Ashbourne advance in Provincial Towns' Cup

There was bitter disappointment for the many Irish rugby fans who travelled to Paris at the weekend, but the locals who made the short trip to Milltown on Saturday were treated to another shock as hosts Ashbourne stunned heavy favourites Tullamore to book their place in the last eight of the Provincial Towns' Cup. Tullamore are leading the chase for Leinster League Div 1A honours and they are also set to take on Monivea in next week's All-Ireland Junior Cup final in Athlone, so it was no surprise that they travelled to Meath as strong favourites to book their place in the quarter-finals. However, they didn't count on an outstanding Ashbourne side that kept their tryline intact, converted three penalties and defended outstandingly against what is regarded as one of the most potent attacking units in junior rugby. Tullamore have endured bad luck in the Towns' Cup in recent years losing each of the last three finals, but this time around they won't even have the consolation of reaching the final as Ashbourne stunned them. Ashbourne had nothing to fear ahead of the clash and with captain Mark Rooney back from injury and Boyne senior player Adam Sherrard available they were able to field a strong side. However, it was Tullamore who set the early tone. Within a minute they were awarded a kickable penalty, but chose to go for the corner. From the lineout Ashbourne defended well and turned the ball over. There was going to be no stepping back from the action and this was real cup rugby. After a cagey opening quarter it was clear that Ashbourne possessed the better backline and they moved it through the hands as often as possible. With Gavin Kennedy and Paul Morris pulling the strings, Pieter Swanipoel and Charles Coyle took the ball into contact or spread it wide with relish and that endeavour soon led to Ashbourne's opening try. From a line out on their 22, Rory Gleeson found Daragh Curran in the middle of the line. His pass from the top found Kennedy and he moved the ball out to Morris. Morris accelerated into the gap and missed out his two centres to find Joe Taylor joining the line at pace from the left. Dermot Colreavey took the ball on and they were dragging the Tullamore cover across towards the right cover. Sherrard took the ball up and recycled to Taylor again as the Ashbourne backs set up a ruck. Kennedy quickly arrived and recycled the ball to Swanipoel who put Coyle into a gap. The move was stopped short, but the pack was on hand to drive on. From the ruck Ciaran Roche charged forward taking three defenders to stop him. Taylor, acting as scrum half, fed Morris who broke towards the middle and put Swanipoel in under the post. It was a great team effort and Morris added the extras to give the hosts a 7-0 advantage. Ashbourne continued in this vain, but it was not all about the back line as Frank Keegan, Gleeson and Roche fronted up to the experienced Tullamore eight and the ball carrying of all three was excellent. Tullamore stuck to the task well and they converted a penalty after Ashbourne had strayed offside. However, as the first-half ticked into injury-time Morris added the first of his three penalties following an off-the-ball tackle on Kennedy, to ensure a 10-3 lead for the hosts at the break. Tullamore cut the deficit to four points within six minutes of the restart with their second penalty, but that proved to be the visitors last score as Ashbourne absorbed a lot of pressure before Morris converted a penalty to make it 13-6 with seven minutes remaining. Five minutes later Morris put 10 points between the sides with another penalty and after nine minutes of nervous extra-time Ashbourne held on to claim a surprise, but fully deserved victory. Ashbourne - D Colreavy, A Sherrard, C Coyle, P Swanipoel, J Taylor, P Morris, G Kennedy; F Keegan, R Gleeson, C Roche, D Curran, A Buckley, M Rooney, J Rooney, J Mahon. Subs - E Bolton, K Bolster, D Grimes, M Biesbrouck, C Field.