Heartbreak for gallant Bruff as Limerick side lose All-Ireland Final

BRUFF'S dream of All-Ireland glory ended in defeat as they lost the junior 'b' final to Galway's Sarsfields on a 1-9 to 0-9 scoreline at Killeedy GAA Club in Raheenagh.

Roger Mulqueen's side led by three points at half-time but the sending off of captain Cian Madden just before the break proved a crucial moment in the game.

Eanna Dolan's goal on 36 minutes saw Sarsfields back into the game and points from Kerrill Wade, Liam Michael Kelly and Sean Kelly saw the Galway side to the victory.

Bruff opened the scoring through Tim O'Sullivan but Wade soon had Sarsfields back on level terms before Diarmuid Dennehy saw the Limerick side back on front by opting for a point from a goal chance.

Two Wade frees saw Sarsfields hit the front for the first time on 17 minutes but Bruff squared the game up through David Browne's first of the contest.

Wade hit his fourth of the half to restore the Sarsfields advantage, however, Bruff had a glorious chance to put their mark on the game with a penalty after Gregory Dempsey was fouled.

Browne went for goal with the effort from the penalty but his effort whisked over the bar and the sides were level for the fourth time of the half.

Two further placed balls by Browne saw Bruff two in front but Wade's second from play saw Sarsfields reduce the lead to one with 24 minutes on the clock.

Bruff finished the half the stronger with a long range Browne free and one from play by Madden seeing them to an 0-8 to 0-5 advantage.

However, Madden was soon given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card from referee Rory McGann just before the half-time whistle.

Bruff came out strong at the beginning of the second half with a superb score from Oisin Mulqueen but that was to be the last one they would get in the remainder of the game.

Sarsfields responded to that point with the game's only goal that proved vital to their victory. A long delivery into the Bruff square was taken in by Dolan and he navigated his way in to space to slot the ball into the net. A Wade free then levelled the game moments later.

From there on in it was all Sarsfields with Wade and the two Kelly's firing over scores to put them three-points to the good. Bruff substitute Ross O'Brien did have a chance to force extra-time but his low shot was well saved by Oisin Cooney and Sarsfields held on for the 1-9 to 0-9 win.

Scorers - Bruff: David Browne 0-5 (1 pen, 4 frees), Tim O'Sullivan, Diarmuid Dennehy, Cian Madden and Oisin Mulqueen 0-1 each

Scorers - Sarsfields: Kerrill Wade 0-7 (5 frees), Eanna Dolan 1-0, Liam Michael Kelly and Sean Kelly 0-1 each.

BRUFF: Cormac Daly; Niall Brosnan, David Mulqueen, James Callinan; Cian Madden, Tony Burke, Oisin Mulqueen; Tim O'Sullivan, Gavin Bracken; Gregory Dempsey, Diarmuid Dennehy, Patrick Dempsey; Bradley McNamara, Ian Gardiner, David Browne. 

Subs: John Bulfin for Gardiner (44 mins), Ross O'Brien for P Dempsey (51 mins).

SARSFIELDS: Oisin Cooney; Sean O'Neill, Joe Burke, Evan Earls; Cathal Ward, Jack Morrissey, Niall Dwyer; Cian O'Regan, Kieran Kelly; Liam Michael Kelly, Kerril Wade, Sean Kelly; Oisin Maher, Eanna Dolan, Jordan McMahon.

Subs: Seamus Keane for McMahon (43 mins), McMahon for Maher (63 mins).

REFEREE: Rory McGann (Clare)