We’ve added a little bit of explanation as to how the site works on the “Site Help” link on the top of the page. Everyone should take a look, just in case you missed something, there’s more to this site than meets the eye and a quick read of the help page may make life a little easier for you. The software behind the site is extremely powerful and usually there’s many different ways to get at the information that you want.
It struck me earlier tonight that in the last month the first XV have beaten three Senior clubs from divisions above them, one Former division one team now playing in Div. 2 and two Div. 1 clubs. As little as three years ago these teams were beating us by 60 and 70 points in the Senior Cup.
Now I remember some years ago being at a game in which the last penalty decided whether we would be demoted to Junior Division three and discussing the ramifications of that in Keatings bar well into the early hours of the morning with John “Bull” Hayes, Pat Dunne, Pat “Scoby” O’ Callaghan along with our host Ger Whelan.
In the years in between we have won under 16, under 18 and under twenty All-Irelands. We have taken on the most famous, most glamorous and have come through. We have numerous Community games wins, We have won all of the Munster under-age competitions and Munster Junior competitions (except the Junior Cup which evaded us, due in no small part to the great rivalry with Nenagh Ormond). We have been through three AIL Round Robin series having won the Munster Junior league three times, qualifying finally on the third attempt with a clean sweep. In the three years as a senior club we are reigning Division three champions and have now laid our hands on the Limerick Charity Cup, both for the first time. We have a referee in the International and Heineken cup series, we have had players or former players on all of the provincial and National representative sides, including Lions. We have had former players return to play in their own provincial leagues in the southern hemisphere.
We have a great solid membership, a good clubhouse, fine grounds, nice facilities improving constantly, are getting match standard floodlighting to enable nighttime matches when we are required to do so. We have introduced the game of rugby football to many, many, primary and secondary schools throughout the county, where it had never been seen before. We have spread the good word and continue to do so.
We now “Box above our weight” on a regular basis.
When other clubs have folded under the pressure we have met all the challenges and have raised the bar constantly. We are recognised throughout the length and breadth of the country as one of the most progressive clubs in all facets of our development (It’s true, I’m not simply blowing our own trumpet).
We’re not doing too bad at all for a small little country club in the middle of County Limerick. We evolved, we did it our way (to paraphrase the great Frank). We need to keep evolving, together, changing to meet the challenges of the future as we have done in the past.
We cannot rest on our laurels.
Heres a link to some of the shots from Friday. They’re cut down for the website to reduce the size of downloads but if anyone wants any let me know at the webmaster email address.
The first XV won the clubs first Senior Cup today beating U.L. Bohemians by 16 – 15 in Dooradoyle. U.L. Bohs started the game very well with a second minute try converted to put them up by Seven points, followed ten minutes later by a penalty to give them a 10-0 lead. Following this penalty the Bruff pack dominated exchanges in the tight and their back row and half back and centre combinations made serious ground in the tight. The Bruff squad failed however to convert possession to scores and the remainder of the first half was played within the U.L. Bohs side of the pitch despite them having a strongish breeze at their backs.
The second half opened with Bruff resuming where they left off but after a boisterous first ten minutes U.L. Bohs managed to get themselves into the Bruff side of the field but not managing to convert this dominance to points. At one stage Bruff were down to fourteen men following the binning of James Taylor but again Bohs failed to gain any major advantage. Midway in the second half saw the resurrection of the dominance of the Bruff pack and midfield with Full back Brendan Deady finally going over for Bruff’s Try after a sustained period of attack. The extras were added by Brian Cahill. U. L Bohs replied with a try to leave the score at 15 – 10.
Known always as a great second half team, what followed was probably one of the best performances that I have ever seen from a Bruff side. Strong running from the pack in the tight with Martin O’ Rourke back to his very best, hard Line breaking from Eoin and Badger in midfield, the sustained continuous pressure resulted in two further penalties for Bruff all converted by Brian Cahill. Some fabulous defending under pressure from all and Paul O’ Brien’s hard hitting tackles saving the day on the wing, all resulted with Bruff finishing much stronger than the opposition and unlucky not to put another try or two on the U.L. Bohs side before the finish. Overall a great performance and a well deserved win for Bruff. It augurs well for the rest of the season to have taken out Young Munster from Div. 2 in the Semi-final and to take one of the top 4 Div. 1 sides in the final. We really need to get out of Div. Three. Roll it on boys, Roll it on.
I’ll get some photos up before the night is over, depending on how the celebrations go.
Some photos from last weekends game