Cup glory for Tullamore

TULLAMORE’S fourth team won their first Leinster Final at this level since 2000 with this exciting win in Carlow RFC last Friday night. Huge credit must go to Coach Pat Tierney for pulling this side together with the help of Gerry and Martina Cahill.

Tullamore 33

New Ross 3rds 29

The lead changed several times during the game but Tullamore, who played the more open brand of rugby against a much bigger pack, deserved the win.

New Ross opened the scoring within six minutes with a try having dominated possession from the start.

Tullamore responded when Dean Cahill kicked a penalty when the New Ross front row popped up in a scrum. Midway through the first half Enda Seery was on the end of a back line movement for his now annual try. Shortly afterwards Dean extended the lead with a penalty kick awarded for hands in the ruck.

Within five minutes the New Ross pack mauled the ball over the line for an unconverted try. Just before the break Ger Wynne ran a ball from a scrum in the centre of the park through Alan Harvey and Mark Abraham who fed that flying machine Tom McNamara to score a great try that Dean converted to leave Tullamore 18-10 up at half time.

The first ten minutes of the second half were worrying for the Tullamore support as New Ross scored two tries and converted one of them to take a four point lead. New Ross conceded a penalty under their posts after twenty minutes and Dean Cahill kicked the penalty.

With fourteen minutes remaining another great run saw Mark Abraham release Tom McNamara to score his second try of the night. With five minutes left captain Adrian ‘Chunky’ Dunne scored the vital try that Dean again converted. A converted try in injury time by New Ross was to late to change the outcome.

After the match Des Kavanagh, Honorary Secretary Leinster Rugby presented the Michael Dunne Cup to Adrian Dunne and the Leinster Pennant to Ray Farrell, President of Tullamore.

Tullamore: 15 Paddy Thornton, 14 Enda Seery, 13 Mark Abraham, 12 Alan Harvey, 11 Tom McNamara, 10 Dean Cahill, 9 Ger Wynne, 1 Dale Connolly, 2 Kevin Gorman, 3 Daryl Daly, 4 Matthias Dendowske, 5 Barry Mathews, 6 Niall Kane, 7 Mark Kennedy, 8 Adrian Dunne. Replacements: Greg Walshe, Daniel Cronin, Adrian Dalton,Mick Tormey, Colm Loughlin .

Leinster Provincial Towns Seconds Cup Semi-Final

Tullamore qualified for the Cup final with a 21-14 win against Wicklow on Sunday at a breezy Tullow. It was a tough, hard game with a lot of scrappy play and Tullamore just about deserved their narrow victory. Tullamore started very well against a strong wind and took the lead after four minutes with a try by winger Aidan Ryan who showed good speed from the 22 after nice approach work by David Deering. Tullamore then had to defend for most of the half as Wicklow used the wind well to pin Tullamore back in their 22. Wicklow equalised with a try by their centre after a badly missed tackle by Tullamore.

Wicklow kept pressing and two successful penalties by their out half gave them an 11-5 lead approaching halfrime. Tullamore finished the half well and Eric Conway was successful with a penalty after sustained pressure by Tullamore. This left it 11-8 at the break with Tullamore backed by the wind in the second half.

After seven minutes Eric Conway levelled it up with a penalty from 30 metres. It was Tullamore for the next 20 mins but some poor decision making cost them dear although Brian Geraghty was barely denied after 65 mins.

Back came Wicklow and a successful penalty after 72 mins gave them a 14-11 lead and Tullamore looked in trouble. In the 75th minute substitute Odhran McIntyre kicked a smashing penalty from 30 metres to tie it up. Tullamore piled on the pressure and in the 79th minute substitute Keith Cleary raced in for a great try which Odhran McIntyre converted.

Despite a late Wicklow rally Tullamore held out for a 21-14 victory and a place in next Sundays final against North Meath. For Tullamore Micky Fox and Cormac Moloney did very well in the backs and in the pack Darragh Lowry was terrific, ably assisted by Donal Milne, Ciaran McNeill and substitutes Brain Geraghty and Keith Cleary. Tullamore : David Deering, Aidan Ryan, John Butler, Rory Deverall, Eamon Fox, Eric Conway, Micky Fox, Darragh Lowry, Kevin Browne, Eddie Connor, Ciaran McNeill(Capt), John Connolly, Paul McNiff, Chris Gethings, Donal Milne. Subs used : Cormac Moloney, Brian Geraghty, Keith Cleary, Darren Touhey, Odhran McIntyre

Fixtures: Provincial Towns 2nds Cup Final; Tullamore v North Meath 1st on Sunday at 3pm in Ashbourne; Leinster 3rds (Anderson Cup) Final; Tullamore v Naas on Saturday at 3pm in Portlaoise; Leinster U-16 Schools/Youths Cup Final; Tullamore v Navan on Saturday at 1pm in Mullingar.