Ashbourne RFC vs Kilkenny RFC
Provincial Towns Cup | Official Matchday Programme Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup Final 2022 Ashbourne RFC vs Kilkenny RFC Sunday 17 April 2022 | KO 3PM | Cill Dara RFC
Provincial Towns Cup | Official Matchday Programme
Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup Final 2022
Ashbourne RFC vs Kilkenny RFC
Sunday 17 April 2022 | KO 3PM | Cill Dara RFC
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2022 BANK OF IRELAND<br />
Provincial<br />
Towns Cup Final<br />
SUN, 17 APRIL<br />
CILL DARA <strong>RFC</strong><br />
KO 3pm<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
VS
Newstead Building A,<br />
UCD,<br />
Belfield,<br />
Dublin 4<br />
#ASHVKIL<br />
The Line up<br />
Telephone:<br />
012693224<br />
Fax:<br />
012693142<br />
E-mail:<br />
information@leinsterrugby.ie<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT<br />
President: John Walsh<br />
Chief Executive: Michael Dawson<br />
Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley<br />
Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail<br />
4<br />
leinster<br />
president<br />
welcome<br />
12<br />
tournament<br />
director<br />
address<br />
PROGRAMME CREDITS<br />
Editorial Team:<br />
Marcus Ó Buachalla<br />
& Ryan Corry<br />
Advertising:<br />
Gary Nolan<br />
Design:<br />
Julian Tredinnick,<br />
Ignition Sports Media<br />
Photography:<br />
Sportsfile<br />
Chief Steward:<br />
Sword Security<br />
Ambulance:<br />
St. John’s Ambulance<br />
Medilink<br />
Event Control & Safety Services:<br />
Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates<br />
9<br />
today’s<br />
match<br />
officials<br />
14<br />
kilkenny<br />
matchday<br />
squad<br />
STAY<br />
CONNECTED<br />
& KEEP<br />
UP-TO-DATE<br />
15<br />
ashbourne<br />
matchday<br />
squad<br />
22<br />
roll<br />
of<br />
honour<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 3<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
john walsh welcome<br />
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22<br />
After an enforced<br />
absence of two<br />
seasons due to<br />
the worldwide<br />
pandemic we are<br />
back at last!<br />
This cup competition is at the very<br />
heart of what Irish rugby is all<br />
about.<br />
As the legendary Tony Ward stated:<br />
“The Provincial Towns Cup has been the<br />
spirit of club rugby and epitomizes the<br />
‘Holy Grail’ – it’s a great journey that<br />
involves passion, courage, despair and<br />
elation – it’s one of the great Irish rugby<br />
tournaments.”<br />
We acknowledge with thanks the<br />
significant role that the Club PROs play<br />
in assisting the numerous provincial<br />
sports reporters, print publications and<br />
local radio stations in our province in<br />
promoting the excitement that the Towns<br />
Cup generates in our communities.<br />
Since the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup<br />
commenced in 1889 the passion that this<br />
cup has generated with players, fans and<br />
communities throughout the 107 seasons<br />
of its existence is unquantifiable. For the<br />
chosen few, the winners’ silver medal is<br />
pure gold.<br />
This season’s final will feature <strong>Ashbourne</strong><br />
and <strong>Kilkenny</strong>, two clubs that are<br />
competing in the Leinster League Division<br />
1A this season. Their two league fixtures<br />
against each other have resulted in a<br />
win for <strong>Ashbourne</strong> in February by 21-15<br />
while the return fixture in March resulted<br />
in a win for <strong>Kilkenny</strong> by 36-29.<br />
A total of 13 tries were scored in the<br />
two fixtures with <strong>Kilkenny</strong> scoring seven<br />
and <strong>Ashbourne</strong> six tries so let’s hope<br />
that we are treated to an entertaining<br />
high-scoring final. This season’s exciting<br />
competition has resulted in 147 tries<br />
scored and 1,202 points scored over the<br />
26 cup fixtures.<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong>’s love affair with this cup dates<br />
back to their first win in 1920 when<br />
they overcame local rivals Enniscorthy.<br />
Since that memorable occasion for<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> (founded in 1885), a further 12<br />
Provincial Towns Cup final appearances<br />
have followed that have yielded five<br />
glorious victories in 1955 (beating<br />
North Kildare), 1959 (beating North<br />
Kildare), 1986 (beating the Curragh) a<br />
back-to-back double in 2001 and 2002<br />
(beating Portlaoise and County Carlow<br />
respectively).<br />
However, in their last two final<br />
appearances ‘lady luck’ deserted them.<br />
Their most recent final appearance was<br />
actually on this pitch in 2015 in the 90th<br />
Provincial Towns Cup when the lost out<br />
to Enniscorthy by a 9-8 score line. This<br />
defeat came on the back of an extra-time<br />
defeat by today’s rivals <strong>Ashbourne</strong> in the<br />
2014 final staged in Tullow.<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong>’s path to this year’s final has<br />
resulted in them scoring 67 points and<br />
conceding 43 points with victories over<br />
Edenderry (34-20), County Carlow<br />
4 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong><br />
(13-8) and a semi-final win over<br />
Dundalk (20-15). The best of luck to<br />
Club President Dave Matthews and club<br />
captain Jake McDonald and his squad of<br />
players and their team management for<br />
today’s final.<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> (founded in 1974) are soon<br />
to celebrate their 50th anniversary and<br />
are just one of the 28 Leinster clubs<br />
to have been established since 1970<br />
and this reflects the rapid growth in<br />
the popularity of the game of rugby in<br />
our communities. While <strong>Ashbourne</strong>’s<br />
sole win in the Towns Cup was in 2014<br />
over <strong>Kilkenny</strong> they were beaten finalists<br />
in1999 on their first ever appearance in<br />
the final to neighbours Navan.<br />
However, <strong>Ashbourne</strong> are a club that<br />
have a passion for what is referred to<br />
