Dromin-Athlacca withstand late Bruff rally to secure Premier IHC title

DROMIN-ATHLACCA were too strong for neighbours Bruff in the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, claiming a second title with this 2-18 to 3-11 win on Sunday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Early goals from David Breen and Jack Fitzgibbon were the catalyst for the victory as James Kennedy’s men bounced straight back to senior hurling having been relegated in 2025.

From here they always had a comfortable lead with David Reidy in good form from placed balls.

Second half goals from Paul Browne and Sean Finn threatened a most dramatic comeback but Dromin-Athlacca were able to see out the win.

Dromin-Athlacca struck the first blow when Breen - the hero of their 2023 success - bundled home a goal after a dangerous sideline cut was not dealt with.

Breen quickly added a point to give his side a 1-1 to 0-2 lead after seven minutes.

The men in blue were in dreamland soon after when Jack Fitzgibbon buried his side’s second goal in the ninth minute.

Former Limerick player Paul Browne got one back for Bruff before Owen Meaney’s second free settled Paddy O’Leary’s side down.

A super long-range point from David Reidy put his side five clear midway through the half. The county man followed it up with a pair of frees as his charges were in complete control.

After a Meaney free, Athlacca scored three points in the space of 60 seconds - a fine David Griffin effort sandwiched between two from Daniel Scully.

Meaney and Reidy traded frees at the start of the second half, before Kevin Bonnar got a fine point from play to begin the hopes of a revival.

But Dromin-Athlacca pushed back through Reidy (free) and Breen who stretched the lead to 11.

But Bruff refused to throw in the towel. Diarmuid Dennehy came on and had an almost-immediate impact. A long ball towards the edge of the square saw the big man get the final touch past Robbie Breen.

Bruff were right back in it when Sean Finn got their second goal, reducing the gap to four with less than 10 minutes to play.

Browne got a second goal with time all but up but to no avail.

However, they could get no closer as Dromin-Athlacca claimed the Michael Fox Memorial Cup for the second time.

Dromin-Athlacca now move on to the Munster Championship where they will have home-county advantage against the Clare champions on November 15.

SCORERS - DROMIN-ATHLACCA: David Reidy 0-10 (9f); David Breen 1-3; Jack Fitzgibbon 1-2; Daniel Scully 0-2; David Griffin 0-1.

BRUFF: Paul Browne 2-1; Owen Meaney 0-7 (7f); Sean Finn 1-0; Josh Keating, Conor Shanahan and Kevin Bonnar 0-1 each.

DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Robbie Breen; Shane Scully, William Dore, Sean Morrissey; Shane Fitzgibbon, Michael Reidy, Cian Scully; Pa O’Donoghue, David Reidy; David Griffin, Tadhg Boddy, Daniel Scully; Jack Fitzgibbon, David Breen, Seanie O’Leary.

Subs: Mikey Quaid for O’Leary (51 mins); Peter Ryan for C Scully (58-59 mins); Peter Ryan for Griffin (60 mins); John O’Keeffe for O’Donoghue (62 mins).

BRUFF: Eric Finn; Conor Shanahan, Patrick Finn, Colm O’Loughlin; Sean Finn, Paul O’Riordan, Mikey O’Riordan; Kevin Bonnar, Charlie Crown; Barry Callinan, Josh Keating, Owen Meaney; Danny O’Leary, Darragh Butler, Paul Browne.

Subs: Diarmuid Dennehy for Cronin (39 mins); Evan Daly for Callinan (51 mins); Jason Hayes for Meaney (57-60 mins).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Feohanagh-Castlemahon).