Ashbourne RFC vs Kilkenny RFC

2022 BANK OF IRELAND 

Provincial 

Towns Cup Final 

SUN, 17 APRIL 

CILL DARA RFC 

KO 3pm 

Ashbourne RFC 

Kilkenny RFC 

VS

Newstead Building A, 

UCD, 

Belfield, 

Dublin 4 

#ASHVKIL 

The Line up 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: John Walsh 

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson 

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley 

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail 

4 

leinster 

president 

welcome 

12 

tournament 

director 

address 

PROGRAMME CREDITS 

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Chief Steward: 

Sword Security 

Ambulance: 

St. John’s Ambulance 

Medilink 

Event Control & Safety Services: 

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates 

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today’s 

match 

officials 

14 

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squad 

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ashbourne 

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2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 3 

ASHBOURNE RFC VS KILKENNY RFC

john walsh welcome 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22 

After an enforced 

absence of two 

seasons due to 

the worldwide 

pandemic we are 

back at last! 

This cup competition is at the very 

heart of what Irish rugby is all 

about. 

As the legendary Tony Ward stated: 

“The Provincial Towns Cup has been the 

spirit of club rugby and epitomizes the 

‘Holy Grail’ – it’s a great journey that 

involves passion, courage, despair and 

elation – it’s one of the great Irish rugby 

tournaments.” 

We acknowledge with thanks the 

significant role that the Club PROs play 

in assisting the numerous provincial 

sports reporters, print publications and 

local radio stations in our province in 

promoting the excitement that the Towns 

Cup generates in our communities. 

Since the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup 

commenced in 1889 the passion that this 

cup has generated with players, fans and 

communities throughout the 107 seasons 

of its existence is unquantifiable. For the 

chosen few, the winners’ silver medal is 

pure gold. 

This season’s final will feature Ashbourne 

and Kilkenny, two clubs that are 

competing in the Leinster League Division 

1A this season. Their two league fixtures 

against each other have resulted in a 

win for Ashbourne in February by 21-15 

while the return fixture in March resulted 

in a win for Kilkenny by 36-29. 

A total of 13 tries were scored in the 

two fixtures with Kilkenny scoring seven 

and Ashbourne six tries so let’s hope 

that we are treated to an entertaining 

high-scoring final. This season’s exciting 

competition has resulted in 147 tries 

scored and 1,202 points scored over the 

26 cup fixtures. 

Kilkenny’s love affair with this cup dates 

back to their first win in 1920 when 

they overcame local rivals Enniscorthy. 

Since that memorable occasion for 

Kilkenny (founded in 1885), a further 12 

Provincial Towns Cup final appearances 

have followed that have yielded five 

glorious victories in 1955 (beating 

North Kildare), 1959 (beating North 

Kildare), 1986 (beating the Curragh) a 

back-to-back double in 2001 and 2002 

(beating Portlaoise and County Carlow 

respectively). 

However, in their last two final 

appearances ‘lady luck’ deserted them. 

Their most recent final appearance was 

actually on this pitch in 2015 in the 90th 

Provincial Towns Cup when the lost out 

to Enniscorthy by a 9-8 score line. This 

defeat came on the back of an extra-time 

defeat by today’s rivals Ashbourne in the 

2014 final staged in Tullow. 

Kilkenny’s path to this year’s final has 

resulted in them scoring 67 points and 

conceding 43 points with victories over 

Edenderry (34-20), County Carlow 

4 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL 

ASHBOURNE RFC VS KILKENNY RFC 

(13-8) and a semi-final win over 

Dundalk (20-15). The best of luck to 

Club President Dave Matthews and club 

captain Jake McDonald and his squad of 

players and their team management for 

today’s final. 

Ashbourne (founded in 1974) are soon 

to celebrate their 50th anniversary and 

are just one of the 28 Leinster clubs 

to have been established since 1970 

and this reflects the rapid growth in 

the popularity of the game of rugby in 

our communities. While Ashbourne’s 

sole win in the Towns Cup was in 2014 

over Kilkenny they were beaten finalists 

in1999 on their first ever appearance in 

the final to neighbours Navan. 

However, Ashbourne are a club that 

have a passion for what is referred to 

as ‘cup rugby’ and were winners of 

three consecutive All-Ireland Junior Cups 

(2017, 2018 and 2019). Ashbourne 

have scored 79 points and conceded 43 

points (same as Kilkenny!) on route to this 

final with victories over Naas (22-15), 

Athy (34-13) and a semi-final win over 

Mullingar (23-15). The best of luck to 

Club President Shea Gallagher and club 

captain Sean McKeon and his squad of 

players and their team management for 


This will be the third occasion that Cill 

Dara (President Conor Byrne) have 

hosted the Provincial Towns Cup final. 

We thank them and, in particular, all 

their members and volunteers who 

contribute so much to make a Towns Cup 

final a special occasion for all involved. 

Having served previously as the 

tournament director for the Towns Cup, 

I’m aware that events for such a premier 

competition as the Towns Cup requires 

a significant effort and contribution from 

many. 