as ‘cup rugby’ and were winners of<br />
three consecutive All-Ireland Junior Cups<br />
(2017, 2018 and 2019). <strong>Ashbourne</strong><br />
have scored 79 points and conceded 43<br />
points (same as <strong>Kilkenny</strong>!) on route to this<br />
final with victories over Naas (22-15),<br />
Athy (34-13) and a semi-final win over<br />
Mullingar (23-15). The best of luck to<br />
Club President Shea Gallagher and club<br />
captain Sean McKeon and his squad of<br />
players and their team management for<br />
today’s final.<br />
This will be the third occasion that Cill<br />
Dara (President Conor Byrne) have<br />
hosted the Provincial Towns Cup final.<br />
We thank them and, in particular, all<br />
their members and volunteers who<br />
contribute so much to make a Towns Cup<br />
final a special occasion for all involved.<br />
Having served previously as the<br />
tournament director for the Towns Cup,<br />
I’m aware that events for such a premier<br />
competition as the Towns Cup requires<br />
a significant effort and contribution from<br />
many.<br />
Firstly, thank you to Dermot O’Mahony<br />
(Leinster Fixtures Administrator), Bill<br />
Duggan (Tournament Director and Hon<br />
Junior Secretary of Leinster Rugby),<br />
Lisa Doyle (Leinster Rugby Domestic<br />
Marketing), Ciaran O’Brien (Chair of<br />
Leinster Rugby Competitions Committee),
David Robb (President of Leinster<br />
Referees) for their outstanding support.<br />
Thank you to all the Leinster Referees<br />
who have assisted in the staging of<br />
the cup competition, we very much<br />
appreciate your contribution.<br />
Congratulations to Berney White on<br />
his appointment as referee for today’s<br />
final and we wish him and his team of<br />
Ian Thompson (Assistant Referee 1),<br />
Ian Hayes (Assistant Referee 2), Barry<br />
Dempsey (Fourth Official) and David<br />
Wilson (Fifth Official) the very best for<br />
today’s final.<br />
Leinster Rugby are delighted to welcome<br />
Des Kavanagh (President of the IRFU)<br />
to today’s 75th Provincial Towns Cup<br />
Final. Des served previously as Leinster<br />
President in 2008/09 and hails from the<br />
County Carlow Rugby Club and, as such,<br />
is fully acquainted with the prestige of<br />
the Provincial Towns Cup. The County<br />
Carlow club top the roll of honour with a<br />
total of 12 cup wins.<br />
Leinster Rugby enjoys a very successful<br />
partnership with Bank of Ireland and I<br />
wish to thank them for their contribution<br />
to the sponsorship of rugby throughout<br />
Ireland. In particular their support for the<br />
continued development of Leinster Rugby<br />
at all levels has been a major factor<br />
in assisting us in establishing Leinster<br />
Rugby as one of Europe’s premier and<br />
successful rugby clubs.<br />
We are proud to have you on our<br />
team and on our team shirt. A special<br />
acknowledgement to Bank of Ireland’s<br />
team of Sharon Woods, Gemma Bell<br />
and Paula Murphy for their contributions<br />
to Leinster Rugby.<br />
I hope that you have a great day’s sport<br />
and thank you for your much valued<br />
support of your club and players during<br />
the past two seasons which have proved<br />
very challenging for so many.<br />
JOHN WALSH<br />
LEINSTER PRESIDENT<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 5<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
COMPARISON<br />
ASHBOURNE<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP<br />
Wins 1: 2014<br />
Runner Up 1: 1999<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS PLATE<br />
Wins 3: 2016, 2015, 2001<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS CUP<br />
Wins 2: 2019, 2014<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS PLATE<br />
Wins 3: 2018, 2015, 2006,<br />
Runner Up 2: 2017, 2013<br />
ANDERSON CUP<br />
Runner Up 1: 2019<br />
KILKENNY<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP<br />
Wins 5: 2002, 2001, 1986, 1959, 1955<br />
Runner Up 6: 2015, 2014, 1998, 1987, 1972, 1964, 1956<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS PLATE<br />
Wins 3: 2017, 2000, 1984<br />
Runner Up 1: 1988<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS CUP<br />
Wins 7: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1998, 1984, 1983<br />
PROVINCIAL TOWNS SECONDS PLATE<br />
Runner Up 1: 1981<br />
DUNNE CUP<br />
Wins 3: 2018, 2016, 2006,<br />
LEINSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TITLES:<br />
5<br />
Division 1A: 2, 2019/20, 2017/18<br />
Division 1B: 1, 2013/14,<br />
Division 2: 2, 2008/09, 1997/98<br />
LEINSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TITLES:<br />
5<br />
Division 1: 2, 2002/03, 2001/02,<br />
Division 1B: 2, 2017/18, 2014/15,<br />
Division 2A: 1, 2012/13<br />
LEINSTER LEAGUE DIVISION 1A<br />
2021/22 LEAGUE FORM<br />
Played 14<br />
Won 6 | Drew 1 | Lost 7<br />
Scored 270 points<br />
Conceded 325 points<br />
ASHBOURNE finished fourth with<br />
32 points<br />
LEINSTER LEAGUE DIVISION 1A<br />
2021/22 LEAGUE FORM<br />
Played 14<br />
Won 4 | Drew 1 | Lost 9<br />
Scored 254 points<br />
Conceded 339 points<br />
KILKENNY finished seventh with<br />
26 points<br />
6 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
cill dara rfc<br />
connor byrne<br />
president welcome<br />
On behalf of Cill Dara <strong>RFC</strong>,<br />
it is an absolute honour<br />
to welcome everyone to<br />
Silken Thomas Park for the<br />
Bank of Ireland Provincial<br />
Towns Cup final. It is a<br />
privilege to be selected<br />
to host this wonderful<br />
competition, which<br />
highlights everything<br />
that is great about rugby<br />
throughout the province<br />
of Leinster.<br />
To the squads and supporters<br />
of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> <strong>RFC</strong> and <strong>Kilkenny</strong><br />
<strong>RFC</strong>, I would like to congratulate<br />
you both on reaching today’s<br />
final. I would like to welcome the<br />
Presidents of both clubs, Shea<br />
Gallagher and Dave Mathews,<br />
I wish you both the best of luck.<br />
And have no doubt that both clubs<br />
will put on a show worthy of the<br />
occasion. Such an occasion cannot<br />
