Buccaneers and Sligo will contest this season's Connacht Senior League final on Saturday in Dubarry Park (2.30pm ).
The visitors topped the table with 14 points, having defeated Galwegians and Ballina, and given a walkover against Corinthians, while Buccs finished two points adrift, having fallen to Galwegians.
It is expected Sligo will look to their pack to give them a platform, with Kuba Wojtkowicz, Matthew Earley, Rob Holian and captain Jason East looking to dominate up front. And in the backs Calum Goddard, Brendan Cunningham and Enda Gavin will look to exploit any defensive errors, with fly-half Euan Brown also a consistent place-kicker.
Buccs will be missing Danny Qualter, while Ryan O’Meara is also a doubt. However the possible return Shane Layden and Rory O’Connor could boost their chances, while some young players have put their hands up for selection with Cian McCann, Fergus Galvin, Fionn McDonnell and Gavin Daly all doing well in their outings along with Darren Browne
Buccaneers proved too strong for Corinthians with a 24-10 win at Corinthian Park at the weekend.
Buccs gained early ascendancy and virtually all the opening half was played in Corinthian territory, and although a forward pass denied a Saul O’Carroll try, O’Meara claimed a 16th minute try which Michael Hanley converted.
They went 14-0 ahead when fullback Ruaidhri Fallon finished off a backline move, with Hanley landing the touchline conversion.
Corinthians, however, ensured they remained in contention when they scored from their first foray into the Pirates 22 with a unconverted try.
Mannion added a 45th minute penalty from halfway before Corinthians replied with a second unconverted try to keep them in them in conention. However Cian McCann barged over the line after 64 minutes, which Hanley converted to secure the victory.
CORINTHIANS: J Rowland; C Moylan, T Forde, S McDonagh, S Hennessy; DJoyce, P Rainsford; P Fahy, J Noone, C FitzHenry; G Kilkelly, A O’Loughlin; J Gannon, E Coyle, C Huxford (c ). Replacements, A Nash, C Scanlon, M Conneely, S Concannon, J Claffey, T O’Malley and E Flannery.
BUCCANEERS: R Fallon; R Murphy-Sweeney, O Burgess, S Mannion, S O’Carroll; M Hanley, A Flanagan; M Staunton (c ), D Browne, S O’Connell; R Byrne, F Galvin; C McCann, G Daly, R O’Meara. Replacements: F McDonnell, J Kelly, C Daly, S O’Connell T Shine, R Teape, D Browne, M Staunton, A Evans.
Referee: Jason Cairns (Connacht ).
