Battling Buccaneers guaranteed themselves a place in topflight rugby next season with a deserved win over Garryowen at Dooradoyle last night.
Buccaneers laid the foundation for victory in the opening half when tries from Kevin Barrett and Simon Allnutt helped them to a 23-3 lead. Allnutt was in outstanding form with the boot, contributing a massive 18 points.
Garryowen opened brightly with a penalty after seven minutes from outhalf Killian Keane before Buccaneers hit back strongly with three penalty goals in quick succession from Allnutt.
The visitors scored their first try after 31 minutes when Allnutt capitalised on poor Garryowen defence. The home defence was again marked absent as Kevin Barrett crossed for Buccaneers' second try four minutes later.
However, Garryowen came more into the game at the start of the second half when Joe Brooks mauled his way over after a lineout, to reduce their arrears to 23-8. They got right back into contention with 10 minutes left when Ross Leahy crossed for the touch down. A terrific Keane conversion reduced the deficit to eight points.
However, Buccaneers made sure of the win when Ted Robinson kicked through and touched down for a vital try.
SCORING SEQUENCE - 7 mins: K Keane pen, 0-3; 10 mins: Allnutt pen, 3-3; 19 mins: Allnutt pen 6-3; 23 mins: Allnutt pen 9-3; 31 mins: Allnutt try, con 16-3; 35 mins: Barrett try, Allnutt con 23-3; 55 mins: Brooks try, K Keane con 23-10; 71 mins: R Leahy try 23-15; 80 mins: T Robinson try 28-15.
BUCCANEERS: O Grennan; M Devine, D Yapp, C Glynn, T Robinson; S Allnutt, C Keane; J Screene, J McVeigh, M Cahill, C Brownlie, K Barrett, I Dillon, E Brennan, C Rigney. Replacements: C Finn for Dillon 79, A Hanly for Brennan 79.
GARRYOWEN: D Crotty; S Mackay, K Hartigan, J Brooks, K O'Riordan; K Keane, S McCarthy; N Hartigan, P Humphreys, J Giltenane, E Kelly, R Leahy, D O'Sullivan, C Hartigan, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: F Costello for Kelly 45, G Walsh for O'Sullivan 61, J Staunton for Giltenane 68, M Roberts for K O'Riordan 72.
Referee: B Smith (MAR)
Two Irish players, Geordan Murphy and Kevin Maggs, have been named on the 36-man Barbarians squad to play Wales, Scotland and England later this month. Munster second row John Langford has also been included.
Lawrence Dallaglio should know tomorrow whether his trip with the Lions to Australia is off as he will undergo medical checks to ascertain whether he has strained or torn right knee ligaments.
