Tullamore return to Towns Cup Final with win over Tullow

Four times winners Tullamore have made it through to the Towns Cup Final after a hardfought victory over Tullow in Athy in the semi-final last Sunday.

Provincial Towns Cup semi-final

Tullamore 24

Tullow 15

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With two trophies already win this year, Tullamore kept up their incredible form which has also seen them win their first game in the Round Robin All Ireland League qualifiers.

However this win over Tullow was certainly not run of the mill on a bitterly cold day in front of a large crowd but three second-half tries proved enough to seal their place in the decider.

In a tight and tactical first-half, Tullamore accounted for the only points with Aaron Deverelll kicking a close range penalty. The tough tackling and quality defence from both sides kept scoring opportunitites to a premium however Tullamore had played into the wind and after the restart with the elements in their favour, they quickly set about winning the game.

Just a minute into the second-half, a flowing Tullamore attack involving Adrian Hanley and David Clavin opened up the Tullow defence with Brian Geraghty scoring in the corner. Deverell added a superb conversion and Tullamore had the comfort of a 10-0 lead.

Tullow hit back with a penalty but Tullamore kept Tullow pinned back and kept their attacking opportunities to a minimum.

The all important second try came quarter of an hour into the second half with Conor Molloy the beneficiary of a cut out pass from Deverell and he crashed over in the corner. Another superb conversion from the out-half followed and Tullamore were cruising with a 17-3 lead.

Tullow through everything at Tullamore and eventually the pressure told in the 75th minute when their forward drove over from a maul to close the gap to nine points.

Any hopes Tullow had of mounting a comeback however were quickly dashed when Ivor Deverell blocked a kick and kept his composure to score a try which Aaron Deverell again converted.

Tullow did get a late consolation try that was converted but it was too little too late as Tullamore deservedly secured their place in another Towns Cup Final.

This will be Tullamore’s sixth appearance in the final since 2006 however they have lost out in the last three they have appeared in (09, 10, 11). They face Longford in this year’s final and it would be a brave punter who would back against Tullamore given the form they have been in this year.

Longford will have a break before the final is played however the games keep coming thick and fast for Tullamore and this Saturday they host Richmond in the AIL Round Robin Tournament in Spollenstown at 2.30pm.

Tullamore: Brian Geraghty, Conor Molloy, David Clavin, Ivor Scully, Tom Gilligan, Aaron Deverell, Richie Hughes, Darragh Lowry, Cian Glennon, Ger Molloy, Ivor Deverell, Anthony Hughes, Cathal Feighery, Rob Connor, Adrian Hanley, Mick Glew, Kevin Browne, Adrian Hughes, Colin Hughes, Gavin Ridgeway.

Tullow: Scott Calbeck, Sam Corrigan, Alan Burns, John Handbridge, Neil Keane, John Fitzgerald, Rob Porter, William O Brien, Keiaho Bloomfield, William Canavan, Andrew Turner, Massey Tunhuks, Darren Dunne, William O Brien, Aaron Daly