Slow start proves costly as Tullow fall at final hurdle
Tullow's Ryan Curran races away from Athy centurion Catahl Fennessy.
Tullow's quest to regain the Bank of Ireland Leinster Towns Cup has been thwarted by Athy for the second year in a row, as the Kildare club became back-to-back champions on Sunday afternoon in Coolavacoose, home of Edenderry RFC.
Athy got off to the perfect start with a converted try inside the first four minutes and dominated the remainder of the half to lead by 27 points at the interval. Tullow had a mountain to climb in the second half and scored a commendable 26 points, but the day belonged to Athy who ran out comfortable winners.
The combined 67 points from the two teams makes 2026 the highest scoring Towns Cup Final ever, as Athy become just the eighth team to win the competition back-to-back, joining Tullow on that illustrious list.
Edenderry, themselves two-time winners of the Towns Cup, were phenomenal hosts - helped by the glorious April weather - as they delivered a carnival atmosphere at a thronged Coolavacoose on what was a day to remember for all in attendance (including guest of honour, Leo the Lion).
Athy were on the front foot early on and took the lead inside four minutes with a splendid try, going through the phases before a cross-field kick from Craig Miller landed in the hands of Ciaran Fennessy who dotted down out wide. Josh Miller then settled his nerves with a brilliant conversion.
The Kildare club laid a marker down with the first scrum of the game, winning a penalty against the head. They kicked for touch before taking Tullow through the phases in front of their own line. A no-arms tackle resulted in another penalty, with Josh Miller kicking Athy 10-0 up after quarter of an hour.
Tullow needed a response and went close with a maul driven up to the Athy line. They won a close-range penalty and declined the points, opting instead to tap; but they knocked the ball on with the line at their mercy and the chance was gone. Athy had another kick at goal moments later, with Miller making it 13-0.
Tullow fly half Peter Burgess carved through the Athy defence midway through the half, but could not make the offload stick to his support runner Dara Cosgrave. Athy won the resulting scrum and cleared their lines to halfway.
Athy piled on the pressure, playing the game in Tullow territory. A lineout move came to fruition then, with hooker Niall O'Hanlon peeling away before popping the ball back inside to Ciaran Fennessy, who jinked his way over to score his second try.
Josh Miller added the extras, but Athy were on the attack again right from the restart, with Craig Miller taking play back into the Tullow 22 before Fennessy turned provider, releasing Aidan Henry to go over in the corner. Miller went five from five off the tee to make it 27-0 at half time.
The Tullow dressing room can not have been a happy place at the interval, with Head Coach Maurice Logue ringing the changes to try light a spark under his side.
They went in search of an early score, but conceded a penalty on their own 40-meter line. With Josh Miller down clutching his knee and about to be replaced, brother Craig took over the kicking duties, but the captain could not find his mark.
A 50/22 from Adam Johnson then gave Tullow the lineout near the Athy line, with number eight Ezrah Vai emerging with the ball from the bottom of a driving maul as the Carlow club finally got themselves on the scoreboard.
Burgess could not add the extras, but Tullow came again immediately when a fabulous kick from Stephen Smith of all people brought play up to the Athy try-line, but the Kildare side managed to turn the ball over and clear the danger.
Tullow regained the advantage and kicked to the corner again, setting another driving maul and crossing for try number two - again thanks to Ezrah Vai. This time Burgess landed his kick to cut the gap to 15 points heading into the final quarter.
But the comeback was stamped out in the last 15 minutes when Ciaran Fennessy completed his hat-trick with a good finish in the corner. The sideline kick was left to Craig Miller, who extended the lead to 22 points.
Phil DeBarra's men were not finished and soon turned the ball over on halfway before Culann Carbery showed the Tullow defence a clean pair of heels to race in for a try. Miller converted once more to make it 41-12.
Tullow found a consolation try late on, again keeping the ball with the forwards and eventually powering over the line courtesy of captain Scott Caldbeck. Burgess converted, but there was still time for one last score, with Dara Cosgrave releasing Paul Canavan who crossed for a fourth Tullow try. Burgess knocked over the conversion to bring the game to an end.
Ezrah Vai (2 tries), Scott Caldbeck and Paul Canavan (1 try each), Peter Burgess (3 cons).
Ciaran Fennessy (3 tries), Aidan Henry and Culann Carbery (1 try each), Josh Miller (2 pens, 3 cons), Craig Miller (2 cons).
Dara Cosgrave; Shane Duffy, Jack Hanlon, Ryan Curran, Adam Johnson; Peter Burgess, Cian Leonard; Scott Caldbeck, Corey Leigh Hughes, Tom Cashen; Martin Cole, Joe Waters; Tom Hughes, Fiach O'Byrne, Ezrah Vai.
Brian Kehoe, Dan Culleton, Colm Gorry, James O'Brien, Stevie Smith, Paul Canavan, Ryan O'Neill, Ben Butler, Jack Johnson, Jack McDonald, Scott O'Sullivan-Magne.
Aidan Henry; Cathal Fennessy, Tom Sheedy, Josh Miller, Ciaran Fennessy; Craig Miller, Eoin Farrell; Aaron Rowan, Niall O'Hanlon, Conan Dunne; Lochlann Kelleher, Tom Brady; John Sheedy, Jack Henry, James Sheedy.
Matthew Henry, Karol Donohoe, Conor McDonnell, Shane Horgan, Patrick Julian, Daniel Henry, Culann Carbery.
Kenneth McDonald.
