Just some shots from the game last Saturday.
Bruff 23, Clonakilty 20, AIL penultimate Game.
The first XV managed to keep their playoff hopes very much alive with this win over Clon as Old Crescent lost their game at home to Highfield over the weekend. The return of Eugene Murnane to Bruff for the first time in the AIL would add a little edge as they needed some points to be 100% guaranteed safe for the season.
Clon were fist on the board after the 9th. minute courtesy of break by centre Dave Lombard who passed to his Winger O’ Sullivan to run in from 20 meters. Garry Cribb adding the extras. 7 minutes later Bruff full back Paul O’Brien replied after a sweet chip over the Clonakilty defence, collecting an even sweeter bounce to get in under the posts. Brian Cahill added the points and then put Bruff ahead for the first time on the 28th. minute with a penalty. 10-7. Just on half time Clonakilty scored another try courtesy of a Derek Dillon break, skipping past a couple of tackles before releasing flanker Len Harte to score beside the posts. Dave Lombard added the points to give the visitors a 14-10 half time lead.
The second half began ominously with Clonakilty scoring first, with a second Lombard kick going in off the post after just four minutes. 17-10. Now trailing by seven points, the home side sensed that any hopes of reaching the play offs were rapidly fading and upped the tempo noticeably. A back movement saw outhalf Brian Cahill make very good progress and he released Andrew Cashman with some work to do but managing to round some despairing Clonakilty defenders to score his first League try for the club. Cahill’s conversion attempt clipped the post but went wide. 17-15.
Dave Lombard added his second penalty on the 63rd. minute to push his side back into a five point lead and leaving the home side with a lot of work to do in the final quarter. 20-15. Bruff were now forced to chase the game but they upped another gear and were rewarded ten minutes later when after going through a large number of phases, Cathal O’ Regan eventually got in near the corner for his side’s third try, fulfilling his Captains duties. Brian Cahill missed a difficult conversion but two minutes later put over what turned out to be the winning penalty.
Both sides can consider the day as a good day out, Bruff keeping their playoff hopes alive, everything going down to the last day as usual and clonakilty coupled with other results ont he day are well safe for the season after their losing bonus point.
BRUFF; Paul O’Brien, Finbarr Hogan, Andrew Cashman, John Malone, John Moore, Brian Cahill, Eoghan Maher, David Horan, Cathal O’Regan (Capt.), Stephen Foster, Maurice O’Connell, Alfie Laffan, Paddy Cleary, Ger. Luby and Peter Malone.
Replacements: Mossie O’Donnell for Luby (13), Dermot Murnane for Cleary (HT), John Carroll for Hogan (61) Gearoid Ryan for Horan (66) and David Horan for Foster (80).Garry Leonard.
Photos for Bruff Vs. Clonakilty, AIB Cup.
I’ve posted some photos of the AIB Cup game against Clonakilty last Saturday.
Click Here For the Photos
This encounter ended up a fair bit more one sided than originally thought. Bruff looked dominant from the off, although the pace of the game was hectic right from the get go.
The Bruff pack were dominant throughout, the Lineouts came together perfectly, Scrums were awesome, driving from Máirtín and Alfie was Excellent. 16 minutes in Máirtín drove over for try number one, to which Davy Maw added the extras, Marty hurt his shoulder in the process and was replaced by Maurice O’Connell. This was followed four minutes later by John Moore. 12 points up and the game looked almost over from a Clonakilty point of view. Davy Maw missed a penalty on 25, this was then quickly followed by Peter Malone adding try number three on 30 mins, Davy added the extras . The only reply in the first half was a sole penalty from Clon No. 12 Derek Lombard on 37 mins. Bruff went in at half time 19-3 up, a bit of Hanbags just before half time resulting in Captain Cathal O’ Regan being binned for the first eight minutes of the second half.
The second half started with a major push from both sides to get on top. An extremely fast paced first ten minutes finally resulted in Davy Maw kicking a penalty on 47 minutes and Brian Cahill going over for try number four on 50 minutes, again Davy Adding the extras. On 55 minutes, Clonakilty winger J. O’ Donnell going over for their only try of the game, again the No. 12 adding the extras.
Tha twas the last of the scoring, the only element of note being the binning of Dermot Murnane on 77 minutes and Bruff ran out comfortable winners by 29 points to 10.
AIB First Round Draw against Clonakilty (27/28th Sep.)
The old coach against the new team? With the news going around that Eugene is Coaching Clon again, it looks like he’ll be coming up for the first round of the AIB Cup.
The draw for the AIB Cup took place earlier today (Thursday) at AIB Bankcentre in Dublin. The knock-out cup competition brings together all 48 AIB League clubs from the four provinces.
The first round of the draw includes the 32 clubs from Divisions Two and Three of the AIB League. The winners of these ties will then go forward to the second round to play the 16 clubs from Division One of the AIB League.
The first round of the competition will be played on the weekend of September 27/28 and the second round will be played on the weekend of November 1/2.
We are at home to Clonakilty. The winners of this game will be away to the winners between Old Crescent and DLSP. Full draw below.
2008/09 AIB CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW –
Match A: Instonians v Rainey Old Boys
Match B: Highfield v Sundays Well
Match C: Connemara v Barnhall
Match D: Bruff v Clonakilty
Match E: Malone v Queen’s University
Match F: UCC v Greystones
Match G: Nenagh Ormond v Lansdowne
Match H: Bective Rangers v Galway Corinthians
Match I: Midleton v Old Wesley
Match J: Dublin University v County Carlow
Match K: Old Crescent v DLSP
Match L: Belfast Harlequins v Banbridge
Match M: Naas v Ballynahinch
Match N: Wanderers v Thomond
Match O: Ards v Suttonians
Match P: Waterpark v Portadown
2008/09 AIB CUP SECOND ROUND DRAW –
St. Mary’s College v Cork Constitution
Winner O v Winner I
Winner G v Winner C
Winner H v Terenure
Galwegians v Winner B
Winner A v UCD
Dolphin v Winner E
Winner F v Winner P
Young Munster v Winner L
Winner M v Winner J
Winner K v Winner D
UL Bohemians v Dungannon
Blackrock College v Shannon
Garryowen v Winner N
Old Belvedere v Ballymena
Buccaneers v Clontarf