Because of players' commitments to Connacht, both teams were short many regulars for their opening game of the league at Ballinasloe on Saturday. But the biggest talent on show was the young Buccaneers outfit playing with great determination on their home ground.

A series of blunders by the home side in the opening 20 minutes gave the visitors the advantage of a few penalties, and Galwegians were also taking full advantage of the errors made in the lineout.

Buccaneers' first try came after 22 minutes when fullback Oisin Grennan finished a good move started by Colm Glynn and in which Justin Meagher and Eoin Brennan were also involved. Outhalf Glynn added the conversion.

In the 42nd minute, Galwegians outhalf Bryan Shelbourne was finally successful with his fifth penalty attempt, which left the home side in front 7-3 at the interval.

Inside a minute of the resumption, Shelbourne kicked another penalty and had his third in the 57th minute.

Buccaneers scored a fine try when winger Mike Devine took a pass from Glynn and crossed the line in the 60th minute. Glynn added the conversion, and he kicked a penalty on the stroke of time.

BUCCANEERS: O Grennan; M Devine, J Meagher, W Wallace, F Lyons; C Glynn, C Keane; J Screene, G Halligan, A Duignan, G Schoeman, N Smullen, E Brennan, A Hanley, I Dillon. Replacements: P Flanagan for Halligan, N O'Hara for Devine.

GALWEGIANS: K Dooley; B Libby, M Murphy, M O'Mahoney, D Brady; F McLoughlin, B Shelbourne; K Ward, K Tierney, A Kershaw, P Casserley, G Heaslip, J Casserley, B Gavin, I Muldoon. Replacements: J Flannery for Tierney, J Muldoon for P Casserley.

Referee: A McDowell (Ulster).