Firstly, thank you to Dermot O’Mahony 

(Leinster Fixtures Administrator), Bill 

Duggan (Tournament Director and Hon 

Junior Secretary of Leinster Rugby), 

Lisa Doyle (Leinster Rugby Domestic 

Marketing), Ciaran O’Brien (Chair of 

Leinster Rugby Competitions Committee),

David Robb (President of Leinster 

Referees) for their outstanding support. 

Thank you to all the Leinster Referees 

who have assisted in the staging of 

the cup competition, we very much 

appreciate your contribution. 

Congratulations to Berney White on 

his appointment as referee for today’s 

final and we wish him and his team of 

Ian Thompson (Assistant Referee 1), 

Ian Hayes (Assistant Referee 2), Barry 

Dempsey (Fourth Official) and David 

Wilson (Fifth Official) the very best for 


Leinster Rugby are delighted to welcome 

Des Kavanagh (President of the IRFU) 

to today’s 75th Provincial Towns Cup 

Final. Des served previously as Leinster 

President in 2008/09 and hails from the 

County Carlow Rugby Club and, as such, 

is fully acquainted with the prestige of 

the Provincial Towns Cup. The County 

Carlow club top the roll of honour with a 

total of 12 cup wins. 

Leinster Rugby enjoys a very successful 

partnership with Bank of Ireland and I 

wish to thank them for their contribution 

to the sponsorship of rugby throughout 

Ireland. In particular their support for the 

continued development of Leinster Rugby 

at all levels has been a major factor 

in assisting us in establishing Leinster 

Rugby as one of Europe’s premier and 

successful rugby clubs. 

We are proud to have you on our 

team and on our team shirt. A special 

acknowledgement to Bank of Ireland’s 

team of Sharon Woods, Gemma Bell 

and Paula Murphy for their contributions 

to Leinster Rugby. 

I hope that you have a great day’s sport 

and thank you for your much valued 

support of your club and players during 

the past two seasons which have proved 

very challenging for so many. 

JOHN WALSH 

LEINSTER PRESIDENT 



COMPARISON 

ASHBOURNE 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP 

Wins 1: 2014 

Runner Up 1: 1999 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS PLATE 

Wins 3: 2016, 2015, 2001 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS CUP 

Wins 2: 2019, 2014 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS PLATE 

Wins 3: 2018, 2015, 2006, 

Runner Up 2: 2017, 2013 

ANDERSON CUP 


KILKENNY 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP 

Wins 5: 2002, 2001, 1986, 1959, 1955 

Runner Up 6: 2015, 2014, 1998, 1987, 1972, 1964, 1956 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS PLATE 

Wins 3: 2017, 2000, 1984 


PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS CUP 

Wins 7: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1998, 1984, 1983 

PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS PLATE 


DUNNE CUP 

Wins 3: 2018, 2016, 2006, 

LEINSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TITLES: 

5 

Division 1A: 2, 2019/20, 2017/18 

Division 1B: 1, 2013/14, 

Division 2: 2, 2008/09, 1997/98 

LEINSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TITLES: 

5 

Division 1: 2, 2002/03, 2001/02, 

Division 1B: 2, 2017/18, 2014/15, 

Division 2A: 1, 2012/13 

LEINSTER LEAGUE DIVISION 1A 

2021/22 LEAGUE FORM 

Played 14 

Won 6 | Drew 1 | Lost 7 

Scored 270 points 

Conceded 325 points 

ASHBOURNE finished fourth with 

32 points 

LEINSTER LEAGUE DIVISION 1A 

2021/22 LEAGUE FORM 

Played 14 

Won 4 | Drew 1 | Lost 9 

Scored 254 points 

Conceded 339 points 

KILKENNY finished seventh with 

26 points 



cill dara rfc 

connor byrne 

president welcome 

On behalf of Cill Dara RFC, 

it is an absolute honour 

to welcome everyone to 

Silken Thomas Park for the 

Bank of Ireland Provincial 

Towns Cup final. It is a 

privilege to be selected 

to host this wonderful 

competition, which 

highlights everything 

that is great about rugby 

throughout the province 

of Leinster. 

To the squads and supporters 

of Ashbourne RFC and Kilkenny 

RFC, I would like to congratulate 

you both on reaching today’s 

final. I would like to welcome the 

Presidents of both clubs, Shea 

Gallagher and Dave Mathews, 

I wish you both the best of luck. 

And have no doubt that both clubs 

will put on a show worthy of the 

occasion. Such an occasion cannot 

take place without match officials, 

I would like to thank today’s 

officials, and wish them well. 

I would like to welcome President of 

Leinster Rugby, John Walsh also. As a 

Naas man, John is no stranger to Cill 

Dara. John has represented his club, 

North Midlands and Leinster Rugby with 

great distinction and his presidency is just 

reward for his commitment to club rugby. 

I would like to thank the Competitions 

Committee of Leinster Rugby, and all 

associated with the successful running of 

the club game in the province. 

Since becoming headline sponsors, 

Bank of Ireland have elevated this great 

competition to an even higher level. I 

would like to thank them for their support 

and hope that along with their guests they 

have a very enjoyable day. 

Finally, I would like to thank all the 

volunteers from Cill Dara RFC who have 

given up time to make today a success. 

Events like this do not happen without 

planning and hard work. Cill Dara are 

extremely lucky to have such a committed 

membership, who never fail to answer the 

call and put the shoulder to the wheel. 

