Buccaneers have target

THE restart of the league offers Buccaneers and UCC in particular an opportunity which they had considered lost. When the action came to a halt last October both clubs were out of the reckoning one swift shift of the goal posts however and the game is on again. Now promotion, as part of an unwieldy gang of six, is the target.

At Ballinasloe on Saturday, Buccaneers, in seventh spot, will be at full strength bar the injured Davy Henshaw, for the visit of Bangor, who have not selected. The students, one place behind the Connacht club, are also at home, and will introduce two new faces behind the scrum. Wing Ronan O'Gara makes his league debut in place of Aidan O'Shea who could be out for the rest of the season, and Dave Daly comes in for his first competitive game at scrumhalf.

UCC face a Galwegians side who suffered several casualties in their extra time defeat to Corinthians in the Connacht League final last weekend. Second row Noel Murtagh is their biggest doubt.

At the top of the division the clash of Highfield and Bohemians has lost its edge for the same reason that Buccaneers and UCC might regain theirs. Still, Highfield will be pleased to welcome back Shay Fahy, Mick Maguire and Emmet O'Callaghan to a pack minus the services of suspended second row Kevin Ryan, who was sent off a couple of weeks ago. Bohemians have left a vacancy on the wing, but welcome back Gordon Burns to the front row for his first league game after injury.

In the fourth division joint leaders Portadown face an awkward away tie at Corinthians and have delayed selection. The Galway club will have Pat O'Halloran in the second row for Ray Dolan, who has damaged cruciate knee ligaments.

Sligo have left the wing forward position vacant on the team to play Trinity at Strandhill on Saturday pending late fitness tests on Mick Kitson and Ken Draper.