Bruff stun unbeaten Dromin-Athlacca in Premier IHC thriller
Eoin Meaney struck 0-11 from placed balls including the last three scores of the night as Bruff secured an unlikely win
THE UNERRING accuracy of Eoin Meaney from placed balls saw Bruff score an exceptional - and unexpected - 1-18 to 2-14 victory over Dromin-Athlacca in the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday night.
Meaney struck 0-11 from placed balls including the last three scores of the night as Bruff secured an unlikely win in this contest where they trailed by six points midway through the second half.
Dromin-Athlacca scored 2-4 without reply either side of the interval in this clash where they looked like extending their 100% record in the championship to date.
Instead it was a first win for Bruff who came into this game with two draws and a narrow defeat to Murroe-Boher last time out.
They struck first blood in this contest a rocket of a goal from Josh Keating gave them a 1-0 to 0-2 lead after seven minutes.
It was at times a stop-start contest in the opening period but Dromin-Athlacca struck form approaching the change of ends.
A pair of David Reidy scores - one from play and a free - closed the gap before Jack Fitzgibbon struck a goal with the last score of the half. Level pegging at 1-8 apiece when Johnny Murphy blew the short whistle.
Dromin-Athlacca kept this momentum going with the first 1-3 of the second half.
Fitzgibbon this time turned provider, winning the ball from a ruck. He looked up and spotted the clever run of David Breen who kept a cool head to finish well from close range.
The previously unbeaten side almost had the ball in the net for a third time but a stunning save from Eric Finn kept Bruff in the game.
Ill-discipline from their opponents also helped. As Meaney continued to knock over the frees, Bruff stayed in touch.
The midfielder struck them from long range and from tight angles.
His winning score came in injury time and was his most routine. Dromin-Athlacca goalkeeper Robbie Breen spilled a long-range shot and was adjudged to have touched the ball on the ground as he attempted to recollect.
From 21 yards out Meaney put his side back in the lead - and then the defence held firm for a noteworthy success against their near neighbours.
SCORERS - BRUFF: Eoin Meaney 0-11 (11f); Josh Keating 1-2; Paul Browne and Danny O’Leary 0-2 each; Barry Callinan 0-1; DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Jack Fitzgibbon 1-5 (1f); David Reidy 0-6 (5f); David Breen 1-0; Daniel Scully 0-2; Sean O’Leary 0-1.
BRUFF: Eric Finn; Conor Shanahan, Patrick Finn, Evan Daly; Sean Finn, Paul O’Riordan, Kevin Bonnar; Owen Meaney, Gavin Bracken; Barry Callinan, Josh Keating, Darragh Butler; Danny O’Leary, Paul Browne, Mickey O’Riordan. Subs: Diarmuid Dennehy for Mickey O’Riordan (49 mins); Charlie Cronin for Butler (51 mins); Jason Hayes for Daly (55 mins).
DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Robbie Breen; Shane Scully, William Dore, Sean Morrissey; Patrick O’Donoghue, Cian Scully, Shane Fitzgibbon; John O’Keeffe, David Reidy; Daniel Scully, Michael Quaid, David Griffin; Jack Fitzgibbon, David Breen, Jack O’Connor.
Subs: Sean O’Leary for John O’Keeffe (50 mins).
REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Glenroe).