I would like to wish everyone in 

attendance a happy Easter and I look 

forward to what will be a fantastic game 

of rugby. 

Conor Byrne 

President, Cill Dara RFC 



Provincial 

Towns Cup 

Tournament 

Director 

Address 

Leinster Rugby 

would like to 

acknowledge all 

28 teams that 

started the 

journey together 

in this the 95th 

Provincial Towns 

Cup, sponsored by 

Bank of Ireland. 

It has been a 

great event so 

far and served 

up some great 

games. 

There is a big thank you owed to 

the team from Bank of Ireland 

who put a huge effort into the 

support and development of the 

cup this season and especially 

with the innovative launch 

event. The focus has been on 

community, grassroots and family 

participation which we greatly 

appreciate. Today reflects the 

culmination of their efforts and 

support which is appreciated. 

We also wish to record our thanks 

and appreciation to the Club Officers, 

Club Members, players, volunteers and 

supporters of Ashbourne and Kilkenny 

for their tremendous efforts in reaching 


Likewise we would like to thank the 

Association of Referees Leinster Branch 

without whom this great competition 

could not take place. We wish to 

express our thanks to the Association, 

Hayley Whyte, the many referees and 

match officials who assisted us in over 

27 games played in Provincial Towns 

competition this season. 

I would also like to thank our President 

John Walsh for his ongoing contribution 

to the competition and providing much 

useful information on the competition 

and its history and also the chair of the 

Competitions Committee, Ciaran O’Brien 

for his support. 

Our thanks to today’s match Provincial 

Towns Cup officials: Referee – Berney 

Whyte, AR1 – Ian Thompson; AR2 – Ian 

Hayes; No 4 – Barry Dempsey; No 5 – 

David Wilson 

A special thank you is due to the national 

and the provincial press, the many radio 

stations and sports journalists throughout 

Leinster for the excellent coverage that 

they continue to give to the Provincial 

Towns Cup and club rugby. 

We also wish to express our sincere 

thanks to – John Walsh, President of 

the Leinster Branch, members of the 

Executive Committee, Rugby Committee, 

Competitions Committee and Dermot 

O’Mahony, Lisa Doyle, Kevin Quinn 

and the team at the Leinster Branch for 

their generosity in assisting us with the 

promotion of the tournament. I would like 

to welcome Des Kavanagh, President of 

the IRFU, here today to Cill Dara RFC. 

It is an honour to have you here as well 

and I know this competition is important 

to you. I would also like to thank the 

many members of the Leinster Executive 

and Committees who have taken time to 

attend the games. 

Last, but by no means least we wish to 

thank the members of Cill Dara Rugby 

Club, their President Conor Byrne, Event 

Director Sharon Heffernan, along with 

their excellent Executive Committee and 

team of volunteers that have made today 

possible and for the excellent manner 

in which they have hosted the 95th 

Provincial Towns Cup. 

Bill Duggan 

Tournament Director 

Provincial Towns Cup 



today’s 

match officials 

Assistant 

Referee 1 

Ian Thompson 

Ian Thompson started out with 

Leinster Rugby Referees in 2010 

and is a member of Tullow RFC. 

He has refereed at all levels of 

club and schools rugby in Leinster 

including one of this season’s 

Provincial Towns Cup semi-finals. 

Today’s match referee is Berney 

White. He is a member of 

Enniscorthy RFC. 

Berney represented Enniscorthy RFC for 

over 16 years at J1 level and captained 

his club in 2005/06 playing almost 40 

J1 Towns Cup games in his time (four 

semi-finals) winning two Towns Cup J1 

Plates, seven South-East area J1 Leagues, 

Leinster League 1B and an Anderson 

Cup. 

He has also represent Leinster Juniors 13 

times and played with Drummoyne RFC 

(Sydney, Australia)/Doha RFC (Qatar). 

He took up refereeing in 2011 after 

winning the J1 Towns Plate. He became 

a member of the Association of Referee 

Leinster Branch (ARLB). Berney has also 

refereed for the UAERR and for the Asia 

referees during his time in the Middle 

East, refereeing in places like Dubai/ 

Bahrain/Doha. 

“I‘m honoured and delighted to be 

selected for the Provincial Towns Cup, 

it being a big part of my life for over 

25 years and I have either played or 

Referee 

Berney White 

refereed in almost 50 J1 Towns Cup 

games. It’s the best domestic rugby 

competition in Ireland and many a club 

legend was made in the competition,” 

he says. 

“I have been lucky to work with many 

people dedicated to development of 

referees in Leinster including David 

Keane, Tony Duncan, Brendan Jenkinson, 

Denis Collins, Kevin McDermott and 

many others. Refereeing has been a great 

way to stay involved in the game and I 

would encourage anyone to contact the 

ARLB and enquire about becoming a 

referee. The opportunities to travel both 

within Ireland and around the world are 

there. 

“I would also like to mention Bryan 

Murphy who sadly passed away almost 

two years ago. He was an ARLB referee 

and loved the Towns Cup and even more 

so when ‘Scorthy were playing. 

“Also, last but most important, my long 

suffering wife (Maresa) and my two 

rugby-mad kids (Sophia and Oisin) 

without whose support I wouldn’t be 

able to referee week in, week out.” 

