March 9th, 2010

BUCCANEERS RESERVES and their Galwegians counterparts shared the spoils 12-12 in their Connacht Junior League game played at Crowley Park, Galway, on Sunday. This was a very open, free-flowing encounter with very little kicking as both squads tried to run the ball. Buccs, having been unable to field in their rescheduled game away to Westport the previous week, are now relegated despite their best endeavours after a torrid season.

This was truly a game of two halves. The midlanders were utterly dominant in the opening period and built up a 12-0 lead. David Dunning got them off to a flying start, his barn-storming run down the right yielding an early try. As the game edged into the second quarter, Adrian Hughes trampled through from 30 metres following a pop pass from David Egan to touchdown, Michael Donohoe converting this try. However, Wegians grabbed a lifeline with a converted try just before the break to trail 12-7 at a stage Buccs should have been more comfortably ahead.

On the resumption, it was now Galwegians turn to force the pace but solid defensive work meant that Buccs kept their noses in front until midway when the westerners finally breached the cover for a try to level. Although Wegians were now in the ascendancy, Buccs continued to defend resiliently with Kevin Creaven and Gavin Kelly to the fore and the sides remained deadlocked to the finish. Cormac Sheehy was another Buccs back to acquit himself well while Paul Robinson, Paul Galvin and man of the match Dunning fared best in the pack for a youthful Athlone outfit whose season is now at an end.

BUCCANEERS:- C.Sheehy; K.McIntyre, G.Kelly, K.Creaven, C.Draper; M.Donohoe, C.O’Keeffe; L.Doran, D.Egan, G.McGill; S.O’Neill, P.Robinson; D.Dunning, P.Galvin and A.Hughes (captain). Replacements used:- D.Henshaw (for Doran) and M.Coleman (for O’Neill).