Buccaneers commence the second half of the Energia All-Ireland League with a home tie against Clogher Valley at Dubarry Park on Saturday. Kick-off for this Division 2A fixture is 2.30 pm.
Buccs were disappointingly flat and off-colour when the teams met pre-Christmas with the Tyrone outfit enjoying a clearcut 43-13 win that keeps them in third place on the league table. Buccs will need to be more tuned in on this occasion and they will surely give a much better account of themselves.
As with all home matches this season, 20% of gate receipts will be donated to a local charity with Athlone Animal Haven being the beneficiary this Saturday.
SECONDS: Our Seconds face a daunting test in the opening round of the Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior Cup when Dunmore visit Dubarry Park on Sunday.
The east Galway club are among the pacesetters in the league. Buccs will need to be at their focussed best for this encounter which kicks off at 2 pm.
WOMEN’S TEAM: Buccaneers Women’s team are also at home on Sunday when they take on Tuam in the Bank of Ireland Women’s League, with their game getting underway at 1 pm.
5K RUN: It may have been cool, but bright sunshine helped attract the biggest turnout to date yet for Buccaneers RFC’s 5K Run on New Year’s Day. On a dry day at the Regional Sports Centre, club president Eoin Reid got the runners, joggers and walkers underway.
Last year’s winner Kevin Moore set a cracking pace that no one else could match and the Tipperary man, married to a Coosan lady, came home a clear winner again on this occasion. Jamie Malone was runner-up with Liam Holleran taking third place. Athlone’s Aine Gilhooly won the ladies section in some style with last year’s winner Anna Marie O’Dowd finishing second. Fergal Kelly took the honours in the youths section with Oscar Killeen taking the runners-up berth.
The club thanks everyone who participated, supported or helped organise this fourth edition of the 5K which continues to grow in popularity. Special gratitude is extended to Declan Brady who orchestrates this event and to Basil Gilfillan of the Regional Sports Centre for facilitating the run. The funds generated will again be shared equally between Buccaneers RFC and St Hilda’s Services.
DATES FOR 2026 DIARY: Saturday, January 31st: Prosecco by the Pitch + Buccs v Malone; Thursday, February 12th: Table Quiz in The Bounty; Saturday, February 21st: Pirates Black Tie Ball in Athlone Sheraton Hotel; Friday, February 27th: Lunch with Peter O’Mahony in Sheraton Hotel.