This is Ian’s second time involved in a 

Provincial Towns Cup final. The previous 

occasion was when today’s two teams 

last met in the final of this competition in 

2014. 

Ian works as a Project Manager with 

Sisk, is married to Orlagh and has two 

sons – Josh and Noah. 

Assistant 

Referee 2 

Ian Hayes 

Ian started to play rugby with 

North Kildare RFC at both youths 

and adults, upon joining An 

Garda Siochana and transferring 

to Wexford, he played for and 

captained Gorey RFC. 

He took up refereeing in 2010 and is 

on the Leinster A Panel, taking charge of 

Leinster 1A and Metro 1 matches. Ian 

was Fourth Official at the 2014 Towns 

Cup final, also between the same two 

teams as today, with Ashbourne narrowly 

coming out on top. This season he has 

refereed the U-20 McCorry Cup Final. 

He is a Sergeant attached to Wexford 

Garda Station, having served 22 years 

with the Gardai. He is married to Lisa 

with two daughters. 



Provincial Towns Cup final 

Match Preview 

Flashbacks. 

They bring 

memories. 

Good and bad. 

On a cold, miserable day in 

Tullow, Ashbourne outlasted 

Kilkenny on a 6-3 scoreline, 

even surviving going down to 13 

players in the second half. 

Bay of Plenty’s Paul Morris kicked a 

penalty in a gruelling extra-time to take 

the honours by a whisker on an afternoon 

Kilkenny have tried to forget and 

Ashbourne never will. 

The ties to that bludgeoning, epic 

encounter, long on excruciating drama 

are there to this day. 

Afterall, it was only eight years ago. 

Ashbourne talisman Gavin Kennedy and 

Kilkenny player/coach David O’Connor 

will again be pivotal to the outcome. 

These two, players and teams, know each 

other inside-out from time spent together 

in Leinster League Division 1A. There are 

no secrets to be kept close to puffed-out 

chests. 

Coach Scottie Broughton arrived in 

Ashbourne in 1997 and, barring one 

season, the New Zealander has been 

there ever since. 

Deeply embedded into the club, the man 

from the Bay of Plenty has been involved 

in all three of their Towns Cup finals, 

playing in the 1999 defeat to Navan 

(18-10) and filling the role as an assistant 

coach in 2014. 

“Kilkenny have a very tough forward 

pack with the experience of ‘Doc’ 

O’Connor and Wes Carter running their 

lineout. That is the basis of where they 

start from,” he says. 

“In recent years, they have added quality 

to their backline with Jake McDonald 

at 10 and Jake Pratley at nine. Podge 

Mahon is still there in the centre and Liam 

Caddy is important to what they do. 

“They are not just a forward pack 

anymore. They have more of an all-round 

game in attack which is helped out by 

hard work on defence.” 

Ashbourne has tried to find the sweet 

spot between expanding the game, 

while not losing sight of their competitive 

advantage. 

“It is trying to get that balance between 

playing to your strengths, but, also, 

looking to ensure you are able to move 

the ball when you need to. 

“We would be silly if we didn’t use the 

strengths we already have in the setpiece,” 

he adds. 

“We are not the finished article in the 

backline, but that is what we are heading 

towards to have that all-round game. 

“Gavin Kennedy has been around a 

long time, man of the match in 2014, and 

Paddy Murtagh has been finding his feet 

at 10. 

“Jack O’Brien has been in the midfield for 

some time and Colm Craigie is a great 

young talent in the back three.” 

Overall, Broughton can call on five 

starters from 2014, three of them, Mark 

Behan, James McCaghy and Ciaran 

Roche in the front five where Ashbourne 

will look to put the squeeze on. 

Kilkenny will have four starters back to 

gain a measure of redemption for 2014, 

stalwarts Carter and O’Connor in the 

pack and Joe Manuel and Mahon in the 

backs. 

It is 20 years since Kilkenny last won the 

Towns Cup, comprehensively defeating 

County Carlow 33-13 in the 2002 final 

for back-to-back titles. 

In 2001, Kilkenny centre Manuel’s father 

Simon was the Towns Cup-winning 

captain. 

The current Director of Rugby Ger 

McDonald played in the 1986 final win 

over Curragh (10-0), coached the 2001 

and 2002 teams and will have his son 

Jake at out-half on Sunday. 

Player/coach O’Connor’s earliest 

rugby memories are decorated with 

special moments attached to this historic 

competition. 

“I grew up watching those Towns Cupwinning 

teams of 2001 and 2002. The 

links are still there through Joe and Jake. 

There is serious emotion going into the 

game,” he states. 

“We are all well aware of the importance 

of the competition to the club. There has 

been a different level to training in the 

last few weeks.” 

Those gold-plated moments have been 

superseded by back-to-back final defeats 

against Ashbourne in 2014 and against 

Enniscorthy in 2015 when he was the 

captain. 

The messages have been flooding in 

from ex-players, like Tenari Faalima, from 

New Zealand, Willie Duggan Junior, Pat 

Holden and Simon Manuel, to confirm 

what they already know, how important 

this is to the club. 

