Bruff Rugby Football Club

Saturday saw us entertain newcomers Enniscorthy to Kilballyowen in our first home game of the season Enniscorthy having been promoted to senior this year similar to Ballina last year had been quite impressive putting up some big scores. Bruff started brightly and opened the scoring with a pen from James and was unlucky with another shortly after, we went 10-0, after a break that released Cian Clifford to go under the posts and a convert from James, but all this had come at a cost losing Liam Treacy and Liam o Dwyer both with serious injuries, on top of loosing prop Jack Fitzgerald before the game who had been excellent in Derry the week previous. Enniscorthy got themselves back in the game with a converted try of their own to make it 10-7. Coming up to half hour we went further ahead after good work from the pack allowed Flo to find space and dot down for a try, James converted and coming up to half time James’s ran a great line to score and we went in 24-7 at half time.

With the 2nd half 10 in we secured our bonus point try when after some excellent continuity the ball was passed out wide Kevin gave a neat offload to James who dotted down, Kevin added the extras and it was 31-7, credit to Enniscorthy who seemed to throw caution to the wind and replied with a converted try with 20 to play, they added 2 more try’s to make the last 5 a nervy finish for the lads but they weathered the storm and finished inside the Enniscorthy 22 to claim 5 valuable points. Credit to both sides who gave us 80 very entertaining mins.

We wish our 2 Liam’s speedy recovery’s we have suffered horrendously from injuries from last season and also this season so we look forward to some key players coming back over the next few weeks.

Team. Brian Bulfin Johnny Cleary Brendan Keogh Neilus Keogh Tadgh o Dwyer Liam o Dwyer Patrick Maher Sean Hartigan Florent Riguet James’s te pairi Liam Treacy Sean Darcy Jack o Grady Graham Whelan Cian Clifford Kevin McManus Tom Callaghan Eamonn Cooke Tommy o Dwyer Tony o Connell

On Saturday last we made the long trip to play City of Derry in the first rd of the Ail. Conditions were ok with Bruff playing in to a nice breeze in the first half. Derry took an early lead from a penalty after 5 mins, we then started to get some territory and were rewarded with a well worked try of a lineout maul when a clever switch from Florent found Liam Treacy to go over in the corner with 20 gone. We increased our lead with a try after a great line from Sean Hartigan saw him go over for a 5 pointer. Flo added the extras and we were 12-3 to the good. Derry reduced the lead with a pen and went in at halftime 12-11 after touching down just before the break. The 2nd half Wasn’t long on when Derry went ahead with a break from there own 22 to go 18-12 ahead. Both teams missed penalties and with the game entering the final 10 Bruff started to camp in the Derry 22 we looked to have gone over with 5 to go but got penalized for holding. But credit must be given to lads for perseverance and patience when after winning a penalty went to the corner and from the lineout managed to retain possession as our senior statesman Neilus Keogh got over for a 5 pointer to make it 18-17 to Derry, up stepped Cool head Kevin and slotted the conversion to win the game 19-18, while it was a cruel way for Derry to loose we have suffered more than our share loosing games this way. Huge credit to all involved great effort and while we will need to be better going forward we would have taken 4 pts Saturday morning. A big thanks to all out supporters who made the long trip The players alway appreciate familiar faces so far away.

Team Jack Fitzgerald Johnny Cleary (capt) Brendan Keogh Neilus Keogh Tadgh O Dwyer Liam o Dwyer Patrick Maher Tommy Dwyer Florent Riguet James te pairi Graham Whelan Jack o Grady Sean Darcy Liam Treacy Cian Clifford Eamon Cooke Brian Bulfin Robert Browne Sean Hartigan Kevin McManus