Ulster Bank League Division 2B
The 1st XV met Richmond at home in Kilballyowen in the UBL on Friday night. The last competitive league meeting between these 2 sides was back on 2004 in what would be Bruffs last game in the Munster Junior league. Bruff made 1 change for the game with Paidi Kilcoyne reclaiming his place after a spell out due to injury.
The first score of the game came with just 3 minutes on the clock. Bruff had a scrum inside the visitors 22. No.8 Jake Considine picked and broke from the back , the ball went to deck and after a couple of quick plays the ball was moved to the backs. Dave O Grady made a telling brake and touched down just to the right of the Richmond post. Declan Bannon stood up and added the extras. Less than 10 minutes later Bannon was on the mark again knocking over a penalty to make it 10-0 to Bruff.
Bruff were to add 1 more try before Half time. With 25 minutes gone Tony Cahill took a quick tap penalty just outside the Richmond 22, the ball was moved quickly out to the right wing and O Grady was on hand to touch down for his 2nd try of the evening which Bannon Converted.
The 3rd try came shortly after the break. Richmond had the ball just inside the Bruff half of the field but some hard Bruff tackling forced a knock on which Bruff quickly turned into attack. The ball was kicked forward into the Richmond 22 and some good chase work from centre Sean Darcy was rewarded when Declan Bannon touched down to make it 22-0 to Bruff.
Things were looking very good for Bruff at this point but it was Richmond who were to take control of the game for the next 30 minutes. Brian Collins scored the first of 2 trys after 60 minutes after a Richmond lineout on the Bruff 5 metre line. Winger Stephen Collins added a 2nd 5 pointer with 15 minutes left on the clock. Bruff were beginning to look nervous and had to battle hard to stop the Richmond momentum. Bruff got a lucky break on 37 minutes when Richmond were awarded a penalty 30 metres out from the Bruff line. The touch judge on the stand side of the field spotted foul play by a Richmond forward at the breakdown and the penalty was reversed. The kick to touch was missed and Richmond moved the ball into the middle of the field to set up another attack. Again the Bruff tackling was firm and the ball was eventually recovered by Bruff. Substitute out half Paul Downes put a long kick deep into the Richmond half and similarly to the 3rd try the Bruff chase was excellent. Like in previous games Declan Bannon showed his soccer skills to put the ball over the Richmond try line for Mike Cooke who was in support to touch down for the bonus point try. The conversion was missed and the game ended 27-12 to Bruff.
Bruff are on the road to Tullamore next weekend in round 6 of the UBL. A supporters bus is being organised, please contact Mike on 0871386244 if you are interested in travelling.
Team was: 1.Davy Horan 2.Johnny Clery 3.Colm O’Sullivan 22.Ger O’Connell 5.Kevin Madigan 6.Danny Keogh 7.Andy White 8.Jake Considine 9.Tony Cahill 10.Davy O’Grady 11.Declan Bannon 12.Darraagh Mulcahy 13.Sean Darcy 14.Paidi Kilcoyne 15.Brendan Deady 16.Brendan Keogh(75 min for C O Sullivan) 17.Ray Roche(51 min for D Horan) 18.Mike Cooke (43 min for G O Connell) 19.Mike Carroll(35 min for J Considine) 20.Paul Downes(51 min for D O Grady) 21.Tommy Carroll 23.Tom O’Dwyer 24.Eamon O’Dea
Bruff Out half Dave O Grady Who scored 2 trys
