replacements: D. Fahey, C. Fayne, B. Irwin, E. Rooney, H. Lewis, R. Colreavy, G. McGowan, T. O’Rourke and T. Kelly.

Referee: David Andreu (Connacht).

Buccaneers 31 Sligo 14

Buccaneers dominated the Bank of Ireland Connacht U-18.5 Cup final from the start as this group finally inflicted defeat on their nemesis Sligo to forge a convincing 31-14 victory in glorious sunshine at the Dexcom Stadium, also on April 21 .

This Buccs squad had been second best to the north-westerners at various age levels in recent years, so this comprehensive win was therefore all the more welcome and sweeter for the Athlone club.

The breeze had changed direction from the opening fixture and favoured Buccs at the start during which they dominated territory. The midlanders were unchanged from their semi-final game, played in atrocious weather and a sodden pitch, but the unusually summer-like conditions and the firm surface in Galway were much more to their liking.

A smashing Dylan Bruton break in which he arced away from a number of would-be tacklers looked like unlocking the opposing cover but he was denied when his chip over the defence took a wicked bounce away from him. But just a minute later, Buccs grabbed a lead that they never looked like relinquishing when Lorcan McCormack finished off another super attack for a 13th-minute try at the left corner. Charlie O’Carroll’s touchline conversion rebounded off an upright.

A Danny Reid break kept the Shannonsiders' momentum bubbling before Patrick Egan and Niall Tallon drove forward with the No. 8’s clever kick ahead presenting Conor Dowling with the type of opportunity he thrives on and the winger won the chase to notch a 20th-minute try, this time at the right corner, for a 10-0 lead.

Sligo missed a penalty shortly afterwards and the dynamic Egan piled further agony on them when he stormed through to dot down between the uprights for a 30th-minute try. Charlie O’Carroll duly added the conversion and the Pirates were in full sail, 17-0 ahead at half-time.

Buccs continued their front-row rotation policy for the second half and it took Eoin Naughton just three minutes to make an impact. O’Carroll got quick ball away from a ruck and the replacement hooker was soon scampering away for a try which O’Carroll converted.

As Sligo endeavoured to counter a few minutes later, Bruton swooped on possession and knifed through the cover and he sped away from half-way to dot down at the posts. O’Carroll’s conversion gave Buccaneers an unassailable 31-0 advantage, even though there was almost half-an-hour yet to play.

Following a brief flare-up, Thomas Cotton was yellow-carded for apparent retaliation while injury forced Bruton’s withdrawal. Understandably, Buccs focus and intensity dropped and Sligo finally got on the scoreboard with a try converted by Mark Tempany. The north-westerners continued to battle and were further rewarded with a late Kealan Schoen try, the conversion completing the scoreline.

Buccs dominated all sectors of this encounter with Sligo unable to curtail their international backrow trio of Egan, Tallon and Sean Rohan while lock Callum Kelly led by example in the forwards battles. Scrumhalf O’Carroll controlled matters while his halfback partner Reid kept it tidy and simple. The two Toms in the centre were nigh on impenetrable while Bruton was the leading threat in an exciting back three.

Afterwards, Buccaneers joint captains Danny Reid and Callum Kelly were presented with the Cup by Alan Noone of Bank of Ireland.

Buccaneers: D. Bruton; C. Dowling, T. Cotton, T. Sheehan, L. McCormack; D. Reid (joint captain), C. O’Carroll; J. Casey, E. McMickan, N. Robinson; M. Fallon, C. Kelly (joint captain); S. Rohan, P. Egan, N. Tallon. Replacements: E. Naughton (for McMickan, h-t), A. Oates (for Robinson, h-t), A. Saka (for Fallon, 52 mins), J. Bourdon, G. Murphy, M. Droust, M.S. Radebe, J. McCormack and D. Gavin.

Sligo: C. Regan; D. Gallagher, R. O’Connor, E. Keane, J. Draper; M. Tempany, J. Rooney; A. Platt, M. O’Hehir, C. Lang; A. Shovelin, T. Walsh (captain); K. Schoen, M. Hunter, I. Marsden. Replacements: A. Gilgan, E. O’Beirne, J. Gilmartin, Q. Moughty, B. O’Hehir, C. O’Neill, A. O’Carroll, K. Roper, B. Hayes and C. Fernandez-Hatre.

Referee: Michael Honan (Connacht).