Tipperary Rugby: Roller coaster season for Clonmel ends in AIL defeat in Bruff

All Ireland League Division 2C Round 18

BRUFF 19 CLONMEL 14

The curtain came down on Clonmel’s 2023/24 All- Ireland League season in Bruff last Saturday when the final round of the campaign was played away to the county Limerick side. While Bruff had promotion play-off aspirations still firmly in their sights, Clonmel’s secured position of seventh place was always going to be enough to remove any possibility of relegation.

On the day, the vagaries of the Irish weather played an impact yet again, as both sides battled each other and the high winds of Storm Kathleen, as the home side eked out a 19-14 win.

At stake for Clonmel was the opportunity to finish on a high with a win, but equally the secured status of the table also afforded the coaching team to make some changes to the regular starting fifteen and give more players the chance to add to their AIL stripes.

By AIL 2C standards, the short spin over the Limerick border to Bruff was a welcome day out for the travelling supporters, who had rallied behind the team for the previous 17 rounds of home and away fixtures. Saturday was no exception, with the usual cohort of black and green clad rugby buffs cheering out the team as Clonmel took to the pitch.

The wind really was whipping up a storm, and with Bruff winning the toss the locals took the advantage. It was no day for aerial football, as both sides settled into the game and worked hard to retain position and make any territorial gains. It was a dogged affair for the first half an hour or so, with Bruff and Clonmel going head-to-head on various occasions.

On 29 minutes Bruff made the first breakthrough, notching up their first try, which was duly converted, to take a 7-0 lead. They doubled that lead seven minutes later, adding a second converted try to their tally. It was 14-0 on 36 minutes and Bruff took that lead into the half-time break.

The winds didn’t abate in the second half and Clonmel sought to capitalise. It still took 21 minutes into the second half before Ben Masuka charged over the Bruff line to open Clonmel’s account. Josef O’Connor added the conversion and Bruff’s advantage was halved to 14-7 on 61 minutes.

Six minutes later O’Connor broke through the Bruff defences yet again to score Clonmel’s second try of the game, one he duly converted himself to leave the teams tied 14-14 on 67 minutes.

Both sides pushed hard and defended valiantly in equal measure, but it was Bruff who broke the stalemate with a try as the clock ticked past 80 minutes. The conversion was wide and the whistle blew. The final score was 19-14, with Bruff now facing a play-off against Galwegians and the prospect of promotion to Division 2B, and Clonmel notching up a losing bonus point to go to 34 points and finish in seventh place in Division 2C.

ROLLER COASTER SEASON
It has been a roller coaster season for this young side and a baptism of fire for the 2023/24 AIL debutantes. However, they navigated some stiff competition up and down the country and retained the club’s senior status. Well done to all involved on and off the pitch.
The opportunity now is to rest, recover and regroup in due course and go again in 2024/25, when more exciting club rugby will be in store.

CLONMEL TEAM V BRUFF
Forwards: Tim Nugent, Liam Ryan, Ben Everard, Conor Bowen, Lar Houlihan, Tom O’Dea, Ben Masuka, Brian O’Dea.
Backs: Ben O’Dwyer, Alex Sheehan, Zac O’Loughlin, Luke Hogan, Conor Hogan, Josef O’Connor Seamus Keating.
Replacements: Brandon Delicato, Sean Sweetman, Diarmuid Devaney, Diarmuid Brannock, Henry Buttimer.

DINNER DANCE
The club’s end of season dinner dance will be held in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel on Saturday night, May 11. Tickets are now available from committee members.

SPLITE THE BUCKET
Congrats to Juan Cruz, the winner of €425 in this week’s Split the Bucket draw. Many thanks to all who support this vital club fundraising initiative. Tickets are on sale via www.clonmelrfc.ie.