Bruff Rugby Football Club

For several years now, Bruff has had a follicly-challenged wonder on the wing in the form of Mark ‘Cossie’ Cosgrove, a player that has become so much a part of the furniture at the club that you would almost forget on occasion that he is a reformed townie.

With his enviable strength and total absence of hair, Cossie has been something of an anti-Samson since he joined the club in his early 20s. At least he tells us he was in his early 20s, his perpetually shaved dome makes it almost impossible to put an age on him. He could literally have been drawing the old-age pension when he joined Bruff and we wouldn’t know.

However, in recent weeks we’ve been seeing a newer, hairier side to Cossie. It all started on the bus home from our victory against Midleton in February, when the point was raised that not one of us had ever seen Cossie with anything less than an impeccably shaved head. We had all wondered for years about the colour of his hair, where exactly his hairline started or whether indeed he had a hairline.

After a rapid fire round of berating from the rest of the bus, Cossie eventually agreed to refrain from cutting the hair on his scalp and face until such a time as our season ends, which hopefully won’t be for another few weeks yet. He did so, however, on the condition that his re-entry into the world of hair growth would be used to raise funds for a worthwhile cause.

Thankfully we didn’t have to look far for our cause, as our friend Monty Tierney – who normally drives the Bruff team bus to games – will shortly be undergoing treatment that will require him to stay in Dublin for some time.

For several years Monty has delivered us, safely and on time, to games at each corner of the country. He has somehow managed to always keep a smile on his face on the way home also, as we perform murderous renditions of songs, request frequent toilet breaks and act like oversized and undisciplined schoolboys.

Monty is as keen a Bruff supporter as you’d find and has continued to attend our games, even though his illness has prevented him from driving us to away fixtures in recent months. We’d like to repay the support and patience he has shown us over the years with a little support in return.

With that in mind, at this weekend’s game against Dundalk in Kilballyowen, we’re going to have buckets out in the clubhouse into which you can throw whatever size donation you wish to help Monty meet the costs of his stay in Dublin. You’ll have the thrill of seeing a newly hairy Cossie kitting out on the field and you can help us give a little support to one of our own in return after the game.

In addition to our efforts, Clancy’s Bar is also running a fundraiser on April 24^th, the details of which can be found by looking up the event ‘Monty’s Mission’ on Facebook. Our game this weekend against Dundalk takes place at 2.30pm in Kilballyowen. Your support on and off the field is very much appreciated.

John ‘Scutchy’ Hogan