Bandon Edged Out In All Ireland League Play-Off
5th May 2018 By Olan Allen
Bandon were edged out 24-17 in the All Ireland League Division 2C play-off against Bruff at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday with a converted try in added time.
With so much at stake credit must go to both clubs for producing an exciting game that kept the large crowd on their toes until the final whistle.
Bruff dominated the opening quarter but Bandon’s first attack on seventeen minutes produced a well worked try after a break by Conall Bromwich from a Bruff line out, sent winger Christian Mulcahy racing away to score in the corner and Kerry Desmond converted.
Bruff’s response was quick and decisive.
Four minutes later Bruff were level when a break by Liam Tracey sent David O’Grady in for a try and Tony Cahill converted.
On 21 minutes, Bruff were ahead after a move involving David O’Grady, Cahill and Mike Cooke saw Cillian Rea barge over for a try and Tony Cahill converted.
Following a yellow card for Bandon’s Enda Phelan on the stroke of half time Bandon took the game to Bruff but the home defence held firm.
Tony Cahill extended Bandon’s lead to 17-7 with a penalty on fifty seven minutes.
Bandon raised their game and a try by Gearoid Crowley brought them back into the game with a try on sixty three minutes.
73 minutes from time Bandon were level when Kerry Desmond crashed over for a third try.
Momentum was with Bandon as extra time approached.
A break by Treacy brought play close to the Bandon line and after several drives by the Bruff pack Brendan Deady ensured Bruff’s status as a senior club when he crashed over for a try under the posts in the 84th minute and David O’Grady converted.
Bruff: G Whelan; B Fanning, J O’Grady, T Cahill, L Tracey; D O’Grady, C Clifford; D Horan, J Clery, K Laffan; S Hartigan, N Keogh; C Rea, O Ring, D Keogh.
Replacements: P Clery, M Carroll, M Cooke, B Deady, B Cahill.
Bandon: O Crowley; C Mulcahy, B Crowley, K Desmond, G Crowley; R Harrold, S Gonzalez; M Murphy, S Kingston, T Crowley; C Buttimer, E Phelan; C Bromwich, R Hayes, T Ferguson.
Replacements: A Slattery, M Phelan, K Phelan, G O’Leary, J Crowley.
Referee: N Correll (IRFU).
