Buccaneers are the Connacht Senior Cup champions for 2018/2019 after a last gasp win at home to Galway Corinthians. Victory came with the last kick of the game as Kieran Joyce knocked over a penalty for a 16-14 win.
The Athlone men went out into a 10-0 lead before Corinthians won a scrum against the head and drove over with a Nick Harrison try on 40 minutes.
Buccaneers built on their 10-07 half-time lead with a penalty from Mikey Hanley but it was Corinthians leading 14-13 heading down the stretch.
Mark McDermott cut a brilliant line through the midfield to put Corinthians on the attack. Six phases and a Simon Keller scythe got Corinthians to the line where Jack Noone forced his way over for a second try converted by Keller.
Joyce was given the responsibility of kicking Buccaneers into the semi-final of the Bateman Cup and the centre duly obliged. Corinthians Head Coach JP Cooney saw no fault in the efforts of his players:
“They gave it their all and then they gave some more,” he said. “If you look at the teams we had to beat to get to the final. We had Ballina who came up this year and are going well in Division 2C.
Sligo are in the same AIL division as us. Buccaneers are two divisions ahead and Galwegians are a division ahead of us. In my opinion, we deserved better today.”
For Buccaneers, City of Armagh are next up at the Palace Grounds on Saturday 12th January. Garryowen host Lansdowne on the other side of the draw in Limerick.
Cork Constitution lifted the Munster Senior Cup today with a 26-23 win over Garryowen at Thomond Park.
Saturday January 5th, 2019
Connacht Senior Cup Final
Buccaneers 16, Galway Corinthians 14
Munster Senior Cup Final
Cork Constitution 26, Garryowen 23
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