Limerick PIHC: Butler's dramatic winner sends Bruff into first final since 2022

PLENTY AT STAKE: County stars Sean Finn (above) and David Reidy will now do battle in a Bruff-Dromin Athlacca decider. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Limerick SIHC Semi-Final: Bruff 1-18 Blackrock 1-17 

A last gasp 64th minute winner from Darragh Butler sent Bruff back to a first Limerick Premier Intermediate hurling final since 2022, as they snatched a late victory over heartbroken Blackrock on Saturday afternoon.

The triumph sees them set up a mouthwatering neighbourly clash with Dromin Athlacca in two weeks time, in what is the curtain raiser to the senior final, at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Senior hurling is a huge carrot for both clubs who have spent much of the last decade in the second tier.

Butler’s stunning point, off his right-hand side near the sideline sparked scenes of bedlam, as Bruff edged this south Limerick derby after Colm O’Keeffe’s nerveless free had tied the game on the previous play.

Prior to that, wind-assisted Blackrock had led by three points at the interval. All of their 1-9 had come from play but when the scores dried up late on it was Bruff who forced their way ahead. Late drama, including two O’Keeffe frees saw the sides level for a fifth and final time in Kilmallock.

Butler landed the first 1-2, including a goal after just 30 seconds. That green flag and points from Owen Meany and Danny O’Leary had them off to a flying start. However, they would fail to register a score from play for the next 36 minutes as the Rockies took over.

Sean O’Neill was in red hot form and he scored five points in the opening half as well as setting up Fionn Heffernan for a ninth-minute goal to tie the game at 1-2 each.

O’Neill, O’Keeffe and Paudie Leahy asserted their dominance and by half-time it was 1-9 to 1-6 in the Rockies favour.

Meaney’s free taking, often from around 30-45 meters, was of top quality and his trio tied the game after 35 minutes. Sub Charlie Cronin marked his introduction by giving Bruff the lead but O’Neill’s sixth was in quick reply.

Blackrock were 1-14 to 1-11 ahead at the three-quarter mark when Fionn Heffernan landed another white flag but Bruff’s best spell saw them take control.

Five unanswered, including points from Barry Callinan, Paul Browne and Owen Meaney, this time from play, saw Paddy O’Leary’s men striding towards victory.

O’Keeffe’s free broke the spell of dominance but Butler kept two between them as the game entered stoppage time.

Another two frees looked to have forced extra time, only for a huge Eric Finn puck-out to find the run of Butler who wasted no time in splitting the posts from a difficult angle.

The final will pit county stars Seán Finn and David Reidy against each other, with these neighbouring parishes in the hurling heartlands of south Limerick doing battle.

Scorers for Bruff: O Meaney 0-10 (9f); C Butler 1-2; P Browne, S Callinan, P O’Riordan, K Bonnar, C Cronin, D O’Leary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Blackrock: C O’Keeffe 0-8 (5f); S O’Neill 0-6; F Heffernan 1-1; P Leahy, M Farrell 0-1 each.

Bruff: E Finn; C Shanahan, P Finn, C O’Loughlin; S Finn, P O’Riordan (Capt), E Daly; K Bonnar, M O’Riordan; B Callinan, J Keating, O Meaney; D O’Leary, D Butler, P Browne.

Subs: C Cronin for Daly (38); D Dennehy for Callinan (58).

Blackrock: D Moloney; J Moloney, R McCarthy, I O’Brien; K Aherne, C Ensor, M Farrell; J Quilty (Capt), N Ryan; S Flanagan, C O’Keeffe, S O’Neill; S Philpot, F Heffernan, P Leahy.

Subs: S Lyons for Philpot (42); A Gilligan for Flanagan (57).

Referee: K Guina (Feohanagh/Castlemahon).