CASTLEBAR 27 BUCCANNEERS 0

Castelbar welcomed Buccaneers to Cloondeash on Sunday for a top of the table clash which will have a big bearing on the destination of the Connacht Junior League Div 1B title this year. On a terrible day Castlebar put in their best performance of the season to come away with a bonus point win and leave a gap of 10 point between them and the chasing pack at the top of the table. A huge performance from the excellent Castlebar pack and wonderful discipline throughout the field snuffed out Buccaneers who were unable to cope with the onslaught.

Castlebar took command from the start and it is a credit to their application that Buccaneers never threatened the Castlebar line throughout. Solid and disciplined work saw the Buccaneers scrum destroyed and several balls won against the head. The backs worked very hard with strong runs into Buccaneers territory. Mark Conlon and Luke Staunton were outstanding. This work brought Castlebar into the Buccaneers 22 early on where a scrum against the head allowed Jason Keane make an excellent break on the blind side. He offloaded to the supporting Declan Moran who went over for the opening try. Fullback Mark Conlon was on hand to convert in difficult conditions. Castlebar kept up the pressure with only occasional visits by Buccaneers to the Castlebar half. This lead to a lineout near the Buccaneers 22 and when Shane Casey was pulled down while in the air Conlon was again on hand to convert the panalty. This left the half time score Castlebar 8 Buccaneers 0.

Castlebar started the second half as they had finished the first, holding the Athlone men back and making the most of their own opportunities. Castlebar produced a huge drive from a scrum to allow Brian Flannery touch down for the second Castlebar try which Conlon again converted. There was great work in the loose where Shane Casey, David Staunton and Daire Mulgrew were immense. Scrum half Damien Togher crossed the line soon after but his attempt was disallowed. This lead to a series of scrums and after the fourth Liam Molloy went over for the third Castlebar try of the day. On this occasion Stephen Rogan converted. The game was now being played almost exclusively in the Buccaneers half. Castlebar kept the pressure up for the bonus point try and after a clever move Damien Togher put Ronan Conway through on the blind side for the fourth bonus point try which went unconverted. The game finished Castlebar 27 Buccaneers 0.

Castlebar will visit Dunmore next Sunday afternoon at 2.30 pm.
Your support for the Castlebar team is most important and always welcome.

Castlebar : – Liam Mulloy, Ian McDonagh , Brian Flannery, Rory Hughes, Daire Mulgrew, Gavin Sullivan, Shane Casey, David Staunton, Damien Togher, Jason Keane, Declan Moran, Nigel Byrne, Luke Staunton, Mark Staunton, Mark Conlan,. Subs Thibaut Fabre, Stephen Rogan, Martin Moran, Damien Glackin, Ronan Conway.

Buccaneers :- J. Maguire, G.Fallon, D.Byrne, G.Walsh, B.Walsh, D.Griffith, R.Corcoran, R.Walsh, N.Flynn, D.Lennon, G.Kenny, T.Cooper, W.O’Neill, D.Burns, L.Doran. Subs K.Grehan, D.Smyth.