Bruff and Effin without a Premier IHC win after second draw

SOUTH Limerick rivals Bruff and Effin served up the third draw out of the seven matches played so far in the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Championship as their game in Kilmallock finished 1-20 apiece.

And given that the lead, which was never more than three points, changed hands eleven times over the hour and that half of the scores came from the frees of opposing sharpshooters Owen Meaney and Paddy O'Donovan, there was never likely to be a decisive outcome.

But that wasn't from the want of trying. Having also drawn their opening encounters, both sides knew that a win would give them some breathing space in what is arguably Limerick’s most competitive grade.

After Meaney's opening free was met by O'Donovan striking from play, Bruff took over the early exchanges to bounce ahead.

Two from Barry Callinan and another two Meaney frees found the target and their lead would have been even greater had Ryan O’Neill’s diving save not stopped Josh Keating's powerful shot. Brothers Fergal and Ruairí O'Connor tied up the score as Effin got a foothold in the game.

Paul O'Riordan's reply for Bruff was met by O'Donovan's free. Meaney and O'Donovan then traded placed balls, while Darragh Butler and Ewan Dillon swapped strikes from play.

The scoreboard stalemate was eventually broken with an enormous O'Donovan free followed by Dillon's second score that put them ahead for the first time.

However, Bruff had a response through Danny O'Leary's point off a defence-splitting solo and Meaney's free tied up the scores.

O'Donovan converted one at the other end but Bruff regained the lead off a Meaney free and Conor Shanahan coming up from corner-back to send over a long-range score.

After a few poor shots at goal, Effin’s Fergal O'Connor punished Bruff with a strike at the other end and, compounding their frustration, they conceded a pair of added time opportunities for O'Donovan to pounce on and trail 0-12 to 0-11 as they headed for the sheds.

Within a minute of the restart, a pair of Meaney frees swung the advantage in the other direction Effin regained the lead as Dillon soloed through the challenges to point and O'Donovan sent over another free.

Bruff soon grabbed not only the lead but also the psychological boost with the game's first goal when O'Leary blitzed through the challenges and laid off to sub Diarmuid Dennehy to whack home.

A brace of O'Donovan frees had the margin back to the minimum in response but a Meaney free restored some of Bruff's breathing space

However, their evening seemed to be crashing around them when an innocuous clearance was blocked down and Ruairí O'Connor pounced on the breaking ball to whip to the net.

That led to a frantic finale. The lead changed hands yet again after Meaney's equalising free was followed by O'Leary's strike under pressure.

It then swung the other way as the contest entered added time with a pair of O'Donovan frees.

That looked to have finally done the job for Effin but a last gasp Bruff charge drew a foul for Meaney's sweet-striking hurley that gave his side a share of the spoils.

SCORERS - BRUFF: Owen Meaney 0-11 (11f), Danny O'Leary 0-3, Diarmuid Dennehy 1-0, Josh Keating 0-2, Barry Callinan, Paul O'Riordan, Darragh Butler, Conor Shanahan 0-1 each; EFFIN: Paddy O'Donovan 0-13 (10f), Ewan Dillon 0-4, Ruairí O'Connor 1-1, Fergal O'Connor 0-2.

BRUFF: Eric Finn; Conor Shanahan, Patrick Finn, Colm O'Loughlin; Seán Finn, Paul O'Riordan, Kevin Bonnar; Owen Meaney, Mickey O'Riordan; Barry Callinan, Josh Keating, Darragh Butler; Danny O'Leary, Paul Browne, Charlie Cronin; Subs: Diarmuid Dennehy for Cronin (27 mins), Evan Daly for Callinan (55 mins).

EFFIN: Ryan O'Neill; Jason O'Keeffe, Tommy Quaid, Alan Byrne; Brian Clifford, Nickie Quaid, Ben O'Donovan; Paul Treacy, Fergal O'Connor; Evan Dillon, Paddy O'Donovan, Ruairí O' Connor; Cillian O'Riordan, Pierse O'Kelly, Frankie Herr; Subs: Cathal Canning for Treacy (20 mins).

Referee: David Burke (Na Piarsaigh).