Bective Fade After Strong Start as Bruff Take Control in Kilballyowen
Rangers suffer second defeat in three as home side finish stronger in AIL Division 2C
11 October 2025 Kilballyowen Park, Limerick - A view from the sideline By OMAHD 🐕
BRUFF RFC 25 – 15 BECTIVE RANGERS FC
Bective Rangers slipped to their second defeat in three Energia All-Ireland League Division 2C outings after Bruff overturned a half-time deficit to win 25–15 at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was a frustrating day for the Donnybrook side, who produced a bright, composed opening forty but were gradually worn down by Bruff’s physicality and territory control after the break.
Bective made the better start, playing with width and purpose. After sustained pressure inside the Bruff 22, Craig Cantwell struck first in the corner following neat hands through the backline. Matthew Gilsenan converted and later added a well-struck penalty to extend the lead.
The forwards — with Eddie Dunning, Chris Hennessy, and Mattie Keane prominent — dominated the gain line, and Hennessy powered over from close range for Bective’s second try. At 15–10 ahead at the interval, Bective looked poised for a valuable away win.
(Half-time: Bective Rangers 15 – 10 Bruff)
The home side, though, emerged transformed. Their pack began to impose themselves at scrum time and around the ruck, forcing Bective to defend for long periods. Ten minutes into the second half, Bruff’s Patricio Neheun crossed to level matters, and a Paul Collins penalty soon put them in front.
Momentum had firmly shifted. As Bective’s error count rose, Bruff’s confidence grew. Winger Shane Duggan delivered the decisive moment midway through the half, slicing through tired defenders to score under the posts. Collins’ boot did the rest, his two conversions and pair of penalties pushing the gap to ten points.
Bective battled bravely to the end. Tiarnan McCloskey and replacement Luke Mion carried hard in search of a breakthrough, but Bruff’s defence held firm to see out the result.
Despite the defeat, there were positives for Bective — notably their first-half tempo and line-out accuracy — but coach Ben Manion admitted that maintaining standards across eighty minutes remains the key challenge.
“Our first forty was as good as we’ve played all year,” Manion said. “But at this level you can’t switch off. Bruff used their physical edge well, and we’ll take the lessons into next week. The character is there — we just need to turn good starts into complete performances.”
This defeat leaves Bective with one win and two losses from their opening three fixtures — still early days, but a reminder of the tight margins in Division 2C.
They return to Donnybrook aiming to rediscover their rhythm and turn patches of dominance into points on the table. With flashes of quality evident again in Kilballyowen, the Rangers will back themselves to bounce back quickly.
Bective Rangers 1st XV: 15 Tim Carroll; 14 Chris Rolland, 13 Bobby Holland, 12 Matthew Gilsenan, 11 Craig Cantwell, 10 Oliver Foote, 9 Connor Halpenny; 1 Oscar Egan, 2 Christopher Hennessy, 3 Conor Kelly, 4 Eddie Dunning, 5 Mark O’Brien, 6 Mattie Keane, 7 Chris Poole, 8 Tiarnan McCloskey.
Replacements: 16 Luke Mion, 17 Scott Barron, 18 Oisin McCloskey, 19 Mikey O’Hare, 20 David Moran.
Referee: Cathal Roddy, Corrib RFC, ARCB IRFU. Referee of the Year in the Connacht Rugby Awards 2025.
