Bruff win tense battle to secure final spot

Bruff (Limerick) 2-13 Lixnaw (Kerry) 2-10

Lixnaw, despite playing with the wind in the first half, were slow from traps, and Bruff, thanks to a speculative shot from Chris Browne deceiving teenage keeper David Silles, led 1-4 to 0-3 after the opening quarter.

The Kerry champions got going in the second quarter, thanks to the efforts of John Griffin and Brendan Brosnan at midfield against Limerick senior Paul Browne.

Lixnaw added four points before the break — three Ricky Heffernan frees and a sublime effort from Griffin — to trail 1-5 to 0-7.

The introduction of Galvin appeared to revitalise Lixnaw’s second half challenge and Heffernan soon landed the equaliser. Silles then made a stunning save from Sean Finn, but Shane Bulfin converted the resulting ’65.

Then Lixnaw hit the front in the 37th minute when Heffernan set up James Flaherty for a fine goal (1-8 to 1-6). However, Bruff, sensing an upset, upped the tempo and points from Sean Finn (2), Chris Browne and Tony Burke edged them two ahead. Then came the 60 seconds which decided the tie. At one end Enda Galvin found Mike Conway who blasted the ball to the net for Lixnaw to go 2-9 to 1-10 clear. However, from the puckout, Bruff stormed downfield where Shane Finn finished to the net.

Bruff then held out in a tense finish to claim victory and book a place in the provincial decider.

Scorers for Bruff: S Bulfin 0-5 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65), S Finn 1-3, C Browne 1-2, T Burke 0-2, P Browne 0-1.

Scorers for Lixnaw: R Heffernan 0-7 (0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), M Conway 1-1, J Flaherty 1-0, B Brosnan 0-1 free, J Griffin 0-1

BRUFF: E Finn; B Finn, C McEnery, J O’Riordan; D Madden, Cian Madden, B O’Brien; P Browne, T Burke; P O’Leary, C Madden, C Browne; S Finn, J Cooke, S Bulfin.

Subs: J Hayes for C McEnery (39), M O Hara for Colin Madden (44), G Whelan for C Browne (58).

LIXNAW: D Silles; M Corridan, T McKenna, P Corridan; R Galvin, D Shanahan, S Power; B Brosnan, J Griffin; E Galvin, R Heffernan, G Stackpoole; J Flaherty, M Conway, N Quilter.

Subs: P Galvin for R Galvin (40), J Wallace for N Quilter (48).

Referee: P Foley (Waterford).