“The key for everyone is the top four” | Bruff’s Ray Hourigan on Premier Intermediate Championship ambitions

Bruff finished bottom of the pile in their group in the 2021 Premier IHC.

East Limerick side Bruff will be hoping for better fortunes in the 2022 Premier IHC as they kick off their championship season against newly promoted Effin this weekend.

The 2014 winners didn’t pull up trees in last year’s championship to say the least, finishing bottom of Group 2 with their only points coming in the final game. Compared to the side’s 2020 campaign where they were top of their group, it was certainly a step backwards.

With the original format in place ahead of the 2022 championship, there will be eight sides in a group compared to last years four and Bruff manager Ray Hourigan believes that all sides will be gunning for the top four places.

“The key for everyone is the top four, you don’t really care if you come first or fourth, just top four. We’ve three games in the first two weeks, you can’t win a championship with those three games but certainly can lose one.”

Bruff are fresh from a successful South Hurling League campaign, where they finished top of the table with five wins out of a possible seven, defeating weekend opponents Effin along the way.

Hourigan believes the experience of the league was a great way to prepare for the Championship ahead.

“It was very beneficial, getting to play senior teams ahead of us we learnt a lot from it, I suppose like most teams the aim of the league was to get solid base 20-25 players you could trust come championship.”

The Bruff manager also has the luxury of adding Limerick ever-present Sean Finn to their panel as he returns from his successful All-Ireland venture. Hourigan was full of praise for the four-time All-Ireland winner who will certainly provide a boost for their championship hopes.

“He’s an inspiration to the club, the young boys and girls in the club they all look up to him and for our own lads when he comes into the group, he sets the tone and gives everyone a boost.”

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Bruff take on Effin this Saturday in Kilmallock at 5pm in the first round of the Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.