Buccaneers Take The Derby Spoils
Buccaneers made it five wins in six All-Ireland League games as they got the better of their Connacht rivals Galwegians in Saturday’s derby at Dubarry Park.
Buccaneers laid the platform for this latest success in the opening 40 minutes, before putting in a lacklustre second half display which might have been punished by a better side.
Full-back Rob O'Beirn converted a second minute penalty for Galwegians who came into this game on the back of four successive league defeats. He missed a subsequent kick, from near the touchline, as the visitors continued to prosper up front.
'Wegians had Connacht's Eoin McKeon and Ezra Taylor starting in the back row, and another provincially-capped player at outside centre in Liam Bibo.
Scrum half Adam Kennedy missed a 14th minute penalty for Buccs but levelled the tie with an easier 22nd minute effort.
Just as Buccaneers cranked up their efforts, winger Paul Harte blazed through for a superb individual try in the 27th minute. Harte seized on a loose pass in his 22 and had the gas to make the line for Kennedy to convert.
O'Beirn and Kennedy then swapped penalties, before the latter landed his third successful kick to close the gap to 13-9 on the stroke of half-time.
The second half was a stop-start affair and Buccs kicked away possession cheaply at times. They had an initial chance to score a try, but full-back John O'Brien was stopped inches short of the try-line after a classy collect of his own chip.
'Wegians survived the scrum and and their full-back O'Beirn also had to be on his toes to put a try-saving tackle in on the advancing O'Brien.
Following a John Cleary-inspired break amongst the backs, O'Beirn increased the pressure on Hendre Marnitz's side by landing a 57th minute penalty.
But, with Daniel Qualter, Colin Watters, Connacht prop Dylan Rogers and captain Garreth Halligan stepping up to the mark, replacement David Connellan's late penalty seemingly copperfastened the points for the Pirates.
However, they had to keep their composure during a late flurry from 'Wegians. With Halligan in the sin-bin, his side had to defend a five-metre scrum and 'Wegians' All-Ireland League debutant Taylor was just held up over the try-line.
Buccs produced a relieving turnover and the win was theirs, with full-back O'Brien selected as the man-of-the-match.