take place without match officials,<br />
I would like to thank today’s<br />
officials, and wish them well.<br />
I would like to welcome President of<br />
Leinster Rugby, John Walsh also. As a<br />
Naas man, John is no stranger to Cill<br />
Dara. John has represented his club,<br />
North Midlands and Leinster Rugby with<br />
great distinction and his presidency is just<br />
reward for his commitment to club rugby.<br />
I would like to thank the Competitions<br />
Committee of Leinster Rugby, and all<br />
associated with the successful running of<br />
the club game in the province.<br />
Since becoming headline sponsors,<br />
Bank of Ireland have elevated this great<br />
competition to an even higher level. I<br />
would like to thank them for their support<br />
and hope that along with their guests they<br />
have a very enjoyable day.<br />
Finally, I would like to thank all the<br />
volunteers from Cill Dara <strong>RFC</strong> who have<br />
given up time to make today a success.<br />
Events like this do not happen without<br />
planning and hard work. Cill Dara are<br />
extremely lucky to have such a committed<br />
membership, who never fail to answer the<br />
call and put the shoulder to the wheel.<br />
I would like to wish everyone in<br />
attendance a happy Easter and I look<br />
forward to what will be a fantastic game<br />
of rugby.<br />
Conor Byrne<br />
President, Cill Dara <strong>RFC</strong><br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 7<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
Provincial<br />
Towns Cup<br />
Tournament<br />
Director<br />
Address<br />
Leinster Rugby<br />
would like to<br />
acknowledge all<br />
28 teams that<br />
started the<br />
journey together<br />
in this the 95th<br />
Provincial Towns<br />
Cup, sponsored by<br />
Bank of Ireland.<br />
It has been a<br />
great event so<br />
far and served<br />
up some great<br />
games.<br />
There is a big thank you owed to<br />
the team from Bank of Ireland<br />
who put a huge effort into the<br />
support and development of the<br />
cup this season and especially<br />
with the innovative launch<br />
event. The focus has been on<br />
community, grassroots and family<br />
participation which we greatly<br />
appreciate. Today reflects the<br />
culmination of their efforts and<br />
support which is appreciated.<br />
We also wish to record our thanks<br />
and appreciation to the Club Officers,<br />
Club Members, players, volunteers and<br />
supporters of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> and <strong>Kilkenny</strong><br />
for their tremendous efforts in reaching<br />
today’s final.<br />
Likewise we would like to thank the<br />
Association of Referees Leinster Branch<br />
without whom this great competition<br />
could not take place. We wish to<br />
express our thanks to the Association,<br />
Hayley Whyte, the many referees and<br />
match officials who assisted us in over<br />
27 games played in Provincial Towns<br />
competition this season.<br />
I would also like to thank our President<br />
John Walsh for his ongoing contribution<br />
to the competition and providing much<br />
useful information on the competition<br />
and its history and also the chair of the<br />
Competitions Committee, Ciaran O’Brien<br />
for his support.<br />
Our thanks to today’s match Provincial<br />
Towns Cup officials: Referee – Berney<br />
Whyte, AR1 – Ian Thompson; AR2 – Ian<br />
Hayes; No 4 – Barry Dempsey; No 5 –<br />
David Wilson<br />
A special thank you is due to the national<br />
and the provincial press, the many radio<br />
stations and sports journalists throughout<br />
Leinster for the excellent coverage that<br />
they continue to give to the Provincial<br />
Towns Cup and club rugby.<br />
We also wish to express our sincere<br />
thanks to – John Walsh, President of<br />
the Leinster Branch, members of the<br />
Executive Committee, Rugby Committee,<br />
Competitions Committee and Dermot<br />
O’Mahony, Lisa Doyle, Kevin Quinn<br />
and the team at the Leinster Branch for<br />
their generosity in assisting us with the<br />
promotion of the tournament. I would like<br />
to welcome Des Kavanagh, President of<br />
the IRFU, here today to Cill Dara <strong>RFC</strong>.<br />
It is an honour to have you here as well<br />
and I know this competition is important<br />
to you. I would also like to thank the<br />
many members of the Leinster Executive<br />
and Committees who have taken time to<br />
attend the games.<br />
Last, but by no means least we wish to<br />
thank the members of Cill Dara Rugby<br />
Club, their President Conor Byrne, Event<br />
Director Sharon Heffernan, along with<br />
their excellent Executive Committee and<br />
team of volunteers that have made today<br />
possible and for the excellent manner<br />
in which they have hosted the 95th<br />
Provincial Towns Cup.<br />
Bill Duggan<br />
Tournament Director<br />
Provincial Towns Cup<br />
8 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
today’s<br />
match officials<br />
Assistant<br />
Referee 1<br />
Ian Thompson<br />
Ian Thompson started out with<br />
Leinster Rugby Referees in 2010<br />
and is a member of Tullow <strong>RFC</strong>.<br />
He has refereed at all levels of<br />
club and schools rugby in Leinster<br />
including one of this season’s<br />
Provincial Towns Cup semi-finals.<br />
Today’s match referee is Berney<br />
White. He is a member of<br />
Enniscorthy <strong>RFC</strong>.<br />
Berney represented Enniscorthy <strong>RFC</strong> for<br />
over 16 years at J1 level and captained<br />
his club in 2005/06 playing almost 40<br />
J1 Towns Cup games in his time (four<br />
semi-finals) winning two Towns Cup J1<br />
Plates, seven South-East area J1 Leagues,<br />
Leinster League 1B and an Anderson<br />
Cup.<br />
He has also represent Leinster Juniors 13<br />
times and played with Drummoyne <strong>RFC</strong><br />
(Sydney, Australia)/Doha <strong>RFC</strong> (Qatar).<br />
He took up refereeing in 2011 after<br />
winning the J1 Towns Plate. He became<br />
a member of the Association of Referee<br />
Leinster Branch (ARLB). Berney has also<br />
