October 2008

Despite outscoring Shannon by three tries to one, Buccaneers had to settle for just a bonus point after an epic struggle with the eight times AIB League champions in this Division One cracker played at Coonagh, Limerick, on Saturday. Buccs were hugely disappointed that a tremendous sustained and enterprising effort did not yield a first ever competitive win over Shannon but, nevertheless, the performance of the midlanders was heartily encouraging and provides much for the squad to build on as the league gathers pace.

After all the recent downpours, the pitch was naturally sodden in spots but stood up very well on a lovely, sunny afternoon. Buccaneers made two changes from their opening day victory, teenager John O’Brien coming in for the injured Aidan Wynne while Alamoti TePou was preferred to Louie Tonkin at lock. Shannon had Andrew Finn in for Wasps bound Mossie Lawlor and called on Munster duo Tony Buckley and Donnacha Ryan to add considerable bulk to their pack.

Buccaneers got off to a frustrating and testing start. Kevin Moran seemed to sustain a kick in the head right from the kick-off when Buccs were also immediately penalised but Tadhg Bennett missed from a kickable position. Conor Higgins came on as a blood substitute for prop Moran but then Alex Hayman pulled up in Buccs first menacing raid on seven minutes, another rookie Paul Harte replacing the centre. In that attack, the midlanders could perhaps have got an early breakthrough for they had decent possession following a penalty to touch on the right but should have been more patient and sustained their drive forward.

Five minutes later, Shannon made a good crossfield counter attack but Stephen Kelly was tackled into touch inside the visitors’ 22. However, Bennett dropped a home goal when Buccs did not secure decent possession following the lineout. The midlanders were now getting to the tempo of a lively contest and Harte made one super break from halfway but David O’Donovan stood his ground well to keep the home line intact. However, the Shannon fullback soon held on to possession too long and Alan Gaughan landed the 21st minute penalty and, just three minutes later, he nosed Buccs into the lead with another penalty.

Soon afterwards, some serious Buccaneers defending wrested possession back and Danny Riordan linked with Niall O’Hara who made some ground before intelligently kicking ahead with Mark Bruce winning the chase to the ball which he calmly grubbered ahead before touching down for a 27th minute try wide on the left. Gaughan was unable to convert the difficult kick but then put in a thumping tackle on the threathening Kelly shortly afterwards.

Within five minutes, Shannon scored a fine try although Buccs can feel a little aggrieved about it as Killian O’Neill seemed to knock on initially before gathering possession at the second attempt. But some good sustained handling ensued and, when the ball was moved wide to the right, Richie Mullane motored in for a try which Bennett converted. On 36 minutes, Shannon were back in the lead when, after David Quinlan quickly tapped a penalty, Buccs went over the top and Bennett landed the resultant straight-forward penalty from in front of the posts for a narrow 13-11 home lead at halftime.

Buccaneers came flying out of the blocks on the restart with Kieran O’Gorman’s presence being felt more as the game progressed while the immensely promising O’Brien made a smashing break that called on all the experience of fullback O’Donovan to repel. But three minutes into the second half, Shannon edged further ahead when Bennett added his second penalty but the upright denied the home outhalf five minutes later after Simon Rolleston was penalised for a tackle.

Buccaneers lively endeavours were to be rewarded, however, after 52 minutes with a searing move off the training ground. Kolo Kiripati tapped lineout possession to Bruce who linked up with Rolleston and the outhalf flicked a delightful pass to O’Brien just inside the home half. The exciting winger showed tremendous pace and balance as he angled for the home line for a fabulous try on the right to tie the scores, Gaughan’s conversion attempt being off-target.

Referee John Carville (whose signalling was less than adequate throughout) then erred in penalising Benny Gilligan after the prop had stepped over to snaffle possession, but justice was done when Bennett for once was wayward with a penalty kick. One criticism of this Buccaneers display would be the concession of some needless penalties in their own half and two such incidences in quick succession at the three-quarters stage effectively ensured that Shannon took the spoils. Bennett landed both penalties on 59 and 65 minutes to give the Limerick side a 22-16 cushion while, in between, teenager O’Brien rescued Rolleston after the outhalf’s attempted clearance had been charged down by his opposite number.

Higgins returned to the fray in place of the gallant Gilligan while Gavin Kelly came on for Garreth Halligan who was suffering from lack of match time, and Buccaneers kept their momentum and drive going. Smashing interplay beginning with O’Hara saw possession reach David Gannon and he drew the final defender before releasing the supporting Rolleston for a super 67th minute try in the left corner. Yet again Gaughan had another conversion attempt from way out wide and he came agonisingly close with this third effort, but Buccs now trailed by just a solitary point 22-21 and a thrilling climax was set up.

Tonkin replaced the drained TePou for the final ten minutes before Bennett, named ‘AIB Man of the Match’, landed a 73rd minute penalty, his fifth successful penalty in a haul of 20 points, to ease home nerves. But Buccaneers still battled on in a game of swaying fortunes and Harte set off on another magnificent break from near halfway just two minutes from time. It looked as if the substitute might get all the way and perhaps should have tried sliding for the line as the cover closed in instead of offloading to O’Gorman, who got nailed and knocked on as a major coup beckoned.

And thus Geoff Moylan’s charges survived, principally due to the place-kicking of Bennett. Buccaneers return in this facet was a disappointing 40% but their discipline at crucial points too was a factor in not securing a win that could well have been topped up with a try-scoring bonus point had Buccs shown more control in their opponents’ 22. The wily Quinlan and Fergal Walsh did well in the home pack.

But despite the disappointment of such a near-miss, Buccaneers can take lots of positives out of this gripping encounter. The backline shows pace and potential aplenty, exemplified by all three tries being scored from far out. O’Brien looks a distinct nugget in the making, Harte excelled when thrown in at the deep end and Riordan is pure class. Though not match fit yet, Halligan put in a fine effort upfront where Moran was again tremendous. Gannon and TePou improved the lineout return on this outing and both will benefit from getting more game time under their belts while a more disciplined O’Gorman excelled again in the backrow.

FOOTNOTE:- The players and mentors wish to thank the large number of supporters who travelled to Coonagh and whose encouragement throughout the game was very much appreciated by all the squad.

BUCCANEERS:- D.Riordan; J.O’Brien, A.Gaughan, A.Hayman, N.O’Hara (captain); S.Rolleston, M.Bruce; B.Gilligan, G.Halligan, K.Moran; D.Gannon, A.TePou; K.Kiripati, K.O’Gorman and A.Hanley. Replacements used:- P.Harte (for Hayman, injured 7 minutes), C.Higgins (for Gilligan, 62 mins), G.Kelly (for Halligan, 66 mins) and L.Tonkin (for TePou, 71 mins). Blood substitution:- C.Higgins (for Moran).

SHANNON:- D.O’Donovan; R.Mullane, A.Finn, J.Clogan, S.Kelly; T.Bennett, R.O’Loughlin; K.O’Neill, M.Essex, T.Buckley; D.Ryan, F.Walsh; J.O’Connor, E.Grace and D.Quinlan. Replacements used:- A.Thompson (for Cloghan, 70 mins) and G.McNamara (for O’Neill, 73 mins).

REFEREE:- John Carvill (Leinster).

T.Bennett (drop goal, con & 5 pens) M.Bruce, J.O’Brien & S.Rolleston (try each)
& R.Mullane (try). & A.Gaughan (2 pens)