The East Cork side adapted better than the J1’s to the atrocious conditions. While it was not a day for kickers, Cobh’s Éamonn Ronan had a fantastic day at the office when five of his six attempts at goal during the course of the game were successful, one from the right touchline to add extras. The fact that he was gifted so many opportunities will haunt the Bruff side, indiscipline being punished severely.
Bruff cannot complain about the result, despite the eleven point final difference, they did have enough second half possession to ensure that the margin was much closer but the final pass and handling errors left them down.
Cobh were aided by a strong wind in the first half and got off the mark eight minutes in when Éamonn Ronan landed his first penalty. Bruff had a player sin binned after 18 minutes and this Gave Cobh a chance to take advantage and build a lead but however they suffered a severe setback on the 25th. minute when Bruff moved the ball wide to the right winger, Finbarr Hogan who burned away on the outside to score. Alan Kilcoyne added the conversion for a 7 – 3 lead against the run of play. Cobh, hit back within a minute when Bruff conceded a penalty and Ronan again punished the indiscretion with his second three pointer. It got better for Pirates two minutes later when full back Ray O’Donovan got in for his side’s first try and Ronan again was successful with the extras, adding another three pointer two minutes before the break to give them a 16- 7 lead into the break.
Bruff had the benefit of the huge breeze after the interval but seven minutes in Carl Keating got in under the posts for his team’s second try of the match and Ronan converted. This was about the only trip Cobh had into Bruff territory in the second period but it left Bruff with an awful hill to climb. From there until the finish, the home side camped inside Cobh territory but the only dent they could make on the Cobh lead was a try by Danny Keogh on 60 mins. Final Score Cobh 23-Bruff 12
BRUFF: Alan Kilcoyne, Finbarr Hogan, Michael O’Callaghan, Tommy Carroll, Michael Laffan, John Carroll, Eoghan Maher, Ger Collins, Mossie O’Donnell, Liam Herlihy, Maurice O’Connell, Barry Laffan (Capt), John Hogan, Michael Carroll and Danny Keogh.
Subs: Keith Laffan for Collins, James Ryan for O’Callaghan and Leo McGrath for Hogan.