refereed for the UAERR and for the Asia<br />
referees during his time in the Middle<br />
East, refereeing in places like Dubai/<br />
Bahrain/Doha.<br />
“I‘m honoured and delighted to be<br />
selected for the Provincial Towns Cup,<br />
it being a big part of my life for over<br />
25 years and I have either played or<br />
Referee<br />
Berney White<br />
refereed in almost 50 J1 Towns Cup<br />
games. It’s the best domestic rugby<br />
competition in Ireland and many a club<br />
legend was made in the competition,”<br />
he says.<br />
“I have been lucky to work with many<br />
people dedicated to development of<br />
referees in Leinster including David<br />
Keane, Tony Duncan, Brendan Jenkinson,<br />
Denis Collins, Kevin McDermott and<br />
many others. Refereeing has been a great<br />
way to stay involved in the game and I<br />
would encourage anyone to contact the<br />
ARLB and enquire about becoming a<br />
referee. The opportunities to travel both<br />
within Ireland and around the world are<br />
there.<br />
“I would also like to mention Bryan<br />
Murphy who sadly passed away almost<br />
two years ago. He was an ARLB referee<br />
and loved the Towns Cup and even more<br />
so when ‘Scorthy were playing.<br />
“Also, last but most important, my long<br />
suffering wife (Maresa) and my two<br />
rugby-mad kids (Sophia and Oisin)<br />
without whose support I wouldn’t be<br />
able to referee week in, week out.”<br />
This is Ian’s second time involved in a<br />
Provincial Towns Cup final. The previous<br />
occasion was when today’s two teams<br />
last met in the final of this competition in<br />
2014.<br />
Ian works as a Project Manager with<br />
Sisk, is married to Orlagh and has two<br />
sons – Josh and Noah.<br />
Assistant<br />
Referee 2<br />
Ian Hayes<br />
Ian started to play rugby with<br />
North Kildare <strong>RFC</strong> at both youths<br />
and adults, upon joining An<br />
Garda Siochana and transferring<br />
to Wexford, he played for and<br />
captained Gorey <strong>RFC</strong>.<br />
He took up refereeing in 2010 and is<br />
on the Leinster A Panel, taking charge of<br />
Leinster 1A and Metro 1 matches. Ian<br />
was Fourth Official at the 2014 Towns<br />
Cup final, also between the same two<br />
teams as today, with <strong>Ashbourne</strong> narrowly<br />
coming out on top. This season he has<br />
refereed the U-20 McCorry Cup Final.<br />
He is a Sergeant attached to Wexford<br />
Garda Station, having served 22 years<br />
with the Gardai. He is married to Lisa<br />
with two daughters.<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 9<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
Provincial Towns Cup final<br />
Match Preview<br />
Flashbacks.<br />
They bring<br />
memories.<br />
Good and bad.<br />
On a cold, miserable day in<br />
Tullow, <strong>Ashbourne</strong> outlasted<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> on a 6-3 scoreline,<br />
even surviving going down to 13<br />
players in the second half.<br />
Bay of Plenty’s Paul Morris kicked a<br />
penalty in a gruelling extra-time to take<br />
the honours by a whisker on an afternoon<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> have tried to forget and<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> never will.<br />
The ties to that bludgeoning, epic<br />
encounter, long on excruciating drama<br />
are there to this day.<br />
Afterall, it was only eight years ago.<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> talisman Gavin Kennedy and<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> player/coach David O’Connor<br />
will again be pivotal to the outcome.<br />
These two, players and teams, know each<br />
other inside-out from time spent together<br />
in Leinster League Division 1A. There are<br />
no secrets to be kept close to puffed-out<br />
chests.<br />
Coach Scottie Broughton arrived in<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> in 1997 and, barring one<br />
season, the New Zealander has been<br />
there ever since.<br />
Deeply embedded into the club, the man<br />
from the Bay of Plenty has been involved<br />
in all three of their Towns Cup finals,<br />
playing in the 1999 defeat to Navan<br />
(18-10) and filling the role as an assistant<br />
coach in 2014.<br />
“<strong>Kilkenny</strong> have a very tough forward<br />
pack with the experience of ‘Doc’<br />
O’Connor and Wes Carter running their<br />
lineout. That is the basis of where they<br />
start from,” he says.<br />
“In recent years, they have added quality<br />
to their backline with Jake McDonald<br />
at 10 and Jake Pratley at nine. Podge<br />
Mahon is still there in the centre and Liam<br />
Caddy is important to what they do.<br />
“They are not just a forward pack<br />
anymore. They have more of an all-round<br />
game in attack which is helped out by<br />
hard work on defence.”<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> has tried to find the sweet<br />
spot between expanding the game,<br />
while not losing sight of their competitive<br />
advantage.<br />
“It is trying to get that balance between<br />
playing to your strengths, but, also,<br />
looking to ensure you are able to move<br />
the ball when you need to.<br />
“We would be silly if we didn’t use the<br />
strengths we already have in the setpiece,”<br />
he adds.<br />
“We are not the finished article in the<br />
backline, but that is what we are heading<br />
towards to have that all-round game.<br />
“Gavin Kennedy has been around a<br />
long time, man of the match in 2014, and<br />
Paddy Murtagh has been finding his feet<br />
at 10.<br />
“Jack O’Brien has been in the midfield for<br />
some time and Colm Craigie is a great<br />
young talent in the back three.”<br />
Overall, Broughton can call on five<br />
starters from 2014, three of them, Mark<br />
Behan, James McCaghy and Ciaran<br />
Roche in the front five where <strong>Ashbourne</strong><br />
will look to put the squeeze on.<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> will have four starters back to<br />
gain a measure of redemption for 2014,<br />
stalwarts Carter and O’Connor in the<br />
pack and Joe Manuel and Mahon in the<br />
