Buccs set to host Bruff as new AIL season kicks off
Buccaneers kick off this season’s Energia All-Ireland League with a home fixture against Bruff on Saturday when the action gets under way in Dubarry Park at 2.30pm. Buccs play in the new Division 2B South for this campaign.
Buccaneers will field a primarily youthful crew with a growing number of players coming through from the club’s successful U-20 squad of recent years. Darin Claasen is again head coach assisted by Garreth Halligan after steadying the Pirates ship last season with Damien Curley coming in as manager.
The experienced James Kelly is a deserving choice as captain and the prop can be counted on to show committed and passionate leadership.
Spanish front-rower Hugo Hernando looks an interesting recruit with prop Dylan Quinn being another arrival but otherwise the squad will have many familiar faces.
Corey Reid, Orrin Burgess, Abel Bouwens, Tom Shine, Thomas Cotton, Rourke O’Sullivan and Leo MacFarlane are likely to be key figures in the backline. Conor Sheehan, Sean Glennon, Patrick Egan, Luke Balsiger, Ryan O’Meara, Niall Tallon and Dylan Bolger can anchor the pack. Oisin Dolan, Ross Murphy-Sweeney, Charlie Byrne, Harry Balsiger, Cathal Walsh and Sam Fogarty are others striving for starting berths.
Exciting prospects such as Abu Saka, Aindriu Oates, Andrew Henson, Conor Dowling, Jack Quinn, Kailin Blessing, Filip Galbarczyk and Kyle Byrne are likely to feature during the season as could teenagers Darragh Glennon and Oisin O’Donoghue.
Not much is known about Bruff at this stage apart from shipping a heavy Munster Cup defeat against a strong Highfield side. But the Limerick club will surely be doughty battlers and likely to have a hardy pack so Buccaneers may need to maximise the space at Dubarry Park.
Michael Moore Car Sales continue sponsorship
At a pleasant informal function in The Bounty recently, Buccaneers RFC confirmed that Michael Moore Car Sales will continue as the club’s title sponsor.
The alliance between Buccaneers and the Moore family now stretches to 16 seasons, a remarkable show of continued generous patronage by the renowned motor retailer.
Buccaneers RFC President Sean Flynn welcomed the gathering at what is a special milestone in the club’s history as the 75th anniversary of the club being founded in October 1951 approaches.
Sean felt that the Buccaneers senior squad “turned a corner” in the All-Ireland League last season and he expressed hope that the young squad, with the addition of arrivals from the successful U-20 team, can provide a springboard to Buccaneers competing at a higher level.
Sean complimented senior coaches Darin Claasen and Garreth Halligan for their endeavours and instilling good standards and culture. He wished them and new club captain James Kelly every success during the coming season.
The club continues to invest for its future with the revamping of the dressing-rooms concluded recently. A gym should be operational in the coming weeks and plans are pushing ahead to provide a 4G playing surface. All this cannot happen without the help of sponsors and, in this regard, Sean acknowledged the generous, loyal and long-standing patronage of Michael Moore Car Sales.
Support such as that provided by the Moore family, now in its 16th year, is very rare and consequently appreciated all the more. The president expressed his “sincere gratitude” on behalf of all at the club to Michael Moore Car Sales and he wished them “every success with their current business expansion”.
In reply, Michael Moore (Dealer Principal, Michael Moore Car Sales) said he was “very proud” to announce the confirmation of the company’s sponsorship of Buccaneers RFC. He wished the club “great success in the upcoming season”.
Michael described the company’s sponsorship of Buccaneers as “a genuine partnership, built on trust, loyalty and a shared commitment to the local community”.
“A strong club is not judged solely by results or league tables but by the environment it creates and opportunities and values provided. These are shared values between Buccaneers RFC and Michael Moore Car Sales,” said Michael, who wished all teams well.
Buccaneers head coach Darin Claasen thanked Michael Moore Car Sales for their ongoing sponsorship which is invaluable in helping the club field so many teams and continue to develop players. He felt there was “no lack of effort or desire” last season but that decision making cost the team on certain occasions. Last season, there was a big focus “on changing the mindset and culture” in the squad, he remarked.
Darin and his backroom team will be keen to give opportunities to home-grown players who have progressed through the underage structures. There will be challenges but the coaching team believe that the potential within the squad is huge.
New Buccaneers club captain James Kelly also gratefully acknowledged the continued sponsorship provided by Michael Moore Car Sales and he believed that the club is going in the right direction. James assured those present that the players will do their utmost to provide a successful and enjoyable season for supporters and sponsors alike.
Buccaneers RFC also congratulated Michael Moore and his wife Claire on the recent birth of their first child, a daughter named Fiadh.
Pre-match function
There will be a pre-match function at 12.30pm for Saturday’s game against Bruff. Meal in The Bounty with complimentary wine, 100-page matchday programme and free admission to the game all for €35. Groups and individuals catered for. Contact Geraldine at 086 1732711 to book.