Eoin Cahill: ‘We would be hoping to win the game and finish the season on a high’

IN-FORM Bruff will bid to stretch their unbeaten All-Ireland League run this year to ten games when they face Lansdowne in the Division Two play-off final at Anglesea Road, Dublin this Saturday (2pm).
Just six years on from gaining promotion from junior ranks Bruff RFC have already earned the right to compete in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League for the season.
It is something of a fairytale story for the club founded just 40 years ago and which only earned its place in Division 2 of the AIL in 2008.

Promotion secured
As both Bruff and final opponents Lansdowne have already secured their promotion to 1B, Saturday’s final provides the sides with an opportunity to claim some silverware at the end of a successful season.
In-form Bruff secured their promotion to Division 1B with a home victory over Malone last month. The Kilballyowen side later stretched their unbeaten run to nine games with a highly-impressive semi-final play-off win over Terenure College.
Bruff’s 35-13 success was secured courtesy of four tries from Patrick Thompson, Alan Bourke, Peter Malone and David Gardiner and 15 points from the boot of out-half Brian Cahill.
Lansdowne who finished 14 points clear of Bruff in the Division 2 table, defeated DLSP in the second play-off semi-final at the RDS.
Lansdowne, fielding a side which included several contracted players, including the likes of local man Stephen Keogh and Devin Toner, recorded a runaway 54-13 victory over Bruff in their regular season AIL meeting in October.
Saturday’s decider at Old Belvedere’s Anglesea Road grounds provides Bruff with an opportunity to avenge that defeat. Bruff head coach, Eoin Cahill said: “We were unfortunate to run up against a full-strength Lansdowne side earlier in the season.
“We started the game well, but they had a bonus-point on the bag at half-time after running in four tries in the ten minutes coming up to the break. We are hoping to give a good account of ourselves this weekend.”
Bruff are no strangers to All-Ireland League finals day. In 2007, despite earlier missing out on promotion, the south Limerick club won the Division 3 decider, securing an exciting 18-12 victory over Wanderers at Templeville Road.
Ironically, 12 months later, a season after which Bruff gained promotion to Division 2, the Kilballyowen Park side suffered defeat to Instonians in the Division 3 final at Donnybrook.

A welcome decision
Bruff’s Eoin Cahill again welcomed the decision to re-fix the play-off final meeting with Lansdowne for Saturday afternoon at 2pm from the previous night at 8pm as had originally been the case.
Cahill also praised the players’ attitude this season.
Bruff lost just twice in their 15-game regular season and finished a full ten points ahead of third-placed Terenure College.
“We are pleased with the way things have gone this season,” Eoin Cahill, a multiple AIL Division 1 medal winner with Shannon, said.
“With the lads in the squad, when they reach one goal ,they immediately set the next one.
“So once we secured promotion the players were looking to win the play-off final and perhaps get another crack off Lansdowne.
“Saturday’s game is a great opportunity for everyone to be involved in a big final.
“There is a great sense of excitement around the club ahead of the game,” Eoin Cahill said.
“I believe two 50-seater buses of supporters will be travelling up to Dublin for the game.
“We would be hoping to win the game and finish the season on a high. A lot of the players in the squad have been playing with the club from a young age. They are used to winning things and Saturday’s game provides the players with another opportunity for success. The lads will be giving it their all.
“We know Lansdowne are a quality side, right from numbers one to 15.
“They secured promotion to Division 1B with four or five games to spare.
“But we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Colm Kinsella