backs.<br />
It is 20 years since <strong>Kilkenny</strong> last won the<br />
Towns Cup, comprehensively defeating<br />
County Carlow 33-13 in the 2002 final<br />
for back-to-back titles.<br />
In 2001, <strong>Kilkenny</strong> centre Manuel’s father<br />
Simon was the Towns Cup-winning<br />
captain.<br />
The current Director of Rugby Ger<br />
McDonald played in the 1986 final win<br />
over Curragh (10-0), coached the 2001<br />
and 2002 teams and will have his son<br />
Jake at out-half on Sunday.<br />
Player/coach O’Connor’s earliest<br />
rugby memories are decorated with<br />
special moments attached to this historic<br />
competition.<br />
“I grew up watching those Towns Cupwinning<br />
teams of 2001 and 2002. The<br />
links are still there through Joe and Jake.<br />
There is serious emotion going into the<br />
game,” he states.<br />
“We are all well aware of the importance<br />
of the competition to the club. There has<br />
been a different level to training in the<br />
last few weeks.”<br />
Those gold-plated moments have been<br />
superseded by back-to-back final defeats<br />
against <strong>Ashbourne</strong> in 2014 and against<br />
Enniscorthy in 2015 when he was the<br />
captain.<br />
The messages have been flooding in<br />
from ex-players, like Tenari Faalima, from<br />
New Zealand, Willie Duggan Junior, Pat<br />
Holden and Simon Manuel, to confirm<br />
what they already know, how important<br />
this is to the club.<br />
The man they call ‘Doc’ doesn’t have<br />
to be reminded about the challenge<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> presents.<br />
“We are very familiar with them. Their<br />
set-piece, the scrum, the driving maul off<br />
lineouts are particularly impressive. They<br />
pose a massive threat up front. We have<br />
to figure out how we are going to deal<br />
with them.<br />
“Playing off that, they have Gavin<br />
Kennedy at nine, who is the key player to<br />
what they like to do,” he says.<br />
“Dundalk came with a strong reputation<br />
in many of the same areas in the semifinal.<br />
We held our own, bar maybe one<br />
or two penalties at scrum-time<br />
“We are building nicely for the final on<br />
Sunday.”<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 11<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
Bank of Ireland provincial towns Cup Final Squad 2022<br />
kilkenny rfc
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
2022 BANK O<br />
Provincial Tow<br />
15 Liam Caddy<br />
14 Hugh Corkery<br />
13 Podge Mahon<br />
12 Joe Manuel<br />
11 Aiden McDonald<br />
10 Jake McDonald [C]<br />
9 Jake Pratley<br />
1 Conor Dempsey<br />
2 Ben Devlin<br />
3 Drew Phelan<br />
4 Wes Carter<br />
5 Liam Phelan<br />
6 Roy Stanley<br />
7 Garry Dunne<br />
8 David O’Connor<br />
Replacements from:<br />
16 Martin Leahy<br />
17 Joe Moynihan<br />
18 Simon O’Hara<br />
19 Shane O’Riordan<br />
20 Jack Walsh<br />
21 Lyndon Brannigan<br />
22 Ciarán Sutton<br />
Captain: Jake McDonald<br />
14 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
F IRELAND<br />
ns Cup Final<br />
ashbourne <strong>RFC</strong><br />
Kelan Toolan 15<br />
Colm Craigie 14<br />
Jack O’Brien 13<br />
Adam Martin 12<br />
Dermot Colreavy 11<br />
Paddy Murtagh 10<br />
Gavin Kennedy 9<br />
Alan Wall 1<br />
James McCaghy 2<br />
Mark Behan 3<br />
Ciaran Roche 4<br />
Sean Kent 5<br />
Conor Hurley 6<br />
Sean McKeon [C] 7<br />
Jake Wall 8<br />
Replacements:<br />
Danny Norton 16<br />
Frank Keegan 17<br />
Andy Whittaker 18<br />
Shane Bass 19<br />
Matt Connolly 20<br />
Shane-Eoin Kennedy 21<br />
Conor Creaby 22<br />
Fergus Bobbett 23<br />
Captain: Sean McKeon<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 15<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
Bank of Ireland provincial towns Cup Final Squad 2022<br />
ashbourne rfc
David<br />
Matthews<br />
President’s<br />
Address<br />
As president of <strong>Kilkenny</strong> <strong>RFC</strong>, it<br />
gives both myself and the club<br />
great pride to be contesting in a<br />
bank of Ireland Provincial Towns<br />
Cup final again.<br />
The last few years have been difficult for<br />
every club and sport, needless to say a<br />
massive amount of work has gone into<br />
our club, upgrading our facilities in this<br />
period through various fundraisers etc.<br />
The team effort by everybody, sponsors,<br />
supporters, ex-players and committee<br />
members made it all possible. I would<br />
also like to thank the Bank of Ireland<br />
and Leinster Rugby for the running of this<br />
tournament.<br />
Our minis and youths have provided<br />
a great outlet to all, and huge thanks<br />
goes out to all our coaches/managers.<br />
Women’s rugby has grown in the club<br />
due to the driving forces of Margaret<br />
Hennessy and current women’s coach<br />
Paddy Mosse, as well as the many others<br />
involved through the age groups.<br />
Today promises to be great game with no<br />
quarter asked or given. Both sides have<br />
endured a tough season with the cream<br />
rising to the top, and we have both been<br />
here before in the last few years. The best<br />
of luck to our senior side and head coach<br />
David O'Connor and his backroom<br />
team. This team is ready to rise to the big<br />
occasion.<br />
David Matthews<br />
President <strong>Kilkenny</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
18 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
Provincial Towns Cup Paths to the final<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
SECOND ROUND<br />
Edenderry 20 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 34<br />
At one point, Leinster League Division<br />
2B Edenderry looked like bridging the<br />
gap to 1A <strong>Kilkenny</strong> in a final scoreline<br />
that was most flattering to the winners at<br />
Coolavacoose.<br />
The visitors may have been duped by<br />
getting off to a fine start from a try by<br />
Liam Caddy.<br />
They were rocked by a 20-point burst by<br />
Edenderry in a brilliant period of play<br />
that yielded tries for wing Joey Higgins,<br />
flanker Mark Rushe and points from the<br />
boot of Shane Cummins.<br />
