As promised, here are some of the photos from last nights U13 cup Final between Bruff and Garryowen.
On the rugby front last evening saw the U13 squad complete a triple with their winning of the U13 North Munster Cup. After taking care of Young Munster courtesy of a 16 – 0 scoreline on Friday night last, Monday saw them pitted against Garryowen again in Kilballyowen. After a fabulously tight game with no scoring until the last fifteen minutes, we all felt that whoever scored first would probably come away with the cup. Garryowen kicked a penalty with less than eighteen minutes left on the clock but Fair play to Bruff they dug in their heels and displaying a courage that belied their tender years Ground away at the Garryowen defence until finally with less than two minutes left on the clock Graham Whelan broke away from a ruck with a lovely looping break to the outside left and ran in from thirty meters. Defence then became the order of the day and Bruff had to stiffen their ranks to grind out the last five minutes before erupting with joy on the final whistle from referee Noel Sexton. Final score: Bruff 5 – Garryowen 3. Well done to Captain Kevin Hosford and his squad and to all concerned including mentors and parents and especially to coaches Tommy O’ Dwyer, Liam Doherty , Sean McKenna & Ger Mac who have put in some tremendous work with this great squad of lads. This completed a triple of League, Cup and last week’s Tralee international competition for the season for this team.
Also on Monday, four Bruff lads helped Charleville CBS take home the Munster U15 Cup again in Kilballyowen. Three of the four Bruff players scored all of Charleville’s 26 points in their 26 – 12 win over De Villiers. Two tries from No. 7 Gary Boyce, another from Darren Sheehy in the centre and the Charleville No. 10 David Reidy kicked three penalties and a conversion to bring it home for their school. The fourth Bruffian, Conor Barry, son of famed former Bruff player Dónal from Kilmallock was also instrumental in this victory although the four lads must have been having flashbacks to earlier in the season when due to a clash of jersey colours, the Charleville squad had to line out in a set of Bruff jerseys quickly scrounged before the kickoff. With three U16 Munster selectors present watching proceedings, this game may well have helped these young lads cause no end.