Honours even after titanic struggle

Bruff 19 Ards19

So it was in Kilballyowen Park on Saturday afternoon last after Munster Junior League champions Bruff, the home team, had fought Ulster kingpins Ards to a dead heat in the opening bout of the Round-Robin AIL qualifier series.

It was the purest of ding-dong battles, absolute tit-for-tat from start to nerve-shredding finish. Opening score for Bruff, penalty from out-half Michael Lynch, out-half penalty reply by Stewart Paul for Ards; penalty for offside by Lynch, penalty reply for offside by Paul, six-all at the break.