Buccs Double Up In Connacht
It may have taken just three games, but Buccaneers, under the guidance of new coach Geoff Moylan, have already chalked up a Connacht Senior League and Cup double.
Connacht winger Ted Robinson
It may have taken just three games, but Buccaneers, under the guidance of new coach Geoff Moylan, have already chalked up a Connacht Senior League and Cup double.
Saturday saw them pick up the club’s fifth league title with a 17-8 defeat of western rivals Galwegians at Crowley Park. A good start to the new season for Buccs and Moylan will be hoping that can continue next Saturday as they face a difficult trip to Dungannon for their AIB League Division One opener.
League holders ‘Wegians, coached this season by former Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Paul Young, had wind advantage from the off at Crowley Park but John Cleary missed a difficult ninth-minute penalty chance to put them in front.
Former Ireland Under-21 captain David Gannon did break the deadlock for Buccs on 24 minutes when he crossed for his first try for his new club. From a Mark Bruce offload, the young lock dummied and showed a neat turn of pace to evade the ‘Wegians rearguard down the right flank and score.
Tommy Cregan, one of Moylan’s signings from his former club Shannon, converted for a 7-0 lead and that’s how it stayed until the sixth minute of the second half. Connacht Under-21 fly-half Peter Durkin dropped a goal to open ‘Wegians’ account, but Buccs were growing in confidence.
Ireland Sevens flyer Bruce, another summer signing, flicked a brilliant reverse pass out to the blindside on 51 minutes that almost had William Wallace, restored to inside centre, in for the visitors’ second try.
That score duly arrived three minutes later when another excellent backline move saw Cregan offload for Connacht winger Ted Robinson to plunge overin the left corner. Cregan expertedly drew over the conversion for 14-3, and then added a 78th-minute penalty to wrap up the victory.
‘Wegians showed heart to the finish however, and substitute Ronan Loughney, a Connacht Academy graduate, finished off a close range maul for a injury-time try. Both ‘Wegians and Buccs are qualified through now as Connacht’s representatives for the inaugural AIB All-Ireland League Cup.