Tullow looking for third consecutive Towns Cup final place
Tullow's Joe Waters will be hoping that his side can outcome the challenge of Athy in the final four of the Towns Cup. Photos: Tom Nolan
Tullow manager, Maurice Logue, was having a little bit of sustenance in the clubhouse in Gorey when he heard the draw for the semi-final of the Provincial Towns Cup. He needed it as he had seen his side mix the good with the very bad against the County Wexford side only an hour or so earlier.
Athy will provide the opposition in the last four of the competition. Tullow, in recent times, have the upper hand against the Kildare opposition. This year the sides drew in Tullow while in the second round of games, Tullow deprived Athy of a bonus point defeat when prevailing 34-25.
“I would love to have got an easier one but there are no easy teams left. You have four Division 1A teams in it. There was going to be no easy draw,” said Logue as he recalled the two games between the sides in the Leinster League Division 1A.
“When we played Athy in Tullow both teams were under pressure to get a result. We came away with a draw. When we went over to Athy, I don’t know if there were missing players but we were in that rat-trap mode where we had to do everything to get out with a win and they didn’t really need it. They were more or less safe.”
Athy play a good brand of rugby. Against New Ross in a previous round, they started badly but when the pack was struggling, Culann Carbery, Cathal Fennessy and Craig Miller found ways to stretch the Wexford side. Karol Donohoe and Tadgh Foley finally found their feet and New Ross were dispatched relatively easy at the end.
“We know they are very quick. They have a lively back-line, they play a good brand of rugby and they are hard to contain,” agreed Logue.
Results drew up the possibility of an all Carlow final. Logue admits the thought occurred to him but he knows a lot can happen next Sunday.
“Honestly, when you are thinking and you look at the other side of the draw, yes, it could be a Carlow-Tullow final. Carlow will have it tough against Wicklow and no easier than us against Athy,” the Tullow manager says.
“I am not playing it down but Wicklow are the season’s favourites for the competition. They were third in Division 1A. I know Carlow beat them but Wicklow were missing players that day. I am sure Wicklow are going to have revenge on their minds for that loss.”
