To use horse racing parlance… the going was heavy in Killaloe on Sunday last when Bruff travelled to take on the Ballina-Killaloe- Newport combination in the U14 North Munster Section 1 rugby league. Both teams coped with the trying conditions admirably with handling mistakes at a minimum despite the mud.
Bruff were dominant from the off with
Paul O’Brien May crossing the whitewash following a well taken line out and forward drive by the pack in the opposition 22. Cian Scully added the extras. Mikey Fitzgibbon got the first of his hatrick of tries shortly later, the pick of which was his second which came from a strong drive by the pack followed by a sweeping back line move which Mikey dotted down under the posts and converted by Cian.
Tadhg Corkery got in on the scoring in the corner which was followed up by a dot down by Oisin Feely who had been unlucky a few minutes earlier to knock on as he was tackled on the line following a strong break through the middle. Converted by Cian Scully leaving the visitors well on top at half time. Shane Lynch and Arthur Maher were brought into the action at half time and there was no let up in the Bruff attack.
Mikey Fitzgibbon got his 3rd try early in the second half before Sean O’Dwyer picked from the base of a scrum in the 22 to go over for a score. Sean Carroll continued his scoring form with a brace of tries in the last quarter- the second of which was converted by Cian Scully. The final scoring act came from Jack McNamara who expertly gathered a pinpoint accurate cross field kick from a penalty out if the hand by Cian Scully for a Bruff victory.
Squad on the day as follows: 17.Arthur Maher 16.Shane Lynch 15.Jack McNamara 14.Paul O’Brien May 13. Mikey Fitzgibbon 12.Sean Carroll 11. Tadhg Corkery 10.Cian Scully 9.Jake O’Riordan 8.Sean O’Dwyer (capt) 7. Josh McMahon 6.Oisin Feely 5.Alex Finn 4.Michael Clifford 3.Daire O’Brien 2.Sean Hayes 1.Ryan O’Neill.