Brilliant Bruff’s massive boost

New Bruff coach and former Munster centre Mike Lynch could hardly contain his admiration for a developing team, following a surprising but thoroughly deserved Ulster Bank League Division 1B victory over favourites Ballymena at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday.

Bruff won the Bateman Cup in sensational fashion two years ago but of the 22 who represented the club in the final, only five remain; the others are either retired or scattered throughout the country and abroad.

Yet this village club continue to punch above their weight and now relying on the young players who have been successfully groomed at underage level, on Saturday many of them came of age.