Cup Glory For Bruff U-16s

14th May 2015 By Munster Rugby

On Tuesday 4th May last, Annacotty played host to the U-16 North Munster Cup Final between Bruff RFC and Garryowen FC.

Courtesy of:- Eoin Shinners

U-16 North Munster Cup Final: Bruff RFC 21-5 Garryowen
Anticipation was high for this one, given that both teams were bidding for their first trophy this season. Bruff were certainly the bookmakers favourites for this one given their impressive unbeaten record in the league and losing out by a single score the in Munster Youths semi-final.

Garryowen on the other hand had an up and down year but would have been confident ahead of this one with the return of some of their School Junior Cup players. Garryowen reached the final on the back of an impressive 0-20 win away to Presentation Richmond. Bruff on the other hand, had to overcome league finalists Ennis.

With good crowds in attendance for this one, Bruff took the initiative from the off with their forwards led by captain Liam Cunningham winning the battle on the floor. Good clean rucking presented scrum half Martin Carew with quick ball and by the 10th minute, the Bruff backs were finding space in behind the Garryowen backs. Some excellent breaks from centres David Carroll and Mikey O'Grady and winger Jason Fitzgerald should have reaped scores only for some last ditch tackling from Garryowen.

Garryowen began to feel their way into the game and took the game to Bruff from the 15th minute. Poor discipline at the breakdown from Bruff meant to penalties on the 22 metre line but Garryowen failed to capitalise on these with both place kicks drifting wide of the posts. On the half time whistle Bruff were certainly the happier of the two sides given that they had opted to play against wind in the first half.

On the restart, Bruff secured the kickoff and after good work at the breakdown

from Joe O'Connell and Bradley Riordan, outhalf John Bateman found space with a superb break, beating two Garryowen men to put David Carroll in for an easy try. Bateman would kick the conversion and leave the score 7-0 to the County Limerick side.

The kick-off from Garryowen was a messy one but proved effective as Garryowen won possession and built some good phases, pushing the Bruff defence back into their own 22. A penalty kick meant another opportunity for the blues to get on the scoreboard but once again the kick drifted wide. However Garryowen secured the resulting kick off and after two excellent line break, their hooker Derry Gleeson crashed over in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving the score 7-5 with 20 minutes left.

Both teams worked hard and as the clock ticked on, it was looking more likely that the next score could decide the destination of the cup. Despite Bruff a seeing prop Joe O'Connell and number eight Liam Cunningham sin-binned, this seemed to rally them on and in the closing 10 minutes, winger Sean McCarthy and outhalf John

Bateman ran in tries on the back of good forward play, control from Martin Carew and breaks from Mikey O'Grady and Callum Winship. Bateman showed super form once again to convert both tries.

On the final whistle, Bruff ran out winners on a final score of 21-5. Captain Liam Cunningham raised the cup aloft to the delight of the Bruff players and supporters. Well done and thanks also to John O'Grady, Manager, Seán Danaher, Forwards Coach and Eoin Shinners, Backs Coach.