In fairness, <strong>Kilkenny</strong> did regain their<br />
composure, thanks in no small measure<br />
to prop Murt Leahy and second-row Wes<br />
Carter.<br />
They applied the right blend of using<br />
their forwards to make headway and<br />
using their backs to reduce the leeway as<br />
centre Podge Mahon and wing Lyndon<br />
Brannigan crossed for tries to make it<br />
20-17 at the break.<br />
Edenderry had impressive performers in<br />
full-back Richard Gill and young tighthead<br />
Dylan Casey, enabling the home<br />
side to press for more scores.<br />
The best they could do was apply<br />
pressure, despite getting over the<br />
whitewash twice and camping inside the<br />
22 for a sustained period.<br />
When Edenderry couldn’t deliver enough<br />
points from their possession, <strong>Kilkenny</strong><br />
showed them how to do it.<br />
Scrum-half Hugh Corkery, brother<br />
to Leinster out-half Tim, capped an<br />
impressive personal performance with<br />
a smartly taken try to give <strong>Kilkenny</strong><br />
breathing space in the final quarter.<br />
QUARTER-FINAL<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 13 County Carlow 8<br />
This was a ‘knock ’em down, drag em<br />
out’ traditional Towns Cup scrap which<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> edged in Foulkstown.<br />
In a game of few chances, where<br />
defences had the edge for the most part,<br />
the home side’s view on playing the<br />
percentages paid dividends early on.<br />
The pressure applied accrued penalty<br />
opportunities which scrum-half Hugh<br />
Corkery took for a 6-0 lead in the first<br />
quarter.<br />
Already, the ferocity of the physical giveand-take<br />
suggested this would go right<br />
to the wire.<br />
A quick scouting report would have<br />
revealed how the Carlow centres are a<br />
handful and Dave McDermott’s break<br />
was turned into a try by midfield partner<br />
Donal Crotty in the 26th minute.<br />
A smart move at the front of a <strong>Kilkenny</strong><br />
lineout sent David O’Connor through the<br />
middle where Owen Edghill executed<br />
a try-saving tackle to leave it 6-5 at the<br />
break.<br />
No 8 O’Connor would not be denied<br />
the next time he came within a sniff of the<br />
whitewash for Corkery’s conversion to<br />
make it 13-5 in the 50th minute.<br />
But, <strong>Kilkenny</strong> were unable to stretch away<br />
from the visitors. In fact, Carlow had the<br />
better of the territory and the chances.<br />
They would probably look on their<br />
decision-making as suspect in the<br />
aftermath, eschewing shots at goal to go<br />
for gold through the lineout.<br />
In the end, by the time full-back Richie<br />
Whyte decided to make it a one-score<br />
game, it was into injury-time and <strong>Kilkenny</strong><br />
had enough discipline to see it out.<br />
SEMI-FINAL<br />
Dundalk 15 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 20<br />
A good start proved more than half<br />
the battle as <strong>Kilkenny</strong> came away from<br />
Forenaughts, Naas <strong>RFC</strong>’s home ground,<br />
with a well-deserved win to make the final<br />
for the first time since 2015.<br />
The South-East club were on point right<br />
from the opening exchanges, moving into<br />
the lead from left-wing Aidan McDonald,<br />
who was given the licence to show up on<br />
the right to finish.<br />
The go-forward of Roy Stanley and Gary<br />
Dunne was providing the front foot for<br />
Jake McDonald to orchestrate the attack,<br />
doubling the gap in the 19th minute when<br />
Hugh Corkery crossed in style.<br />
The ability to get into the right areas<br />
and take points away continued when<br />
Corkery struck for 13-0 in the 27th<br />
minute.<br />
It looked like Dundalk would go in<br />
scoreless at half-time when Ultan Murphy<br />
missed a penalty.<br />
But, they came quickly for the backs to<br />
work space on the left for centre Dave<br />
Symes to find a soft shoulder for a try to<br />
make it 13-5 on the break.<br />
Still, the decision was taken by coach<br />
Dave Fearon to make changes at halftime,<br />
bringing in a new tighthead and two<br />
half-backs.<br />
The momentum truly swung when captain<br />
Tiernan Gonnelly brilliantly breached the<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> defence for full-back Murphy’s<br />
conversion to make it 13-12 in the 54th<br />
minute.<br />
Almost immediately, the decision to red<br />
card Derek Williams for an off the ball<br />
incident changed the complexion of the<br />
game again.<br />
This was followed by another hammer<br />
blow in the form of a try by flanker<br />
Stanley and conversion from Corkery to<br />
make it an eight-point edge.<br />
In the 65th minute, <strong>Kilkenny</strong>’s Dunne<br />
was given a yellow card for a tip tackle<br />
to make it 14 v 14, Murphy kicking a<br />
penalty in the 74th minute.<br />
Dundalk spent time near the line, using<br />
the set-piece to force penalties and, in the<br />
last play, Leka Hifo was held up over the<br />
line as the final whistle blew.<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 19<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
Provincial Towns Cup Paths to the final<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
SECOND ROUND<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> 22 Naas 15<br />
The power of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> was too much for<br />
Naas at Milltown House.<br />
Unfortunately, Naas lost their loose<br />
forward Killian O’Brien early on which led<br />
to some adjustments.<br />
Naas centre Andy Ellis, a standout, was<br />
able to breach the home defence for<br />
out-half Colm Doyle to convert in the 16th<br />
minute.<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> were able to control the scrum<br />
which was the platform they used as often<br />
as possible.<br />
It wasn’t long before it was level when<br />
Shane Bass was able to convert pressure<br />
into points for Gavin Kennedy to kick the<br />
extras.<br />
However, <strong>Ashbourne</strong> really turned the<br />
screw in the second quarter, Robbie<br />
