BRUFF RFC are the 2011 All Ireland Bateman Cup winners after securing a 24-18 win over Dungannon last Saturday afternoon at Templeville Road, Dublin. Tries from David Horan and Peter Malone were complimented by a conversion and four penalties from Tony Cahill.
Speaking after the game, player coach of Bruff, Peter Malone explained how special it was for all involved with the Limerick side.
“To beat a club like Dungannon, a club with a great history who have won the All-Ireland League and to stand toe to toe with them is a great mark for ourselves,” he said. “This team is a great bunch of guys with a great club structure behind us so thankfully it’s just reward. A lot of these guys have been with us since junior level so they’ve come full circle from junior to senior All-Ireland champions. It’s a great reward for them.”
Indeed the scenes that followed the hard fought win over Dungannon will be long remembered in the sporting village. Bruff’s climb from Junior Rugby to Division 1B and then on to All Ireland Cup champions will be used by clubs all over Ireland as a template for success. The best form of flattery of course, being imitation.
With an All Ireland win under their belts, Coaches Peter Malone and Eoin Cahill will be looking to stay in Division 1B of the league, as a playoff game awaits. That and several offers too no doubt.
Brendan Deady; Tom O’Callaghan, Tom Carroll, Eoin Cahill, John Malone: Tony Cahill, Eoghan Maher; David Horan, Cathal O’Regan (capt), Gearoid Ryan, Alfie Laffan, Maurice O’Connell, Alan Bourke, John Shine, Peter Malone.
Replacements used: Dermot Murnane for Laffan (63 mins), Ger Collins for Ryan (74).
