Bruff defeat Effin as both sides reach Limerick premier intermediate hurling semi-finals:

Bruff defeat Effin as both sides reach Limerick premier intermediate hurling semi-finals:

Tom Clancy Limerick Leader Sport

BRUFF rubber-stamped their place in the last four of the Lyons of Limerick County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, after squeezing beyond Effin on a 1-12 to 0-11 in testing wet and windy conditions in Kilfinane on Saturday.

Despite this Round 7 defeat, Effin have also secured their passage into the last four stage of the championship after securing four wins in the group stages.

Credit must go to both players and the officials, who had to withstand 60-plus minutes of torrential rain as the durability of the pitch in south Limerick was put to the test.

In the end, it was the dead-eyed Owen Meaney who pointed the way for the Stars, to push them into third in the table, and set-up a semi-final clash with Garryspillane. His ten points were the difference, with his graft around the middle just what was needed to eek out a result.

Despite playing the second half without Seán Finn, who departed as a precaution with injury, Bruff performed better in front of the posts, when assisted by the elements.

There was contributions from Sean Casey and Paul Browne in defence, with the latter dropping back to centre-half back after Finn departed. Conceding just three points during a stop-start second half, those in red and white did enough to claim a fifth victory of the campaign.

For Effin, the consolation prize is a meeting with Newcastle West, the group winners, in next weekend’s semi-finals. Adrian Barrett’s men were looking sharp early on, aided by the elements. They led 0-3 to 0-1 with Paddy O’Donovan and Nickie Quaid on target early.

However, the games only goal gave Bruff a foothold and they were never too far behind in Effin’s rearview mirror. That goal, a flick to the net from Diarmuid Dennehy put Bruff ahead for the first time but Effin replied.

They would lead 0-8 to 1-4 at half-time with O’Donovan and Quaid adding to their tally, while Ruairí O’Connor also employed the umpires. Meaney’s late free the pick of the Bruff scores, especially given the weather.

A fragmented second period saw Effin land two early points – Fergal O’Connor and Tommy Quaid, but Meaney kept the gap a just a score.

The midfielder landed his side’s first point from play on 43 minutes and a run of five points without reply between the 45th and 55th minutes turned the tide even more their way.

Effin needed a goal to level it and went close through Tommy Quaid, but they ultimately couldn’t get the scores to take something from this clash.

SCORERS: Bruff: Owen Meaney 0-10 (0-7 frees, 0-1 ’65); Diarmuid Dennehy 1-0; Josh Keating (free); Gavin Bracken 0-1 each. Effin: Paddy O’Donovan 0-4 (0-2 frees); Nickie Quaid 0-3; Tommy Quaid 0-2; Ruairí O’Connor, Fergal O’Connor 0-1 each.

BRUFF: Eric Finn; Pa Finn, Sean Casey, Sean Murnane; Paul O’Riordan, Seán Finn,
Kevin Bonner; Gavin Bracken, Owen Meaney; Darragh Butler, Paul Browne, Josh Keating; Mike O’Riordan, Diarmuid Dennehy, Danny O’Leary. Subs: David Browne for S. Finn (half-time); Bobby O’Brien for Keating (41 mins); Charlie Cronin for O’Leary (56 mins).

EFFIN: James O’Leary: Mark Mullins, Alan Byrne, Sean Canning: Michael Rea, Clive Doherty, Fergal O’Connor: Nickie Quaid (joint-captain), Cillian O’Riordan; Ruairí O’Connor, Conor Kearney, Ewan Dillon: Patrick O’Donovan (joint-captain), Thomas Quaid, Pierse O’Kelly. Subs: Enda Kelly (half-time); Jack Quaid for Kearney (54 mins); Ryan O’Neill (54 mins).

REFEREE: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Feohanagh)