Junior rugby is well and truly back across the province, with Tullow suffering a humbling 43-point defeat in the first game of the 2026/27 Leinster League Division 1A.

An Adam Johnson conversion with the last kick of the game sealed an incredible Tullow comeback that keeps them in Division 1A for next season but it was at the expense of their county rivals Carlow

Leinster League Division 1A Athy 25 Tullow 34  A Tullow gave themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the relegation play-off with a huge bonus point over Athy.

Leinster League Division 1A Carlow 13 Athy 20 Carlow remain winless in Division 1A of the Leinster League as they lost the local derby to Athy on Saturday evening to lose their fifth consecutive match.