Ashbourne RFC have double determination

Thirty years after making his debut for Ashbourne’s first team Jeff Mahon is looking to mark the anniversary with a second successive victory in the All-Ireland Junior Cup final against Kilfeacle and District RFC at Portlaoise on Saturday.

Last year Mahon played his part as Ashbourne defeated Enniscorthy (22-20) to claim the trophy now he’s hoping his team can hold onto the coveted piece of silverware.

At 47 Mahon has enjoyed a longer career than most in the game, but he’s still there in the pack and very likely to start against Tipperary side Kilfeacle on Saturday as his team goes in search of a treble.

“We’re top of the league in Div 1A, a place where we’ve never found ourselves until this season, we’ve got a great chance there, we’ve got the All-Ireland Junior Cup, that’s going to be a massive task and we’re also looking forward to a good run in the Provincial Towns’ Cup, what better way to finish the season but by winning all three competitions,” said Mahon whose enthusiasm for the oval-ball game is clearly undiminished by the passing years.

Ashbourne have had to battle hard to get back to another Junior Cup final with victories over Ballyclare, Clonmel and Ballina earning them another big day out.

According to all reports the game against Ballina was particularly testing, but Ashbourne made it through to set themselves up against Kilfeacle, who are also having a good season in the Munster Junior League Div 1.

They have played eight, won five and drawn two games and lie third with 30 points behind Richmond (36) and Bandon (31).

It’s the kind of form that suggests Kilfeacle, who won the Munster Junior Challenge Cup last year, will be formidable opponents on Saturday. 

If Ashbourne can show the kind of cohesion, confidence and gritty determination they displayed in a recent rousing 42-13 victory over De La Salle Palmerston in the Leinster League Div 1 they have to be considered strong contenders to retain the Junior Cup.

Against DLSP Ashbourne floundered badly in the opening half before finding a level of fluency and tempo in the second-half that their overwhelmed opponents simply couldn’t match.

Ballinlough Gaelic footballer Simon Deevy ran in for two tries while Casey Dunne, who has turned out for Duleek/Bellewstown in the past, also got in for a touchdown with Colm Craigie and Sean Kent others to get over the opposition tryline. The tries were products of adventurous, well-executed, open rugby. 

Donal Crotty was consistent with his kicking against DLSP and his role in turning penalties and conversion attempts into points could be crucial against Kilfeacle. 

Mahon points to a connection between Ashbourne and Kilfeacle that makes for a neat little background story ahead of Saturday’s showdown. 

“I’m playing 30 years this year with Ashbourne first team and in my first year we had a guy playing with us called Sean Deegan, he was a great prop, fantastic who I think played for the Leinster senior team as well as Shannon for a couple of seasons,” explained Mahon.

“He moved to a job in Cahir and joined Kilfeacle and won a Munster Junior Cup with them so there is a connection between the two clubs. He mailed us there recently saying he was looking forward to supporting his two clubs in the final, he’ll have divided loyalties on the day!”

Mahon says Ashbourne’s success in the last few seasons is down to the strategy adopted some years ago of putting a big emphasis on developing the under-age structures. Now that policy is paying dividends. His own longevity he partly attributes to advice given to him by colleagues such as Deevy on how to recover from injuries.

Added to that is the support of his wife Terri and his adherence to a “sensible” diet. Nothing strict, just sensible. 

Coached by Peter O’Donnell, Ashbourne are on the cusp of another significant success - and, as always, long-serving Mahon will be there doing what he can to further the cause of the black and amber.