On a day which shook up the established order in the AIB League first division, this result could have a very significant bearing in the top four shake-up. At the very least the new boys announced themselves. They are contenders.

Buccaneers may not be the most expansive side in the top flight, but given most of the campaign is played in mid-winter, they have enough solid virtues to provide a decent litmus test for any opponents - a pack that can mix it with anyone, a scrum-half who revels in directing and sniping behind them, a good points gatherer at out-half and experienced journeymen beyond in the backs.

Just as significant is a genuine "home" factor. Buccaneers haven't been beaten here at Keane Park in Athlone or their alternate home of Moher Road in Ballinasloe since the 1995-96 season. It's not difficult to see why. Saturday's attendance of 3,000 or so makes the noise of a good deal more (and Moher Road is deemed even more intimidating) and there is also a communal crowd/team spirit which perhaps only Shannon or Young Munster can outdo.

Now - tall order though it is - concluding home victories over Young Munster and Lansdowne, preceded by at least one win from their ensuing trips to Ballymena, Blackrock and Shannon, could be enough to do it, given that 14 points will possibly be the threshold for the top four play-off places.

What limits their margin for error is an unexceptional points differential - potentially a critical factor in such a wide open division. Aside from close-in forward drives or scrums, they don't have an awful lot of scoring strings to their bow, and here they were reliant on the opportunism of Simon Allnutt.

In addition to three well-taken penalties, Allnutt sold the sweetest of scissors dummies to Eamonn Molloy before arcing on the outside of Jeremy Staunton for the crucial post-interval try and conversion.

Having taken first use of the wind, Buccaneers got themselves into a terrible lather in labouring to use it. They kicked too long, anxiously turned over ball, and Joe McVeigh coughed up four line-out throws. They required 27 minutes to make it into the Garryowen 22 and a further 10 minutes to mount the kind of forward pressure we have come to expect from them, pressure which they sustained for seven minutes on the Garryowen line.

But Garryowen's scrum and Paul Cunningham's composed throwing under intense pressure held up, aided by big tackles on the line from Jeremy Staunton, Paul Hogan and David Wallace against impressive 19-year-old debutante Colm Rigney, Eoin Brennan and Michael Devine.

Striking stealthily, Garryowen had gone 10-6 ahead with a cracker of a try. Going right to left, Staunton floated a long skip pass behind his centres for right-winger Melvin McNamara ghosting off his wing; Dominic Crotty breaking a tackle and finding Joe Brooks in support on his inside.

Eddie O'Sullivan admitted he was worried at the break, but the simpler second-half equation played to Buccaneers's main strength - the ball retention of their pack. Hardly turning over the ball once, they picked and went, or took varied popped passes from Stephen McIvor, stayed on their feet more and mauled ad nauseam. Mentally and physically, Garryowen were worn down. Martyn Steffert came much more into the game, setting up the comforting late penalty, and fair play to young McVeigh. Whereas Garryowen's line-out broke down after Paul Cunningham's calf injury forced him to give way to Pat Humphreys, who had a bad day at the office, McVeigh pulled himself, and the Buccaneers line-out, together manfully.

Even so, the Buccaneers backs couldn't put the game away - this fourth home win, like the others, coming by one score.

"As long as other coaches think we're one-dimensional I'll be happy. We're without a full-time Connacht player in the backs, so we need to instil a bit of confidence into them," admitted O'Sullivan. "I'd like to play a more balanced game, but it's a slow process."

As for inevitable talk of the top four, O'Sullivan said: "We've still got Ballymena and Shannon away and that (Shannon losing to Terenure) is worse for us." His counterpart John Hall scarcely concealed his lack of admiration for Buccaneers's style. "Credit to Buccs. They deserved to win, though it's not pretty rugby I must say."

As for the Pirates' top four chances, Hall contended: "They're contenders for the top four but I don't think they can win the league. That's my honest and candid opinion."

Garryowen's tough run-in begins with Shannon next week, followed by Lansdowne (home), Ballymena (away), Blackrock (home) and Young Munster (away).

Scoring sequence: 5 mins: Allnutt penalty 3-0; 7: Keane penalty 3-3; 17: Allnutt penalty 63; 23: Brooks try, Keane conversion 6-10; 46: Allnutt try, conversion 13-10; 78: Allnutt penalty 16-10.

Buccaneers: R Lee; M Devine, O Cobbe, E Molloy, R Southam; S Allnutt, S McIvor; J Screene, J McVeigh, M Cahill, B Rigney (capt), C Rigney, Des Rigney, M Steffert, E Brennan. Replacement: C Hannon for Screene (halftime).

Garryowen: D Crotty; M McNamara, K Keane, J Brooks, K O'Riordan; J Staunton, T Tierney; N Hartigan, P Cunningham, R Laffan, F Costello, P Fitzgerald, P Hogan, D Wallace. Replacements: P Humphreys for Cunningham (48 mins), K Ronan for Laffan (60 mins).

Referee: T Redmond (Leinster).

Colomiers, who face Ulster at Lansdowne Road in next Saturday's European Cup final, were beaten 27-17 at home by archrivals Toulouse yesterday.