Buccaneers finally end wait for All-Ireland League win

Enniscorthy 21 Buccaneers 29

By Michael Silke

Buccaneers' first ever fixture against Enniscorthy proved a memorable one as the Pirates finally broke their long losing sequence that stretched extraordinarily to almost 700 days. The Athlone based outfit claimed a richly merited 29-21 bonus point victory in this Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B game played at Alcast Park on Saturday.

Buccs fielded an unchanged team for this trip to the south-east where it was indeed sunny on a bright afternoon when a slightly diagonal cool breeze made for tricky kicking conditions. The hosts made two changes, both in their pack, with Tim Morrissey and Mikey McVeigh starting.

At the elevated venue, Buccs had first benefit of the elements and began promisingly but Enniscorthy opened the scoring against the run of play. They were helped by a couple of penalties that gave them territory and, following a lineout near the left corner, Davie Murphy applied the finishing touch from a maul for a ninth-minute try converted by Ben Kidd.

Although Buccs remained on the front foot for the opening quarter, it was Enniscorthy who scored next. An overthrown lineout by Buccs went to Tony Ryan and the home captain broke strongly before Graham Barry finished off this counter attack for a 21st-minute try. Kidd tapped over the conversion to give the Wexford side a 14-0 lead.

But Buccs kept their composure and continued to press forward, resulting in a 28th-minute yellow card for Ryan following a high tackle. The hosts were to rue the temporary absence of their most experienced operator.

The Pirates showed improved patience as they pegged the homesters back and, following another infringement, Dan Donovan promptly tapped a penalty to surge over between the uprights for 32nd-minute try converted by Dylan Duffy.

Buccaneers maintained pressure and territory and were rewarded when after a series of pick and goes, Donovan finished in style for his second try just before the interval. Duffy’s conversion left the teams tied 14-14 at the break.

Orrin Burgess and Tom Cotton made promising breaks early in the second half and Leo MacFarlane was very unlucky not to intercept in this period. But Buccs' third try was not long in arriving and again it was ‘Dan the Man’ with Donovan splitting the defence to storm in to complete his hat-trick of tries on 49 minutes. Duffy duly added the conversion.

Buccs were clearly the superior force, having recovered from their early setbacks, but a double movement denied them a bonus point try on 53 minutes and they were held up over the home line on the hour mark as they steadily increased the tempo. Duffy edged them 24-14 ahead with a 61st-minute penalty as the midlanders utilised their bench.

Shortly afterwards, a Patrick Egan break was a portent of what was to follow and the young flanker showed a clean pair of heels to the home defence when he intercepted just inside his own half to romp away to secure a bonus point try at the posts for the Shannonsiders. Incredibly Duffy somehow fluffed the conversion but Buccs now held a healthy 29-14 advantage with seven minutes left to play.

Enniscorthy scored a final move try courtesy of Morrissey with Kidd’s conversion completing the 29-21 scoreline in favour of Buccaneers.

This first win for Buccs, after a run of 30 AIL defeats, was fully deserved for their young squad continues to improve and they never wilted even when they went 14-0 down against the run of play. They fought for every ball and were regularly sharper of thought and deed with a busy backrow trio being crucial to this long-sought change of fortune.

The unbridled joyous celebrations at the final whistle were well due for these young players never stopped trying despite many setbacks. Confidence and belief will now surely come flooding back and the players can now flourish having got this monkey off their collective back.

Man of the match: Hat-trick hero Dan Donovan was man of the match but fellow wing forward Patrick Egan ran him close. Adam Cooper also stood out in the forwards exchanges with the whole pack contributing from start to finish. Burgess got more and more involved as the game progressed, revelling in physical contact, while Tom Shine on the opposite flank was busy throughout in a lively and more cohesive display by the backline that constantly stretched the home defence.

What's next: Buccaneers entertain Navan in the Energia All-Ireland League at Dubarry Park on Saturday when kick-off for this round five fixture is 2.30pm. Both clubs were relegated last season and did not enjoy the best of starts to life in Division 2B. The Royal County side completed a double over Buccs last season but the Pirates will be buoyed by their fine win at Enniscorthy where Navan suffered a heavy defeat earlier this month. W

Buccaneers: D. Duffy; T. Shine, T. Cotton, C. Reid (captain), O. Burgess; A. Bouwens, L. MacFarlane; A. Cooper, O. Dolan, C. Byrne; C. Sheehan, S. Meecham; P. Egan, D. Donovan, L. Balsiger. Replacements: N. Tallon (for Balsiger, 50 mins), R. O’Meara (for Byrne, 56 mins), S. Glennon (for Dolan, 67 mins), D. Connolly (for MacFarlane, 72 mins) and J. Kelly (for Cooper, 72 mins).

Enniscorthy: B. Kidd; I. Jacob, S. McGuire, M. Nolan, Miguel Byrne; C. Kervick, G. Barry; O. Lasisi, D. Murphy, M.J. Doyle; Marco Byrne, T. Stamp; M. McVeigh, L. Treacy, T. Ryan (captain). Replacements: F. Hourihane (for Barry, half-time), S. McCarthy (for Marco Byrne, h-t), R. Ryan (for Treacy, h-t), L. Treacy (for McVeigh, 53 mins), A. Redmond and L. Power.

Referee: Kevin Beakey (IRFU).