AIB League: O’Sullivan On Song For Buccs

Paddy ‘Hacksaw’ O’Sullivan cut a dash for Buccaneers on Saturday, as his try-double at headquarters helped the Pirates to their first win of 2005, at the sixth attempt.

O’Sullivan’s 79th-minute second was crucially converted by fly-half David Connellan as John McKee’s men moved out of relegation trouble with a 17-16 success.

Shane Whelan had kicked the second-from-bottom Dubliners – without a win since January – into an early lead, and the scrum-half also converted lock Alan Maher’s touchdown on the half-hour for a 10-5 break buffer.

O’Sullivan was Buccs’ initial scorer – notching the westerners’ 300th league try in all, in reply.

On the restart, Lansdowne looked to take a hold on proceedings but although Whelan successful with two more penalty attempts, Connacht lock Pieter Myburgh was allowed in for a second Buccs try.

Centre O’Sullivan made Lansdowne pay further for allowing the visitors back into it, as he ended a sizzling 40-metre run, dummying past Lansdowne full-back Johnny Murphy, to set up a grandstand finish.

Connellan arched over a brilliant touchline conversion, and with both Whelan and Andy Tallon wayward with two drop goal attempts in injury time, Buccs held on to move up to eighth.

AIB League Results: Saturday, March 5

DIVISION ONE:

Lansdowne 16 Buccaneers 17, Lansdowne Road
Scorers: Lansdowne: Try: Alan Maher; Con: Shane Whelan; Pens: Whelan 3
Buccaneers: Tries: Paddy O’Sullivan 2, Pieter Myburgh; Con: David Connellan

DIVISION TWO:

Ballynahinch 6 Dolphin 26, Ballymacarn Park
De La Salle Palmerston 0 Young Munster 16, Kilternan
Highfield 13 St Mary’s College 13, Woodleigh Park
Midleton 6 Bective Rangers 11, Towns Park
Old Crescent 27 Old Belvedere 19, Rosbrien
Terenure College 12 UL Bohemian 39, Lakelands Park
Thomond 33 Waterpark 15, Fitzgerald Park
UCC 25 Barnhall 19, The Mardyke

DIVISION THREE:

Ballina 10 Ards 38, Heffernan Park
Banbridge 12 Suttonians 25, Rifle Park
Bruff 34 Skerries 15, Kilballyowen Park
City of Derry 22 Wanderers 12, Judge’s Road
Connemara 3 Sunday’s Well 13, Monastery Field
Corinthians 13 Queen’s University 8, Corinthian Park
Instonians 41 Old Wesley 6, Shaws Bridge
Portadown 8 Clonakilty 33, Chambers Park