AIB Rugby: Buccs blow it
Buccaneers may have enjoyed territorial supremacy for most of their joust with UCD but they lacked the killer punch and paid dearly as a consequence when visiting scrumhalf Brian O’Riordan scored two opportunist tries in a six minutes spell midway through the second half.
Buccs led 3-0 courtesy of a Justin Meagher penalty after a featureless opening half in ideal conditions but UCD drew level within 16 seconds of the restart when Shane Moore dropped a delightful goal. In an error-ridden encounter, the midlanders seemed to have finally mastered the Students with a 51st minute Ted Robinson try converted by Colm Glynn.
However within eight minutes O’Riordan had capped his man-of-the-match contribution with a brace of fine opportunist tries, Eoghan Hickey’s conversion of the second putting College 15-10 ahead. Buccs responded promptly when Mike Devine surged through for a leveling try after 63 minutes.
But UCD confirmed Buccaneers first home defeat of the season when, after Hickey and Glynn traded penalties, the visiting out half had the final say with a wonderful drop goal seven minutes from time.
Buccaneers - C.Glynn; M.Devine, C.Keane, W.Wallace, T.Robinson; J.Meagher, C.O’Loughlin; R.McCormack, J.McVeigh, M.Cahill; G.Shoeman, N.Smullen; I.Dillon, E.Brennan (captain) and C.Rigney.
U.C.D:- D.McKenna; S.McCarron, M.Colling, S.Moore (captain), P.Hickey-Dwyer; E.Hickey, B.O’Riordan; M.Moynagh, K.Corrigan, J.Montgomery; N.Breslin, P.Callanan; A.Carroll, T.Carter and P.Shanley. Replacements used:- M.Ventner (for Montgomery, 60 mins), C.Keane (for Callanan) and N.Coughlan (for Shanley).
Referee - John Sheehan (Munster).
