AIL MATCH REPORT
Clontarf 26 Bruff 11
By Mark Byrnes
Clontarf began their campaign in 1B of the All Ireland League with an excellent win over a determined Bruff team at Castle Avenue last Saturday.
Clontarf opened the scoring with a penalty from newcomer Noel Reid after only three minutes. The same player then extended doubled the lead with an excellent penalty from distance.
Clontarf’s pressure in the opening 15 minutes was rewarded when Sam Cronin charged down an attempted clearance from the Bruff full back and then won the resulting footrace to touch down for a well deserved try. Reid failed to convert but the Irish U-20 international made amends on 26 minutes with his third penalty to make it 14-0 to the home side.
Both sides were reduced to fourteen men after 30 minutes following a minor scuffle. Bruff finished the first half the stronger of the two sides and landed penalties on 31 and 40 minutes to go in 14-6 behind at the interval.
Heavy rain in the second half made conditions tricky, but Clontarf adapted quickest and a superb piece of initiative from Michael Keating and Daragh O’Shea sent the winger sprinting into the corner for an excellent try. Bruff responded well just five minutes later with a try of their own to trail 21-11 going into the last quarter.
Clontarf upped their game and were rewarded in injury time when substitute Paul O’Donohoe dived in the corner for a well worked try. Reid missed the extras but that did not take away from a solid team performance.