The man they call ‘Doc’ doesn’t have 

to be reminded about the challenge 

Ashbourne presents. 

“We are very familiar with them. Their 

set-piece, the scrum, the driving maul off 

lineouts are particularly impressive. They 

pose a massive threat up front. We have 

to figure out how we are going to deal 

with them. 

“Playing off that, they have Gavin 

Kennedy at nine, who is the key player to 

what they like to do,” he says. 

“Dundalk came with a strong reputation 

in many of the same areas in the semifinal. 

We held our own, bar maybe one 

or two penalties at scrum-time 

“We are building nicely for the final on 

Sunday.” 



Bank of Ireland provincial towns Cup Final Squad 2022 

kilkenny rfc


2022 BANK O 

Provincial Tow 

15 Liam Caddy 

14 Hugh Corkery 

13 Podge Mahon 

12 Joe Manuel 

11 Aiden McDonald 

10 Jake McDonald [C] 

9 Jake Pratley 

1 Conor Dempsey 

2 Ben Devlin 

3 Drew Phelan 

4 Wes Carter 

5 Liam Phelan 

6 Roy Stanley 

7 Garry Dunne 

8 David O’Connor 

Replacements from: 

16 Martin Leahy 

17 Joe Moynihan 

18 Simon O’Hara 

19 Shane O’Riordan 

20 Jack Walsh 

21 Lyndon Brannigan 

22 Ciarán Sutton 

Captain: Jake McDonald 



F IRELAND 

ns Cup Final 

ashbourne RFC 

Kelan Toolan 15 

Colm Craigie 14 

Jack O’Brien 13 

Adam Martin 12 

Dermot Colreavy 11 

Paddy Murtagh 10 

Gavin Kennedy 9 

Alan Wall 1 

James McCaghy 2 

Mark Behan 3 

Ciaran Roche 4 

Sean Kent 5 

Conor Hurley 6 

Sean McKeon [C] 7 

Jake Wall 8 

Replacements: 

Danny Norton 16 

Frank Keegan 17 

Andy Whittaker 18 

Shane Bass 19 

Matt Connolly 20 

Shane-Eoin Kennedy 21 

Conor Creaby 22 

Fergus Bobbett 23 

Captain: Sean McKeon 



Bank of Ireland provincial towns Cup Final Squad 2022 

ashbourne rfc

David 

Matthews 

President’s 

Address 

As president of Kilkenny RFC, it 

gives both myself and the club 

great pride to be contesting in a 

bank of Ireland Provincial Towns 

Cup final again. 

The last few years have been difficult for 

every club and sport, needless to say a 

massive amount of work has gone into 

our club, upgrading our facilities in this 

period through various fundraisers etc. 

The team effort by everybody, sponsors, 

supporters, ex-players and committee 

members made it all possible. I would 

also like to thank the Bank of Ireland 

and Leinster Rugby for the running of this 

tournament. 

Our minis and youths have provided 

a great outlet to all, and huge thanks 

goes out to all our coaches/managers. 

Women’s rugby has grown in the club 

due to the driving forces of Margaret 

Hennessy and current women’s coach 

Paddy Mosse, as well as the many others 

involved through the age groups. 

Today promises to be great game with no 

quarter asked or given. Both sides have 

endured a tough season with the cream 

rising to the top, and we have both been 

here before in the last few years. The best 

of luck to our senior side and head coach 

David O'Connor and his backroom 

team. This team is ready to rise to the big 

occasion. 

David Matthews 

President Kilkenny RFC 



Provincial Towns Cup Paths to the final 


SECOND ROUND 

Edenderry 20 Kilkenny 34 

At one point, Leinster League Division 

2B Edenderry looked like bridging the 

gap to 1A Kilkenny in a final scoreline 

that was most flattering to the winners at 

Coolavacoose. 

The visitors may have been duped by 

getting off to a fine start from a try by 

Liam Caddy. 

They were rocked by a 20-point burst by 

Edenderry in a brilliant period of play 

that yielded tries for wing Joey Higgins, 

flanker Mark Rushe and points from the 

boot of Shane Cummins. 

In fairness, Kilkenny did regain their 

composure, thanks in no small measure 

to prop Murt Leahy and second-row Wes 

Carter. 

They applied the right blend of using 

their forwards to make headway and 

using their backs to reduce the leeway as 

centre Podge Mahon and wing Lyndon 

Brannigan crossed for tries to make it 

20-17 at the break. 

Edenderry had impressive performers in 

full-back Richard Gill and young tighthead 

Dylan Casey, enabling the home 

side to press for more scores. 

The best they could do was apply 

pressure, despite getting over the 

whitewash twice and camping inside the 

22 for a sustained period. 

When Edenderry couldn’t deliver enough 

points from their possession, Kilkenny 

showed them how to do it. 

Scrum-half Hugh Corkery, brother 

to Leinster out-half Tim, capped an 

impressive personal performance with 

a smartly taken try to give Kilkenny 

breathing space in the final quarter. 

QUARTER-FINAL 

Kilkenny 13 County Carlow 8 

This was a ‘knock ’em down, drag em 

out’ traditional Towns Cup scrap which 

Kilkenny edged in Foulkstown. 

In a game of few chances, where 

defences had the edge for the most part, 

the home side’s view on playing the 

percentages paid dividends early on. 