Sparza’s lineout work paving the way for<br />
Jimmy McCaghy to punch in the try.<br />
Then, out-half Kennedy broke the line<br />
to serve Colm Craigie for the third try,<br />
converted by Kennedy to make it 19-7 at<br />
half-time.<br />
It certainly got interesting when scrum-half<br />
Derry Lenihan benefitted from a spilt ball to<br />
ghost over in the 49th minute and a Doyle<br />
penalty narrowed the difference further.<br />
It was a fair old scrap from there, Naas<br />
looking to stretch their game as <strong>Ashbourne</strong><br />
preferred to squeeze the pressure well<br />
enough for Kennedy to shoot the final three<br />
points of the game.<br />
QUARTER-FINAL<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> 34 Athy 13<br />
Those wily old foxes out in <strong>Ashbourne</strong> had<br />
too much guile for Athy at Milltown House.<br />
Their winning pedigree has been honed<br />
over many years and the experienced<br />
men in the forward pack had too much<br />
experience for the youthful, lighter Athy<br />
eight.<br />
Of course, it didn’t help the Kildare club’s<br />
confidence when <strong>Ashbourne</strong> powered into<br />
a 7-0 lead from Andrew Whittaker’s finish<br />
and Gavin Kennedy’s conversion in the<br />
fourth minute.<br />
A yellow card for Whittaker did level the<br />
playing field and Athy wing Tom Glynn<br />
struck a penalty in the 13th minute.<br />
However, the Leinster League 1A club was<br />
able to move through the gears for second<br />
row Sean Kent to go over from Jake Wall’s<br />
dexterous offload for another converted try<br />
at the end of the first quarter.<br />
The addition of a penalty from out-half<br />
Kennedy stretched the advantage out to<br />
17-3 at the interval.<br />
It looked like a steep hill, if not quite a<br />
mountain for Athy, given <strong>Ashbourne</strong>’s<br />
know-how around game management.<br />
Athy are a club on-the-up, evidenced by<br />
how they dominated 2A this season. But,<br />
this was another level.<br />
However, they were not about to let the<br />
scoreboard get in the way of their goal,<br />
scrum-half Evan Stephenson breaking<br />
superbly to set up a simple two-on-one for<br />
Tony Martin to cross in the 44th minute.<br />
Three minutes later, they came again to<br />
force a penalty when the forwards rumbled<br />
menacingly. The reliable Glynn struck from<br />
close range to make it a four-point game.<br />
Game on. Or so it looked. That was when<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> decided to take control, using<br />
the front row to squeeze the game in the<br />
scrum.<br />
Behind the set-piece were half-backs<br />
Shane Bass and Kennedy probing and<br />
manoeuvring the forwards into position.<br />
Field position was taken and Kennedy<br />
clipped over another three points before<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong>’s physical strength began to<br />
take a toll.<br />
The ability of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> to play the game<br />
at their pace, frustrating Athy’s need for<br />
speed resulted in a penalty try in the 62nd<br />
minute.<br />
An inevitable air descended on the game<br />
as the home club played smart, effective<br />
rugby, even making room for an excellent<br />
try by right-wing Matt Connolly for Kelan<br />
Toolan to convert.<br />
SEMI-FINAL<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> 23 Mullingar 15<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> were made to work for a<br />
place in the final when having to come<br />
from behind at North Kildare’s The Maws<br />
venue.<br />
Resilient Mullingar brought early energy<br />
20 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong><br />
to take the 1A club by surprise, moving in<br />
front from Stuart Flynn’s penalty in the third<br />
minute.<br />
The failure of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> to match that<br />
early enthusiasm enabled Flynn to double<br />
the advantage in the sixth minute.<br />
It wasn’t long before Mullingar were back<br />
on the front foot for Flynn to slot another for<br />
9-0 in the 13th minute.<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> had to get going or risk being<br />
victims of a shock, the set-piece looking like<br />
their best avenue to points.<br />
They flexed their muscles from a lineout that<br />
turned into a maul for loosehead prop Alan<br />
Wall to shear off for the try, Kealan Toolan<br />
converting in the 18th minute.<br />
It was Flynn who popped over a penalty<br />
from just right of the posts after an offside<br />
in midfield to make it 12-7 in the 23rd<br />
minute.<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> were gaining access into the<br />
opposition half a bit easier as Alan and<br />
Jake Wall stepped up their impact, Toolan<br />
notching three points to make it a two-point<br />
game on the half-hour.<br />
The weight of pressure was stressing<br />
Mullingar and flanker Lemeki Viapula was<br />
binned for his part in keeping <strong>Ashbourne</strong><br />
out, instead leaving it 12-10 at the break.<br />
It was a matter of grinding out the yards<br />
for the Meath club and full-back Toolan’s<br />
penalty, from the left, handed them the lead<br />
for the first time in the 48th minute.<br />
The sunny afternoon made life<br />
uncomfortable for the players, stamina<br />
tested to the full as Toolan stretched the<br />
game to four points with a penalty from the<br />
same position just past the hour mark.<br />
The immaculate Flynn struck for the fifth<br />
time from straight in front of the posts on<br />
the back of indiscipline at the breakdown<br />
in the 65th minute to make it a one-point<br />
game.<br />
The ability to dominate possession and<br />
territory almost paid off when <strong>Ashbourne</strong><br />
moved the ball wide, full-back Colm<br />
Craigie and centre Jack O’Brien both<br />
going close.<br />
A superior lineout and scrum cleared the<br />
way for Sean Kent to scoop a ball off the<br />
floor and pass to Conor Hurley, who made<br />
it to the posts for Toolan’s conversion to<br />
give <strong>Ashbourne</strong> a two-score lead they held<br />
onto.
