Tullow 20

Skerries 3

By Kieran Murphy

IF there is a bigger sports story in Carlow this year then it will be massive. On Sunday in Athy, Tullow banished the memories of previous disappointments to seal a first ever Towns Cup final victory.
During the season Tullow had been ravaged with injuries. Willie Canavan, Ross Hynes, Paul Stephenson all succumbed. The two Willie O’Briens (Cas and Holla) have struggled and only in the last few weeks have they regained a decent level of fitness.

Stephen Smith with ball in hand

Then there was tradition. At the start of the season there was no talk of Tullow as possible winners. Yet, what happens? The glorious uncertainty of sport combined with Tullow’s inner spirit has contrived to produce the ultimate feel-good ending. Tears were shed on Sunday.

Tullow captain Keiaho Bloomfield leads by example

“We have worked a long number of years to get this. We are absolutely delighted,” said hooker Sam Corrigan as he was mobbed by Tullow supporters long after the final whistle had sounded.

Shane Rohan steps inside the cover

Corrigan admitted the game hadn’t started well for the eventual winners. From the kick-off ,into the strong wind towards the clubhouse end of the pitch, Tullow forced a Skerries knock-on. It was the time to lay down a marker. Instead, the Tullow pack were tamely turned over and minutes later they lost a line-out on their own throw. Corrigan says Tullow dug in.

Tullow’s Willie ‘Cas’ O’Brien barges through a Skerries tackle Photos: Thomas Nolan Photography

“We weren’t playing that well. We lost a vital scrum, a vital line-out. It helped us focus and helped us to get into the game.”
Tullow were under the cosh in those opening nine minutes. It was all Skerries and when they ran left with men outside they looked certain to score. Instead, a lame pass was snaffled by Tullow winger Richie Nicholls inside his own 22. With the field clear in front of him he ran almost the length of the pitch to score a try underneath the posts. Talk about being pick-pocketed. What must Skerries have been thinking as Ryan O’Neill added the points?
“They hit us hard. I think we just wanted this a bit more. Richie is doing that all year,” said Corrigan.

Dylan Leybourne receives the man-of-the-match award

Skerries resurrected themselves and played most of the attacking rugby for the remainder of the half. The Tullow defence were at breaking point at times and conceded a succession of penalties. Robbie Jenkinson got Skerries off the mark with a simple kick as the North Dublin side kept the pressure up. An awkward tackle from Shane Rohan saw him get a stern talking to from the referee, Brian Montayne, who conceded there was no dangerous intent.
Tullow eventually ran into referee trouble when Kyle Hanbidge was sin-binned but this time Jenkinson missed from the right-hand side. That was the beginning of the end for Skerries.

The Tullow management team with the Provincial Towns Cup

Down to 14, Tullow brought play into the 22. A penalty kicked into the corner gave them an attacking platform. With a move which came straight from the training ground, Dylan Leybourne joined the front of the line-out. The throw-in went long and the scrum-half went on the loop to collect. With Stephen Smith on the move, Leybourne’s pass was perfect as the number eight drove over for a great try.
“We have worked on that a good bit over the last few months,” smiled a contented Corrigan.
At half-time, ahead 12-3 and with the aid of the wind to come in the second half Tullow were within touching distance of history.
“We weren’t counting our chickens. We were just concentrating on the next ball, the next play, particularly in the first 10 minutes of the second half.”
With Willie ‘Cas’ O’Brien playing the percentages and kicking behind the Skerries defence there was never any danger of Tullow getting complacent.
On 48 minutes the pack went right and this time Leybourne benefitted as he darted through to touch down. The conversion would have put Tullow three scores ahead but O’Neill’s kick drifted right and wide. There was still work to do.
If O’Brien pegged back Skerries then the ferocious tackling of Keiaho Bloomfield and the Tullow back-row drove a stake through the hearts of the Skerries attack.
With time ticking away Willie ‘Cas’ O’Brien landed a penalty to end the scoring. It was all Skerries in the final minutes but Tullow were not in a mood to even concede a consolation try to the opposition.
“We had come so close over the years we were determined not to let this one slip,” said Corrigan.
Tullow: Sean Doyle, Richie Nicholls, Shane Rohan, Keiaho Bloomfield, Ryan O’Neill, Willie Cas O’Brien, Dylan Leybourne; Louis Kilcoyne, Sam Corrigan, Scott Caldbeck, Frank Murphy, Joe Waters, Kyle Hanbidge, John Hanbidge, Stephen Smith. Subs: Jedd Pratt for O’Neill (65 mins), John Fitzgerald for Smith (66 mins), Willie Holla O’Brien for K Hanbidge (71 mins), Martin Cole for Waters (72 mins), Aaron O’Byrne for Kilcoyne (74 mins), JP Nolan, James O’Brien.
Skerries: Ross Gordon, Ruairi Woods, David Goodman, Barry Caldwell, Mark Oliver, David Quirke, Robbie Jenkinson; Conor Ronayne, Kieran Leonard, Neil Martin, AJ Sherlock, Sean Attley, Trevor Scuffil, Conn Marrey, Ben Jenkinson.
Subs: Darragh Joyce for B Jenkinson (32 mins), Eoin O’Byrne, Ross Halligan, Michael Cauldwell, Colin McMahon.
Referee: Brian Montayne