Brilliant Buccs secure Leinster U20 title in style

De La Salle Palmerston Buccaneers 40

By Michael Silke

After a nervous start, Buccaneers U-20s turned on the style to capture the JP Fanagan Leinster League Premier 2 League title with a comprehensive 40-12 victory over De La Salle Palmerston at Kirwan Park, Kilternan, Dublin last Sunday.

Buccs were rampant and ruthless in the opening half during which they built up an unassailable 35-0 lead as they delivered on the promise that blossomed throughout the league campaign.

Buccs made three changes for this date with destiny. Ewan Joyce-Whyte at full-back and Robbie Foxe at prop replaced the injured Dylan Duffy and Sean Doyle respectively while fit again Niall Tallon returned at No.8 with Luca Giles now on the bench.

On a sunny but cool afternoon, underfoot conditions on the elevated pitch were unexpectedly soft with a crossfield breeze adding to the challenge. Injuries in the opening quarter hour saw Tom Sheehan and Foxe forced off with the former having to remain off following a brief reappearance.

Nevertheless, the Pirates eased into the contest and sensibly took shots at goal to edge 6-0 ahead in the same period through Charlie O’Carroll penalties on four and 14 minutes. In between DLSP did have chances but Conor Ryan made a key rob on seven minutes and a thumping Lorcan McCormack tackle two minutes later let the hosts in no doubt that they were up against it on the day.

Giorgio Racca replaced Foxe with Abu Saka switching to the front row and Kyle Mahon made his debut, deputising for Tom Sheehan, but these disruptions did not unsettle the Athlonians who were now into their groove. They turned over possession in their own half on 16 minutes and Tallon burst forward along the left flank, holding off a couple of tackles and then having the presence of mind to angle towards the uprights for a super try which O’Carroll converted.

Three minutes later, Buccs took control of the contest following a scrum near their own 22 from which Tom Cotton powered forward and the centre made huge yardage, before his delightful offload sent Mahon scampering away to score a try in style. O’Carroll’s conversion put Buccs in an impressive 20-0 lead in as many minutes.

Four minutes later Callum Kelly was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on but, following the penalty to the left, Ryan won DLSP’s lineout and then the dynamic flanker laid the groundwork for Buccs' third try scored by Cotton wide on the left on 27 minutes.

The midlanders swiftly added another try whilst operating with a player in the sin bin. O’Carroll kicked a smashing 50/22 to the right touchline. From the lineout Buccs applied fierce pressure after which the fly-half’s footwork enabled him to dot down at the corner flag for the bonus point try and where a late reckless tackle on him went unpunished.

A magnificent first half team performance yielded a fifth try, Mahon notching his second following a fine flowing move to push Buccs 35-0 ahead.

DLSP got some reward for their efforts with a Shane Stokes try, Will Saunders conversion completing the first half action at which stage Buccaneers’ 35-7 lead was never going to be overhauled.

The Shannonsiders, understandably, did not have same intensity following the change of ends, while DLSP were much more interested in a stop/start second half that threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions. Following one flare-up Saka and Aaron Murphy were both sin-binned with the home captain perhaps fortunate to sustain only yellow in the incident.

A tight forward pass decision spoiled a promising Pirates raid and soon after the referee impeded a Cotton break, but Tallon broke from the resultant scrum on halfway to send Ryan steaming forward for a 68th-minute try that his impact fully merited.

DLSP had the final score of this half too with Evan Sutton touching down following a 75th-minute tapped penalty. The conversion completed the scoring and, in the dying moments, Jack Nolan was sin-binned for a bad tackle.

Buccaneers were full value for their victory created by a superb first half display. They overcame adversity due to injuries but every player used contributed to this first Leinster League title.

All including substitutes made an impact but none more so than Ryan who wreaked havoc every time he had possession and indeed also when he did not! He was immense in a splendid showing by all the forwards. Similarly, each and every back made key inputs with O’Carroll’s tactical kicking earning him the accolades there. Congratulations to all the players in this special group with plaudits also to their coaching team of Darin Classen, Niall Moran and Tommy Conlon who have guided and helped them improve as the season progressed to achieve the ultimate reward.

After the match, Leinster Branch President Declan Gardiner presented the trophy to victorious Buccaneers captain Conor Sheehan which was followed by a rousing on-field rendition of ‘The Brothers Malone’!

Buccaneers: E. Joyce-Whyte; C. Kelly, T. Cotton, T. Sheehan, L. McCormack; C. O’Carroll, D. Connolly; A. Oates, S. Rohan, B. Foxe; A. Saka, C. Sheehan (captain); E. Murtagh, C. Ryan, N. Tallon. Replacements: K. Mahon (for T. Sheehan, inj., 13 mins), G. Racca (for Foxe, inj. 15), T. Sheehan (for Mahon, 24), K. Mahon (for T. Sheehan, 28), E. Naughton (for Rohan, 50), S. Rohan (for Racca, 54), G. Racca (for Rohan, 61), L. Cassidy (for Connolly, 68), L. Giles (for Murtagh, 70), E. McMickan (for Cotton, 70), S. Rohan (for A. Saka, 74) and P. Egan.

De La Salle Palmerston: J. Roberts: L. Cabral, F. McGovern, W. Saunders, C. O’Buachalla; F. Greany, J. Heatherwick; C. Kirwan, S. Stokes, C. Bishop; R. Browne, J. O’Sullivan; C. O’Leary, A. Murphy (captain), S. Galvin. Replacements: E. Sutton, L. Troy, E. Geraghty, J. Nolan, J. Conboy, L. Choy O’Byrne and J. Roe.

Referee: M. du Pradel (Leinster).