The pressure applied accrued penalty 

opportunities which scrum-half Hugh 

Corkery took for a 6-0 lead in the first 

quarter. 

Already, the ferocity of the physical giveand-take 

suggested this would go right 

to the wire. 

A quick scouting report would have 

revealed how the Carlow centres are a 

handful and Dave McDermott’s break 

was turned into a try by midfield partner 

Donal Crotty in the 26th minute. 

A smart move at the front of a Kilkenny 

lineout sent David O’Connor through the 

middle where Owen Edghill executed 

a try-saving tackle to leave it 6-5 at the 

break. 

No 8 O’Connor would not be denied 

the next time he came within a sniff of the 

whitewash for Corkery’s conversion to 

make it 13-5 in the 50th minute. 

But, Kilkenny were unable to stretch away 

from the visitors. In fact, Carlow had the 

better of the territory and the chances. 

They would probably look on their 

decision-making as suspect in the 

aftermath, eschewing shots at goal to go 

for gold through the lineout. 

In the end, by the time full-back Richie 

Whyte decided to make it a one-score 

game, it was into injury-time and Kilkenny 

had enough discipline to see it out. 

SEMI-FINAL 

Dundalk 15 Kilkenny 20 

A good start proved more than half 

the battle as Kilkenny came away from 

Forenaughts, Naas RFC’s home ground, 

with a well-deserved win to make the final 

for the first time since 2015. 

The South-East club were on point right 

from the opening exchanges, moving into 

the lead from left-wing Aidan McDonald, 

who was given the licence to show up on 

the right to finish. 

The go-forward of Roy Stanley and Gary 

Dunne was providing the front foot for 

Jake McDonald to orchestrate the attack, 

doubling the gap in the 19th minute when 

Hugh Corkery crossed in style. 

The ability to get into the right areas 

and take points away continued when 

Corkery struck for 13-0 in the 27th 

minute. 

It looked like Dundalk would go in 

scoreless at half-time when Ultan Murphy 

missed a penalty. 

But, they came quickly for the backs to 

work space on the left for centre Dave 

Symes to find a soft shoulder for a try to 

make it 13-5 on the break. 

Still, the decision was taken by coach 

Dave Fearon to make changes at halftime, 

bringing in a new tighthead and two 

half-backs. 

The momentum truly swung when captain 

Tiernan Gonnelly brilliantly breached the 

Kilkenny defence for full-back Murphy’s 

conversion to make it 13-12 in the 54th 

minute. 

Almost immediately, the decision to red 

card Derek Williams for an off the ball 

incident changed the complexion of the 

game again. 

This was followed by another hammer 

blow in the form of a try by flanker 

Stanley and conversion from Corkery to 

make it an eight-point edge. 

In the 65th minute, Kilkenny’s Dunne 

was given a yellow card for a tip tackle 

to make it 14 v 14, Murphy kicking a 

penalty in the 74th minute. 

Dundalk spent time near the line, using 

the set-piece to force penalties and, in the 

last play, Leka Hifo was held up over the 

line as the final whistle blew. 



Provincial Towns Cup Paths to the final 

Ashbourne RFC 

SECOND ROUND 

Ashbourne 22 Naas 15 

The power of Ashbourne was too much for 

Naas at Milltown House. 

Unfortunately, Naas lost their loose 

forward Killian O’Brien early on which led 

to some adjustments. 

Naas centre Andy Ellis, a standout, was 

able to breach the home defence for 

out-half Colm Doyle to convert in the 16th 

minute. 

Ashbourne were able to control the scrum 

which was the platform they used as often 

as possible. 

It wasn’t long before it was level when 

Shane Bass was able to convert pressure 

into points for Gavin Kennedy to kick the 

extras. 

However, Ashbourne really turned the 

screw in the second quarter, Robbie 

Sparza’s lineout work paving the way for 

Jimmy McCaghy to punch in the try. 

Then, out-half Kennedy broke the line 

to serve Colm Craigie for the third try, 

converted by Kennedy to make it 19-7 at 

half-time. 

It certainly got interesting when scrum-half 

Derry Lenihan benefitted from a spilt ball to 

ghost over in the 49th minute and a Doyle 

penalty narrowed the difference further. 

It was a fair old scrap from there, Naas 

looking to stretch their game as Ashbourne 

preferred to squeeze the pressure well 

enough for Kennedy to shoot the final three 

points of the game. 

QUARTER-FINAL 

Ashbourne 34 Athy 13 

Those wily old foxes out in Ashbourne had 

too much guile for Athy at Milltown House. 

Their winning pedigree has been honed 

over many years and the experienced 

men in the forward pack had too much 

experience for the youthful, lighter Athy 

eight. 

Of course, it didn’t help the Kildare club’s 

confidence when Ashbourne powered into 

a 7-0 lead from Andrew Whittaker’s finish 

and Gavin Kennedy’s conversion in the 

fourth minute. 

A yellow card for Whittaker did level the 

playing field and Athy wing Tom Glynn 

struck a penalty in the 13th minute. 

However, the Leinster League 1A club was 

able to move through the gears for second 

row Sean Kent to go over from Jake Wall’s 

dexterous offload for another converted try 

at the end of the first quarter. 

