Kelly Hat-Trick Drives Bective to Big Win Over Bruff in Donnybrook Thriller
21 March 2026, Energia Park, Donnybrook -Round 16, AIL D2C. A view from the sideline by OMAHD 🐕
BECTIVE RANGERS FC 57 – 40 BRUFF RFC
Bective Rangers FC and Bruff RFC served up a spectacular afternoon of attacking rugby at Energia Park, combining for a remarkable 15 tries in a free-flowing contest played in perfect spring conditions.
The home side ultimately prevailed 57–40, but Bruff pushed them all the way in a game that rarely paused for breath.
Bective struck early, with Dave McPolin crossing inside two minutes to set the tone. However, Bruff responded immediately, with tries from Clem McAuliffe (6 mins) and Shane Duggan (10 mins) to take control of the early exchanges.
The visitors continued their impressive spell as Nehuen Rossetti (16 mins) and Cillan Rea (20 mins) added further tries, with Paul Collins converting three of the four to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Bective, though, showed their attacking class. Conor Kelly powered over for two tries (21 and 28 mins), while Tiarnan McCloskey (31 mins) and Gavin Kelly (39 mins) added further scores in a dominant closing spell to the half.
Matthew Gilsenan was accurate from the tee, landing four conversions to edge Bective ahead.
(Half-time: Bective Rangers FC 33 – Bruff RFC 26))
Bruff refused to go away and struck again early in the second half, with Nehuen Rossetti grabbing his second try on 47 minutes. Paul Collins added the extras to keep the visitors within touching distance.
Bective responded almost immediately. Chris Hennessy crossed on 49 minutes before Conor Kelly completed an outstanding hat-trick five minutes later, underlining his impact from the tighthead position.
Further tries from Chris Rolland (56 mins) and the evergreen Bobby Holland (62 mins) extended Bective’s lead, with Matthew Gilsenan adding two more conversions to put daylight between the sides.
Bruff had the final say when Paul Collins touched down on 79 minutes and converted his own try, but the result was already beyond doubt.
A total of 15 tries—nine for Bective and six for Bruff—made this one of the most entertaining fixtures of the AIL Division 2C season.
Speaking after the match, Bective’s hat-trick’ try scorer Conor Kelly, had only praise for the team:
“It was one of those days where everything clicked up front and the backs gave us great ball. The pack worked hard all game, and to come away with three tries is special—but the most important thing is the win. Fair play to Bruff, they pushed us right to the end.”
Bective now hit the road in Round 17, travelling to East Cork to face Midleton RFC at Towns Park on Saturday, 28 March (2:30pm).
Midleton sit eighth in the table and will provide a stern test. When the sides last met in Donnybrook on 4 October, Bective ran out 22–7 winners.
Scorers: Bective Rangers: Tries: Tiarnan McCloskey, Chris Hennessy, Conor Kelly 3, Dave McPolin, Chris Rolland, Gavin Kelly, Bobby Holland; Cons: Matthew Gilsenan 6
Bruff: Tries: Clem McAuliffe, Paul Collins, Nehuen Rossetti 2, Cillian Rea, Shane Duggan; Cons: Paul Collins 5
BECTIVE RANGERS: 15 Tim Carroll; 14 Chris Rolland, 13 Tom McCarthy, 12 Bobby Holland, 11 Dave McPolin; 10 Matthew Gilsenan (capt), 9 Connor Halpenny; 1 Rory Mulvihill, 2 Chris Hennessy, 3 Conor Kelly, 4 Ronan Cregan, 5 Donagh Lawler, 6 Gavin Kelly, 7 Oisin McCloskey, 8 Tiarnan McCloskey.
Replacements: 16 Scott O’Keeffe, 17 Scott Barron, 18 James Gallagher, 19 Charlie O’Reilly, 20 Ben Garrett. Referee: Chris Elliott, UAR IRFU.
