Buccs wilt in second half as visitors claim decisive win

Old Crescent Buccaneers 10

By Michael Silke

After recent improved displays and a decent first half in this contest, Buccaneers faded alarmingly following the change of ends as 14-man Old Crescent cruised to a 42-10 victory in this Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A match played at Dubarry Park on Saturday.

Their bonus point win in this Glasson Lakehouse sponsored fixture keeps the Limerick club on course to avoid the relegation play-offs, with Buccs unable to unlock the steadfast defending of the Munster outfit.

The home side made four changes, three enforced, from the narrow defeat at Ballymena. Injury ruled out Ross Murphy-Sweeney and Orrin Burgess while Daniel Hawkshaw has been called up into the Ireland Sevens panel. Gearoid McDonald returned at fly-half with Corey Reid switching to centre. Dylan Duffy slotted in on the wing with Adam Flanagan recalled at scrum-half. The only change in the pack saw Patrick Egan start at No.8.

Old Crescent made just two changes with the imposing Jake Considine returning at tighthead prop and Jed O’Dwyer getting the nod on the right wing.

With the assistance of the breeze, Buccaneers made a brisk start with Duffy launching an exciting counter-attack after only four minutes but Old Crescent’s Jamie Duggan just denied him to touching down his clever chip ahead. The opening quarter was all played in the visitors’ half but in their first visit of any menace into the home half, Flanagan was sin-binned for a perceived deliberate knock-on. Old Crescent tapped the resultant penalty and, a few moves later, their skipper Karl Madden was dotting down for a 22nd-minute try, converted by Ronan McKenna. This gave them a 7-0 lead totally against the run of play.

Three minutes later, Cian Daly made a strong burst up the right flank that yielded a penalty that was punted to touch close to the corner flag but some ferocious defending by the Limerick men held their line intact. But Buccs efforts gained some reward when McDonald opened their account with a 31st-minute penalty.

Six minutes later, Reid’s smart reactions saw him grubber a dropping ball and he swooped for a richly deserved Buccs try to which McDonald added the conversion to take a 10-7 lead.

Unfortunately, the Pirates conceded a penalty from the restart and Old Crescent found touch on the right from where they forged a try by Timmy Duggan. McKenna duly converted to edge the visitors back into the lead, 14-10.

Some “afters” followed this touchdown and, following discussion with a touch-judge, Lucca d’Ambola Riera was yellow-carded while the try scorer Duggan saw red. In the closing exchanges of the half, Reid was taken out in the air with a mere penalty surprisingly being the only punishment awarded.

Although now facing the elements as drizzle arrived and the floodlights came on, Buccs should have been able to get a grip on the proceedings in a game that was contested with passion and fervour. But crucially Old Crescent snatched the next score, a 51st-minute try by John Toland. Joseph McEnery’s dummy six minutes later sent Oisin Toland in to grab his side’s bonus point try.

Just before the hour mark McEnery incurred a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Two fairly similar offences in the first half by Old Crescent did not incur the similar fate of Flanagan which seems frustratingly inconsistent.

Yet despite being temporarily down to 13 players, Old Crescent struck next with Considine’s big frame rumbling through for a 61st-minute try on the left and, almost immediately, a loose pass was swooped on by Oisin Toland to notch his second try. McKenna maintained his flawless conversion strikes to complete Old Crescent’s 42-10 victory.

Buccaneers had much the better territory and possession in the opening half but could not breach ferocious defending by their opponents. The Pirates then ran out of ideas and steam in a most disappointing second half showing, while Old Crescent picked them off when the chances arose, including scoring two tries whilst reduced to 13 players.

Footnote: One minute’s silence was observed prior to kick-off in memory of two former presidents of the Buccaneers club, John Flynn and Paddy Reid, who both died recently.

Buccaneers: A. O’Carroll; D. Duffy, T. Shine, C. Reid, J. Nagle; G. McDonald, A. Flanagan; J. Kelly, C. Daly, R. O’Meara (captain); L. d’Ambola Riera, F. Galvin; O. Dolan, J. Crampton, P. Egan. Replacements: S. Fogarty (for Crampton, 49 mins), D. Bolger (for Kelly, 49), C. Byrne (for O’Meara, 66), D. Colgan (for Reid, 66), J. Kelly (for Daly, 66) and E. Joyce-Whyte (for McDonald, 73).

Old Crescent: R. McKenna; J. O’Dwyer, J. McEnery, W. Hoffman, T. Duggan; J. Duggan, G. Fitzgerald; E. Creaven, N. Hardiman, J. Considine; J. Toland, S. Monaghan; O. Toland, K. Madden (captain), J. Lyons. Replacements: J. Byrne (for Hardiman, 51 mins), A. Cosgrove (for Madden, 51), D. O’Grady (for Monaghan, 59), D. O’Dwyer (for Considine, 61) and J. McKeogh (for O’Dwyer, 64).

Referee: Dermot Blake (IRFU).

*See this week's Westmeath Independent print edition for more Buccaneers related news and photos from the club's 'Prosecco by the Pitch' event.