The addition of a penalty from out-half 

Kennedy stretched the advantage out to 

17-3 at the interval. 

It looked like a steep hill, if not quite a 

mountain for Athy, given Ashbourne’s 

know-how around game management. 

Athy are a club on-the-up, evidenced by 

how they dominated 2A this season. But, 

this was another level. 

However, they were not about to let the 

scoreboard get in the way of their goal, 

scrum-half Evan Stephenson breaking 

superbly to set up a simple two-on-one for 

Tony Martin to cross in the 44th minute. 

Three minutes later, they came again to 

force a penalty when the forwards rumbled 

menacingly. The reliable Glynn struck from 

close range to make it a four-point game. 

Game on. Or so it looked. That was when 

Ashbourne decided to take control, using 

the front row to squeeze the game in the 

scrum. 

Behind the set-piece were half-backs 

Shane Bass and Kennedy probing and 

manoeuvring the forwards into position. 

Field position was taken and Kennedy 

clipped over another three points before 

Ashbourne’s physical strength began to 

take a toll. 

The ability of Ashbourne to play the game 

at their pace, frustrating Athy’s need for 

speed resulted in a penalty try in the 62nd 

minute. 

An inevitable air descended on the game 

as the home club played smart, effective 

rugby, even making room for an excellent 

try by right-wing Matt Connolly for Kelan 

Toolan to convert. 

SEMI-FINAL 

Ashbourne 23 Mullingar 15 

Ashbourne were made to work for a 

place in the final when having to come 

from behind at North Kildare’s The Maws 

venue. 

Resilient Mullingar brought early energy 


ASHBOURNE RFC VS KILKENNY RFC 

to take the 1A club by surprise, moving in 

front from Stuart Flynn’s penalty in the third 

minute. 

The failure of Ashbourne to match that 

early enthusiasm enabled Flynn to double 

the advantage in the sixth minute. 

It wasn’t long before Mullingar were back 

on the front foot for Flynn to slot another for 

9-0 in the 13th minute. 

Ashbourne had to get going or risk being 

victims of a shock, the set-piece looking like 

their best avenue to points. 

They flexed their muscles from a lineout that 

turned into a maul for loosehead prop Alan 

Wall to shear off for the try, Kealan Toolan 

converting in the 18th minute. 

It was Flynn who popped over a penalty 

from just right of the posts after an offside 

in midfield to make it 12-7 in the 23rd 

minute. 

Ashbourne were gaining access into the 

opposition half a bit easier as Alan and 

Jake Wall stepped up their impact, Toolan 

notching three points to make it a two-point 

game on the half-hour. 

The weight of pressure was stressing 

Mullingar and flanker Lemeki Viapula was 

binned for his part in keeping Ashbourne 

out, instead leaving it 12-10 at the break. 

It was a matter of grinding out the yards 

for the Meath club and full-back Toolan’s 

penalty, from the left, handed them the lead 

for the first time in the 48th minute. 

The sunny afternoon made life 

uncomfortable for the players, stamina 

tested to the full as Toolan stretched the 

game to four points with a penalty from the 

same position just past the hour mark. 

The immaculate Flynn struck for the fifth 

time from straight in front of the posts on 

the back of indiscipline at the breakdown 

in the 65th minute to make it a one-point 

game. 

The ability to dominate possession and 

territory almost paid off when Ashbourne 

moved the ball wide, full-back Colm 

Craigie and centre Jack O’Brien both 

going close. 

A superior lineout and scrum cleared the 

way for Sean Kent to scoop a ball off the 

floor and pass to Conor Hurley, who made 

it to the posts for Toolan’s conversion to 

give Ashbourne a two-score lead they held 

onto.

Shea 

Gallagher 

President’s 

Address 

As President of Ashbourne RFC, 

it is a huge honour for me to 

come to Cill Dara RFC today, as 

we prepare to undertake the 

final of the 2022 Bank of Ireland 

Provincial Towns Cup Final. 

Ashbourne won the Provincial Towns 

Cup in 2014 and we hope to repeat that 

today. 

We have had many a battle with our 

old friends Kilkenny, both in our recent 

league and in the past. It will be a tight 

game as we both know one another very 

well, it will be competitive to the end! 

I would like to thank Bank of Ireland 

for their continued sponsorship of this 

wonderful competition, the Leinster 

Branch for running the show and Cill 

Dara for hosting the final. It is sure to be a 

wonderful day. 

I would like to take this opportunity 

to thank all of our sponsors for their 

continued support, our coaches and 

committees both minis and youths, and 

our Executive for their tireless work 

running the club, it is hugely appreciated. 

Finally, to our first, second and third team 

players, coaches and management team 

I want to congratulate them on managing 

to turn this year around after a bad start 

due to injuries. 

It is thanks to all of their efforts and 

determination that we are here today in 

the final. 

I wish both teams the best of luck, may 

the best team win. 

Shea Gallagher 

President of Ashbourne RFC 



ROLL OF HON 

The Provincial 

Towns Cup was 

originally called 

the Leinster Junior 

Challenge Cup 

but, following a 

reorganisation 

of the Leinster 

Branch’s 

competitions in 

1925, it became a 

competition for 

clubs outside of 

Dublin and the 

Provincial Towns 

Cup was born. 

