Bruff make it three wins from four in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship

BRUFF made it three wins from four in the group stages of the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship when easing past Glenroe 2-18 to 1-12 at a sunny Knocklong on Thursday evening.

The winners, who led 1-9 to 1-6 at half-time, eased clear in the final quarter, helped by a goal from substitute Diarmuid Dennehy, to claim a convincing win and with it consign Glenroe to their third defeat of the campaign.

Bruff, who had defeated Blackrock in a re-arranged game just six days earlier, got off to the ideal start when the influential Paul Browne and Limerick senior hurling star Sean Finn combined to set up Michael O'Riordan for a goal inside the opening 30 seconds.

A pointed free from Bruff sharpshooter Josh Keating followed soon after. 

Bruff were 1-5 to 0-2 to the good when Kevin Bonnar struck for a well-taken point on 14 minutes, with Glenroe's opening two scores coming from Ciaran Kelly on six minutes and Shane O'Donoghue five minutes later.

Glenroe were right back in the contest in the 21st minute, however, when Mark O'Connell's long delivery was flicked to the net by the impressive Darren Frewen who remained a constant threat in attack throughout the game.

Points from topscorer Keating, from a free, and one from Sean Finn, who was deployed in a half-forward role, helped Bruff earn their three-point half-time lead.

To their credit, the industrious Glenroe side opened the second half brightly and drew within a point of their hosts through a pointed free from O'Connell and a smashing effort from play by Frewen.

It was as close as Glenroe would get to their opponents in the second half, however.

Bruff had looked the more likely winners from the throw-in, but a gritty Glenroe side proved resilient opponents, powered by their impressive work-rate.

As Glenroe's comeback looked to gather momentum, Sean Finn showed his class to reply immediately with an excellent point for Bruff. The winners then outscored their opponents 1-6 to 0-1 over the next 15 minutes.

Darragh Butler, Keating with three, including two frees, Owen Meaney and Paul Browne saw Bruff pull clear.

Substitute Dennehy made an instant impact for the winners when he deftly finished to the net from Gavin Bracken's delivery in the 50th minute.

Dennehy was fouled for a Bruff penalty shortly afterwards. However, Glenroe 'keeper Ian O'Sullivan produced an excellent save to deny Kearing from scoring his side's third goal.

By then, however, the game and two precious points were in safe keeping.

SCORERS: Bruff: Josh Keating 0-8 (0-7 frees), Michael O'Riordan, Diarmuid Dennehy 1-0 each, Sean Finn, Paul Browne, Paul O'Riordan, 0-2 each, Owen Meaney, Kevin Bonnar, Darragh Butler, Danny O'Leary 0-1 each. Glenroe: Mark O'Connell 0-6 (all frees), Darren Frewen 1-1, Shane O'Donoghue 0-2, Brian O'Connell, David McCarthy, Ciaran Kelly 0-1 each.

BRUFF: Eric Finn; Patrick Finn, Colin Madden, Owen Meaney; Kevin Bonnar, Sean Finn, Sean Casey; Paul Browne, Sean Murnane, Michael O'Riordan, Gavin Bracken, Paul O'Riordan; Darragh Butler, Danny O'Leary, Josh Keating. SUBS: Bradley McNamara for Butler (41 mins), Diarmuid Dennehy for O'Riordan (48 mins).

GLENROE: Ian O'Sullivan, Bob Frewen, Jordan Sheehy, Eoin Gallahue; Shane Moloney, David McCarthy, Darren Carroll; Padraig McGrath, Brian O'Connell; Mark O'Connell, Ciaran Kelly, Liam Dennehy; Cillian O'Brien, Shane O'Donoghue, Darren Frewen. SUBS: Stephen Walsh for Darren Carroll (half-time), Darren McCarthy for O'Brien (38 mins), Zach McCarthy for McGrath (46 mins).

REFEREE: Paddy Lyons (Staker Wallace)