Skerries secured their promotion to 2B after they overcame a tough battle with Bruff in Holmpatrick this afternoon, as Ronan Mulcahy starred for the Goats.

Tries from Mulcahy, Paul O’Loughlen and Peter O’Neill all crossed for the home side with Mulcahy adding 20 points of his side's 30 point tally.

Bruff through Brendan Gleeson and Shane Duggan got over for tries to put pressure on the homeside, but just were unable to cut a 15 point deficit down late in the second half.

Skerries penalised early inside the opening two minutes, from halfway Sean Kilbridge stepped up to give Bruff an early lead, however the lead lasted three minutes as the ever present Ronan Mulcahy stepped up to land another monster penalty for a level game just minutes later.

The game started to flow as the minutes ticked on, Skerries with ball in hand started to get moves going toward the Bruff line and fast hands saw Michael Sherlock feed Ronan Mulcahy out wide and the full pack dotted down in the 14th minute, the full-back converting for a 10-3 lead, all ten coming from the Skerries man.

Hits were coming in but Bruff just could not get their chances early to snipe at Skerries, the defence holding firm as the clock was ticking away the hosts remained confident and looked sharp in their gameplan.

Just before the half hour mark Skerries pressure told as Paul O’Loughlen got over for their second try, he gave Mulcahy an easy task of stepping up to land the conversion and make it 17-3.

But in a whirlwind 60 seconds, Bruff from nowhere ran in their opening try, a great breakaway intercept move from Brendan Gleeson getting the ball over for the Shannonsiders, the gap cut down to seven as Kilbridge converted to keep Bruff within touching distance.

The half wore on as both teams were going hammer and tongs at the other trying to get ahead of the other, another Skerries penalty allowed Mulcahy to get a shot at the posts, the final act of the half as the full-back dissected the posts once more, for a 20-10 lead at the break.

Mulcahy kept his 100% kicking status as he converted a penalty from the tee to make it a 13 point game, but once again Bruff from almost nothing bagged a second try, Shane Duggan winning a big aerial battle to dot down for their second try, bringing the score to 23-15.

After the hour mark Skerries would hit back, they did put immense pressure on the visitors as O’Loughlen pumped the legs to bring it to within touching distance of the line, but Bruff defended well however ball still was with Skerries and Peter O’Neill gathered well to cross from close range for the third try, Mulcahy again was in top form converting for a 30-15 lead.

Skerries were resolute late on to deny Bruff any sniff at their try line, bodies on the line to ensure they would be playing 2B rugby next season, to the joys of the huge crowd that turned up to witness a classic in the Dublin sunshine.