Away wins for Seniors, U18’s & 16’s

Player coach Brendan Deady in action for the Seniors

Away win for the Senior’s

The seniors were on the road last Saturday with an away trip to Armagh.  Bruff travelled knowing that 4 wins from the last 4 games is a must to have any hope of finishing in the promotion spots.

Bruff went into the game as underdogs with Armagh 7 points ahead on the table. Bruff started brightly scoring a try early on. Sean Darcy made a clean line break and found himself in acres of space. To his credit he pinned back his ears and made the 40 metre run to the line beating a number of defenders on his way to touching down for the 5 points. Tony Cahill stepped up and nailed a monster conversion from the touch line to make it 7-0 to Bruff.

The game was played in tough conditions which didn’t allow for flowing rugby with numerous knock –on’s from both sides leading to a series of scrums. Armagh kicked a penalty not long before half time making it 7-3 to Bruff going into the break.

In fact 7-3 was to be the final score with neither side managing a score in the second half. Bruff had a penalty chance drop just wide mid-way through the half but it was a tough kick given the conditions. The Bruff defence has been resilient when tested and again Bruff showed their metal in the closing 15 minutes. With Armagh battering the Bruff line players again put their bodies on the line to hold the home side out and come away with the 4 points.

A quick mention for Brian Fanning who made his UBL debut in Saturday’s game. He’s the 4^th player to be blooded by the seniors this year giving a good account of himself on the wing.

Kanturk are the visitors to Bruff this weekend and will travel with confidence after a 30-10 demolition of Old Cresent last weekend. Bruff will need to pull out all the stops if they are to get the much needed victory to keep promotion chances alive.

Team was: 1.Davie Horan 2. John Clery 3.Stephen Foster 22.Tom O Dwyer 5.Mike Cooke 6.Danny Keogh 7.Andrew White 8. Mike Carroll 9.Tony Cahill 10. Dave O Grady 11.Cian Tierney 12. Brian Cahill 13.Sean Darcy 14.Brian Fanning 15.Dave O Grady 16.Colm O Sullivan 17.Paddy Clery 18.Kevin Madigan 19. Mark Cosgrove 20 G Leonard

Under 16s Qualify For Last 8

Bruff RFC—————- 34

Kilorglin RFC—————0

Bruff U16 team booked their place in the last eight of the Munster U16 League following their victory over a gallant Kilorglin side last Sunday. This was their third win in this group of 5 and ensures their quarter final place but will have to wait until after next weekend’s games to find out if they have a home draw. They play Muskery in Kilballyowen in a top of the table clash and whoever wins will at home in the quarter final.

Last Sunday’s game was moved to Tralee due to a water-logged pitch in Kilorglin. Bruff played with the aid of a very strong wind in the first and though they were well on top the sides were scoreless after 20 minutes. The game changed in the 10 minutes leading to half time .Winger Jack Houlihan was first to cross the line as he was at the end of a good back movement and beat a number of tacklers to touch down in the corner.

Centre Jason Fitzgibbon caught the kick off and raced from his own half to score in the corner .Confidence was now high and with a good supply of ball from the pack Bruff backs were always dangerous and ran in 2 more tries before half time, one each again from Houlihan and Fitzgibbon. Out-half John Bateman converted one to leave the score at half time 22-0 to Bruff.

Kilorglin, with the wind behind them piled on the pressure in the early stages of the second half but the Bruff defence was gallant. Midway through the half Bruff lifted the siege and were well in control for the remainder of the game. Winger Sean McCarthy touched down under the posts following another flowing back movement and Bateman converted it.

Shea Donworth got the fifth try when he was at the end of another good back movement and took his try well.

This was a competent performance but the players know they have to up the ante for next Sundays top of the table clash. The game is fixed for Kilballyowen Park next Sunday with a 12.30pm kick off.

Squad, U16s Callum Winship, Jamie Carey, Michael O’Grady, John Bateman, Jason Fitzgibbon, David Carroll, Martin Carew, Liam Cunningham, Jack O’Malley, Donnacha McCarthy, Jerry O’Dea, Daniel Gleeson, Bradley Riordan, Michael O’Donovan, Joseph O’Connell, Niall Breen, James Hanly, Seamas Bulaeir, Gearoid Moynihan, Declan Kenny, Mark Hanly, Shea Dunworth , Jamie McCarthy , Jack Houlihan, Jack O Connell, Sean McCarthy & Jonathon Fitzpatrick.

Under 18’s book quarter final spot.

The under 18’s had to fight hard to earn a 16-0 away win over Shannon in Coonagh on Sunday. Bruff knew they needed a win to guarantee qualification for the quarter final of the Pan Munster.

Bruff played with a stiff breeze in the opening half and struggled to control the game with the wind at their backs. A number of kicks went dead which handed easy possession back to the home side. Bruff’s opening score was a penalty from the boot of Kevin McManus with Jack Fitz adding a try just minutes before the half-time break. The try came at a crucial time as Shannon were looking confident playing against the wind.

The half-time team talk seemed to spark Bruff into life and they played much better in the second period. Dylan Reeves- Wasik added a second Bruff try off the back of a good Bruff maul, before McManus added a second penalty to make it 16-0.

Bruff now go on to meet Highfield who topped group 2 in the ¼ finals date TBC

Squad- Kevin McManus, Dean O’Shea, Odhran Ring, Thomas Breen, Darren Kennedy, Matthew Lockhart O’Dea, Tadgh Leddin, Brady Day, Thomas Quigley, Darragh Moore, Cian Mulqueen, Fearghal Cooke, Gareth Cooke, Conor Fitzpatrick, Simon Divilly, Jack Fitzgerald, Brian Bulfin, David Crofton Young, David Moloney, Cian Clifford, John Bulfin, Jack O’Grady, Dylan Reeves- Wasik, Niall Byrne , Sean Hartigan ,Adam Sheehy ,Cormac Daly ,Aaron Daly ,Lorcan Hayes

Ladies Rugby

Bruff women took on St Mary’s on a murky Friday evening. After the win over Richmond all player were keen to keep de momentum going, none more than Fiona Neenan returning after a lengthy recovery. Playing 12-a-side Bruff again had to settle down a bit before organisation shone through. Towards the end of the first half after several phases of play the ball had moved from left to right and back again to winger Eileen O’Gorman who got past the last defenders to score: 0-5 to Bruff. Straight after de kick off by St Mary’s de ball got caught and played out to full back Audrey Dempsey who ran half the pitch along the side line and managed to scrambled over the try line: 0-10 to Bruff. And then it was half time. Early on in the second half winger Aoife O’Sullivan for de 2nd week in a row was able to finish off with a try after the ball had been gone through all the Bruff hands. This was also the last Score: 0-15 to Bruff. Next week de girls will enjoy a break and then on to de final couple hurdles before the end of the season. With rugby fitness on Tuesday at 20hr and rugby training on Friday evening at 20hr, we always welcome new players.