Bruff bullish ahead of final battle

HOLDERS Bruff take on Garryowen in the final of the ODM Munster Senior Cup at Thomond Park tonight, kick-off 7.30pm.

The game is a repeat of last year’s decider in which Bruff pulled off a surprise but fully deserved victory to claim the title for the first time. They were inspired on that occasion by Peter Malone, scorer of one of their two tries who put to outstanding benefit all the experience he accrued over the years with Garryowen — whom he helped to the All-Ireland League and Cup and Munster Cup treble in 2007.

Malone, now 32, has moved on to the player coach role at Bruff. Even though they are without influential full-back Brendan Deady, ruled out by a knee injury, they are still able to call upon 13 of the side that won the title a year ago. They have started Division 1B of the AIL in reasonably satisfactory manner despite losing 34-28 to Ballymena last Saturday.