Today’s game is the 

95th instalment of 

the competition in 

its current guise. 

1926 

Enniscorthy 6 Co Kildare 0 

1927 

Enniscorthy 11 Balbriggan 0 

1928 

Balbriggan 0 Athy 0 

Replay 

Balbriggan 8 Athy 0 

1929 

Co Carlow 9 Athy 0 

1930 

Wexford Wanderers 6 Athy 3 

1931 

Co Carlow 9 Navan 0 

1932 

Dundalk 7 Longford 0 

1933 

Co Carlow 6 Wexford Wanderers 5 

1934 

Enniscorthy 5 Shannon Buccaneers 3 

1935 

Shannon Buccaneers 16 Naas 0 

1936 

Shannon Buccaneers 6 Dundalk 3 

1937 

Dundalk 18 Shannon Buccaneers 3 

1938 

Athy 6 Dundalk 5 

1939 

Dundalk 3 Shannon Buccaneers 0 

1940 

Athy 12 Dundalk 3 

1941 

Skerries 7 Wexford Wanderers 5 

1942 

Curragh 9 Dundalk 0 

1943 

Skerries 4 Athy 3 

1944 

Skerries 17 Curragh 0 

1945 

Dundalk 17 Curragh 0 

1946 

Tullamore 13 Skerries 0 

1947 

Dundalk 9 Skerries 6 

1948 

Dundalk 3 Athy 0 

1949 

Dundalk 3 Naas 0 

1950 

Skerries 0 Rathdowney 0 

Replay 


1951 


1952 

Skerries 6 Naas 5 

1953 

North Kildare 9 Rathdowney 0 

1954 

Mullingar 3 Naas 0 

1955 

Kilkenny 3 North Kildare 3 

Replay 


1956 

Mullingar 6 Kilkenny 3 

1957 

Co Carlow 6 Mullingar 6 

Replay 

Carlow 9 Mullingar 3 

1958 

North Kildare 6 Naas 3 

1959 


1960 

Tullamore 17 Wexford Wanderers 8 

1961 


1962 

Delvin 12 Athy 0 

1963 

Enniscorthy 3 Skerries 3 



OUR PROVINCIAL 

TOWNS CUP 

Replay 

Enniscorthy 5 Skerries 3 

1964 

Navan 6 Kilkenny 6 

Replay 

Navan 5 Kilkenny 0 

1965 


1966 

Navan 8 Wexford Wanderers 3 

1967 

Curragh 6 Drogheda 3 

1968 

Navan 6 Arklow 3 

1969 

Edenderry 6 Drogheda 3 

1970 

Dundalk 8 Navan 3 

1971 

Skerries 14 Navan 6 

1972 

Skerries 19 Kilkenny 6 

1973 

Skerries 12 North Kildare 11 

1974 

Skerries 6 Arklow 3 

1975 

Roscrea 8 Curragh 7 

1976 

Tullamore 9 Drogheda 3 

1977 


1978 

Athy 14 Curragh 9 

1979 

Skerries 12 Co Carlow 7 

1980 

Roscrea 11 Portlaoise 10 

1981 

Athy 8 Co Carlow 3 

1982 

Portlaoise 7 Naas 6 

1983 

Edenderry 6 Athy 3 

1984 

Athy 13 Portlaoise 6 

1985 

Arklow 9 Drogheda 6 

1986 

Kilkenny 10 Curragh 0 

1987 

Dundalk 13 Kilkenny 6 

1988 

Navan 7 Portlaoise 3 

1989 

Enniscorthy 6 Mullingar 0 

1990 

Navan 14 Co Carlow 13 

1991 

Navan 34 Athy 15 

1992 

Co Carlow 25 Enniscorthy 15 

1993 


Replay 


1994 

Co Carlow 20 Tullamore 15 

1995 

Naas 17 Enniscorthy 6 

1996 


1997 


1998 

Naas 13 Kilkenny 3 

1999 

Navan 18 Ashbourne 10 

2000 

Navan 9 Dundalk 7 

2001 

Kilkenny 9 Portlaoise 8 

2002 

Kilkenny 33 Co Carlow 13 

2003 

Portlaoise 20 Navan 3 

2004 

Arklow 8 Portlaoise 3 

2005 

Naas 23 Boyne 16 

2006 

Tullamore 25 Wicklow 3 

2007 

Navan 14 Skerries 3 

2008 

Navan 30 Tullow 13 

2009 

Boyne 27 Tullamore 21 

2010 

Boyne 32 Tullamore 25 

2011 

Dundalk 35 Tullamore 20 

2012 

Enniscorthy 23 Tullow 17 

2013 

Tullamore 38 Longford 6 

2014 

Ashbourne 6 Kilkenny 3 

2015 

Enniscorthy 9 Kilkenny 8 

2016 

Wicklow 28 Enniscorthy 21 

2017 

Tullow 20 Skerries 3 

2018 

Enniscorthy 20 Tullow 13 

2019 

Enniscorthy 10 Wicklow 9 

2020 

Unplayed due to Covid-19 

2021 

Unplayed due to Covid-19

Ashbourne RFC vs Kilkenny RFC

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