DEVELOPMENT SIDE CRUISE TO VICTORY OVER BUCCANEERS
SLIGO BUCCANEERS 77 5
SLIGO’S development squad opened up their Connacht J1A league campaign in emphatic style when the put visiting Buccaneers to the sword with a twelve try blitz at Hamilton park on Saturday.
Having been promoted to division J1A as league winners of J1B last season Sligo entered the game knowing that stern challenges lay ahead but were confident that excellent pre season preparation had them in great condition for the upcoming league campaign.
With the strong breeze at their backs Sligo kicked off towards the mountain end and immediately looked to pressurise the visitors. The early exchanges were tight with both sides looking to exploit weaknesses but astute use of the breeze saw Sligo on top in the territory stakes. The opening score arrived through a well struck Jack Keeegan penalty after 10 minutes following an indiscretion at the ruck.
The first cross of the try line soon followed when Simon Coulter , who had made an impressive start, broke from a well worked Sligo maul and ran in from the 22 to finish on the left. Keegan converted to push Sligo’s total to 10.
The Sligo machine was now starting to motor and Buccaneers were struggling to keep up with the high tempo. Mark Keegan picked up Sligo’s second try with a trademark powerful run before brother Jack used his quick feet to add Sligo’s third with 25 minutes on the clock.
Stylish centre Andrew Kingsley showed what he can do with a well taken bonus point score on the half hour and youngsters Philip Carter and Shane O’Hehir both crossed the whitewash before the interval to put the half time score at 41-0 in favour of the hosts.
It was much the same on the resumption with Jack Keegan adding his second of the day before the visitors rallied and produced a try of their own following a sustained period of pressure on the Sligo line.
Sligo again upped the ante and Jack Keegan completed his hat trick before Philip Carter again showed deft footwork to bag his second of the day.
Kingsley completed his brace before Carter matched Keegan’s hat trick feat with the powerful Sean Mullin rounding off the scoring on the final whistle.
While there will be sterner tests ahead in their J1A Sligo’s coaching team of Paddy Pearson and Roger Burrows will be delighted with the start their charges have made for their campaign. Sligo’s next J1A fixture sees the visit of Westport RFC to Hamilton park on September 24th. The match is scheduled for a 12 noon kick off.
Sligo Niall Gray, Jack Keegan, Andrew Kingsley, Sean Mullin, Philip Carter, Enda Gavin, Garry O’Hehir, Ross O’Boyle, Shane O’Hehir, Mark Keegan, David Cawley, Michael McMorrow, Matthew T Davey, Simon Coulter, Matthew Davey. Reps James O’Hehir, Liam McElhinney, Matt Kavanagh, Sean Wynne, Shane Mc Guinness.
WE NEED TO GET PROMOTED THIS YEAR. NO PLAYOFFS, NO SECOND PLACE, JUST WIN THE LEAGUE AND GET OUT OF THE DIVISION. WE HAVE THEPLAYERS. WE HAVE HADAGREAT PRE-SEASON. HOPEFULLYTHIS IS OUR YEARNOW.
- MA T THEWCOSGROVE TELLSTHE SLIGO CHAMPION