Heres a link to some of the shots from Friday. They’re cut down for the website to reduce the size of downloads but if anyone wants any let me know at the webmaster email address.
Bruff win first Charity Cup.
The first XV won the clubs first Senior Cup today beating U.L. Bohemians by 16 – 15 in Dooradoyle. U.L. Bohs started the game very well with a second minute try converted to put them up by Seven points, followed ten minutes later by a penalty to give them a 10-0 lead. Following this penalty the Bruff pack dominated exchanges in the tight and their back row and half back and centre combinations made serious ground in the tight. The Bruff squad failed however to convert possession to scores and the remainder of the first half was played within the U.L. Bohs side of the pitch despite them having a strongish breeze at their backs.
The second half opened with Bruff resuming where they left off but after a boisterous first ten minutes U.L. Bohs managed to get themselves into the Bruff side of the field but not managing to convert this dominance to points. At one stage Bruff were down to fourteen men following the binning of James Taylor but again Bohs failed to gain any major advantage. Midway in the second half saw the resurrection of the dominance of the Bruff pack and midfield with Full back Brendan Deady finally going over for Bruff’s Try after a sustained period of attack. The extras were added by Brian Cahill. U. L Bohs replied with a try to leave the score at 15 – 10.
Known always as a great second half team, what followed was probably one of the best performances that I have ever seen from a Bruff side. Strong running from the pack in the tight with Martin O’ Rourke back to his very best, hard Line breaking from Eoin and Badger in midfield, the sustained continuous pressure resulted in two further penalties for Bruff all converted by Brian Cahill. Some fabulous defending under pressure from all and Paul O’ Brien’s hard hitting tackles saving the day on the wing, all resulted with Bruff finishing much stronger than the opposition and unlucky not to put another try or two on the U.L. Bohs side before the finish. Overall a great performance and a well deserved win for Bruff. It augurs well for the rest of the season to have taken out Young Munster from Div. 2 in the Semi-final and to take one of the top 4 Div. 1 sides in the final. We really need to get out of Div. Three. Roll it on boys, Roll it on.
I’ll get some photos up before the night is over, depending on how the celebrations go.
No pressure?
As I count down the hours and minutes to “Le Crunch Match” a few questions are running through my head that I would like to ask you all to share your views on.
- Are we doing our traditional “Play crap against the crap and step up for the big ones”?
- If France don’t get a fifteen point lead in the first twenty minutes will they fold under the pressure from the crowd and the weight on their shoulders (The Croke Park effect…… in reverse…..only worse…..).
- Can we break out of the malaise and actually perform?
- Are we tired or has the preparation been totally wrong?
- Is Eddie O’ Sullivan actually capable of bringing the differing styles of Munster, Leinster etc. together to gel into something far greater than the sum of the parts, which are pretty awesome in their own different ways when under someone else’s tutelage?
- How or why can the best winger in the premiership be incapable of performing in a green jersey? Is he being “Spancilled” to coin a colloquialism? Or have we a manager that tries to micromanage so much that if you don’t pass the ball or play his way you get dropped, thereby stifling all freedom to express any creativity (The hallmark of Geordan Murphy)? Can he actually not recognise that unpredictability and innovation is exactly what is needed at this time. Can he not see that Murphy is a WINGER? It’s pretty bloody obvious to me, but then I’m not the Irish Manager, I’m also not under the thumb of a skulking Hidden group of D4 XMEN. I thought that Warren Gatland had actually managed to break the mould but it would appear not so.
- Did we manage to win a couple of Triple Crowns DESPITE the manager rather than BECAUSE of him?
The other way hasn’t worked, it’s time for plan X, not plan b or c …. Am I the only one that sees this or am I talking through my Bruff woolly hat?
Whether we like it or not the next 5 hours will show the world whether we are actually capable of doing what we have promised for the last four years but we haven’t actually delivered. YET!
Or are we the worlds second greatest CHOKERS? We’ll soon know.
Anyway please note that the above is my own opinion and not that of anyone else, If you have a problem with it talk to
Me.
The Blogger.
Some photos from last weekends game
The Limerick Blogger has a bit about the upcoming Charity cup final on Saturday next.
K.O. @ 3:00 in Dooradoyle.