Bruff Win ODM Financial Senior Cup Final

A historic day at Thomond Park as a new name was added to the ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup when Bruff lifted the trophy in an epic final in the first Senior Cup Final to be played at the new redeveloped ground.

Bruff 23, Garryowen 19

This game was in the balance right up to the final whistle as Garryowen laid siege to the Bruff line and despite five minutes of injury time the Division 1B AIL side held out for a famous victory.

An added bonus for Bruff was that thirteen of their starting line up came through their under age section and despite trying for years to win the Munster Junior Cup they should succeed in the premier competition in the Province and with victories over Shannon and Cork Constitution in previous rounds no one can begrudge them their victory.

It was a great day for the Cahill family with three brothers Brian, Tony and Eoin starting. Brian kicked thirteen points and Tony was named man of the match.

Cian O’Shea opened the scoring with a try for Garryowen after five minutes but two penalties by Brian Cahill had Bruff in front by the fifteenth minute.

The lead did not last long as Declan Cusack put Garryowen back in front with a penalty but in a well worked move Peter Malone touched down in the corner following a five meter line out after eighteen minutes.

Bruff extended their advantage when wing forward Alan Bourke got in for their second try and with Brian Cahill converting both, Bruff were 20-8 ahead.

A penalty by Cusack and a drop goal with the last play of the first half by Conan Doyle left only six points between the sides at half time.

Bruff got off to a great start after the break when Brian Cahill kicked his third penalty after two minutes and than game the exciting finish.

Eight minutes from the end Conor Murray outwitted a couple of defenders to grab a Garryowen try but Cusack missed the conversion and in a nail biting finish Bruff held on to lift the famous trophy for the first time.

An added bonus for Bruff is a home semi final tie against UCD in the All Ireland Senior Cup later in the month.

Scorers Bruff: P Malone, A Bourke tries, E Cahill 2 cons, 3 pens.
Garryowen: C O’Shea, C Murray tries, D Cusack 2 pens, C Doyle drop gl.

Bruff: B Deady; A Cashman, B Cahill, E Cahill, P O'Brien; T Cahill, E Maher; D Horan, C O'Regan, G Ryan; A Laffan, M O'Connell; A Bourke, J Shine, P Malone.
Replacements: G Collins for D Horan 48, G Leonard for E Cahill 49, M Carroll for A Laffan 55, D Horan for G Ryan 60, M O’Donnell for C O’Regan 64, C O’Regan for Carroll 76,

Garryowen: L Bourke; C O'Shea, C Doyle, C Hircock, L Kuntz; D Cusack, C Murray; J P Cooney, R Meyer, D Lavery; F McKenna, A McCloskey; P Neville, C Hartigan, D Sherry.
Replacements: A Kavanagh for D Sherry 20, A Gaughan for L Bourke 45, C Fitzgerald for C Hartigan 51, C Hartigan for Fitzgerald 57, J Rael for R Meyer 75.
Referee: D McCormack, (MAR).