Buccs earn draw at St Mary's

St. Mary's College 14 Buccaneers 14

St. Mary's College and Buccaneers both ruled themselves out of the race for the Division One play-offs as they drew with each other - 14-14 - at Templeville Road this afternoon.

The mid-table duo are now too far behind fourth-placed Shannon (43 points) to mount a late charge for a semi-final spot.

With only three games remaining, Mary's lie tenth on 25 points, with Buccs in seventh on 27.

The Dubliners got off to the perfect start when they exploited what was a depleted Buccs pack.

Frank Lynch, filling in for the Leinster-tied Jonathan Sexton, kicked Mary's right up into the visitors' 22, and from a fourth-minute lineout maul, hooker Matt Duggan plunged over for a try, which Lynch converted.

A 31st-minute penalty from Buccs full-back Tommy Cregan was the first half's only other score as Mary's led 5-3 at the break.

Cregan added another before Mary's replacement flanker Bernard O'Donoghue made full use of a charged down kick on 69 minutes to gobble up possession and score.

Buccs showing great fighting spirit in the closing stages to grab a draw, despite losing number eight David Kelly to the sin-bin for heavy use of the boot at a ruck.

Cregan landed his third penalty before a catch and drive effort saw lock Brian Buckley grab a try in deepest injury-time.

Cregan lined up the touchline conversion but his effort was off target.

Scorers:

St. Mary’s: Tries: Matt Duggan, Bernard O’Donoghue; Cons: Frank Lynch 2

Buccaneers: Try: Brian Buckley; Pens: Tommy Cregan 3