Shea<br />
Gallagher<br />
President’s<br />
Address<br />
As President of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> <strong>RFC</strong>,<br />
it is a huge honour for me to<br />
come to Cill Dara <strong>RFC</strong> today, as<br />
we prepare to undertake the<br />
final of the 2022 Bank of Ireland<br />
Provincial Towns Cup Final.<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> won the Provincial Towns<br />
Cup in 2014 and we hope to repeat that<br />
today.<br />
We have had many a battle with our<br />
old friends <strong>Kilkenny</strong>, both in our recent<br />
league and in the past. It will be a tight<br />
game as we both know one another very<br />
well, it will be competitive to the end!<br />
I would like to thank Bank of Ireland<br />
for their continued sponsorship of this<br />
wonderful competition, the Leinster<br />
Branch for running the show and Cill<br />
Dara for hosting the final. It is sure to be a<br />
wonderful day.<br />
I would like to take this opportunity<br />
to thank all of our sponsors for their<br />
continued support, our coaches and<br />
committees both minis and youths, and<br />
our Executive for their tireless work<br />
running the club, it is hugely appreciated.<br />
Finally, to our first, second and third team<br />
players, coaches and management team<br />
I want to congratulate them on managing<br />
to turn this year around after a bad start<br />
due to injuries.<br />
It is thanks to all of their efforts and<br />
determination that we are here today in<br />
the final.<br />
I wish both teams the best of luck, may<br />
the best team win.<br />
Shea Gallagher<br />
President of <strong>Ashbourne</strong> <strong>RFC</strong><br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 21<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
ROLL OF HON<br />
The Provincial<br />
Towns Cup was<br />
originally called<br />
the Leinster Junior<br />
Challenge Cup<br />
but, following a<br />
reorganisation<br />
of the Leinster<br />
Branch’s<br />
competitions in<br />
1925, it became a<br />
competition for<br />
clubs outside of<br />
Dublin and the<br />
Provincial Towns<br />
Cup was born.<br />
Today’s game is the<br />
95th instalment of<br />
the competition in<br />
its current guise.<br />
1926<br />
Enniscorthy 6 Co Kildare 0<br />
1927<br />
Enniscorthy 11 Balbriggan 0<br />
1928<br />
Balbriggan 0 Athy 0<br />
Replay<br />
Balbriggan 8 Athy 0<br />
1929<br />
Co Carlow 9 Athy 0<br />
1930<br />
Wexford Wanderers 6 Athy 3<br />
1931<br />
Co Carlow 9 Navan 0<br />
1932<br />
Dundalk 7 Longford 0<br />
1933<br />
Co Carlow 6 Wexford Wanderers 5<br />
1934<br />
Enniscorthy 5 Shannon Buccaneers 3<br />
1935<br />
Shannon Buccaneers 16 Naas 0<br />
1936<br />
Shannon Buccaneers 6 Dundalk 3<br />
1937<br />
Dundalk 18 Shannon Buccaneers 3<br />
1938<br />
Athy 6 Dundalk 5<br />
1939<br />
Dundalk 3 Shannon Buccaneers 0<br />
1940<br />
Athy 12 Dundalk 3<br />
1941<br />
Skerries 7 Wexford Wanderers 5<br />
1942<br />
Curragh 9 Dundalk 0<br />
1943<br />
Skerries 4 Athy 3<br />
1944<br />
Skerries 17 Curragh 0<br />
1945<br />
Dundalk 17 Curragh 0<br />
1946<br />
Tullamore 13 Skerries 0<br />
1947<br />
Dundalk 9 Skerries 6<br />
1948<br />
Dundalk 3 Athy 0<br />
1949<br />
Dundalk 3 Naas 0<br />
1950<br />
Skerries 0 Rathdowney 0<br />
Replay<br />
Skerries 3 Rathdowney 0<br />
1951<br />
Skerries 12 Rathdowney 0<br />
1952<br />
Skerries 6 Naas 5<br />
1953<br />
North Kildare 9 Rathdowney 0<br />
1954<br />
Mullingar 3 Naas 0<br />
1955<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 3 North Kildare 3<br />
Replay<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 9 North Kildare 3<br />
1956<br />
Mullingar 6 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 3<br />
1957<br />
Co Carlow 6 Mullingar 6<br />
Replay<br />
Carlow 9 Mullingar 3<br />
1958<br />
North Kildare 6 Naas 3<br />
1959<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 3 North Kildare 0<br />
1960<br />
Tullamore 17 Wexford Wanderers 8<br />
1961<br />
Co Carlow 11 Navan 3<br />
1962<br />
Delvin 12 Athy 0<br />
1963<br />
Enniscorthy 3 Skerries 3<br />
22 | 2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>
OUR PROVINCIAL<br />
TOWNS CUP<br />
Replay<br />
Enniscorthy 5 Skerries 3<br />
1964<br />
Navan 6 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 6<br />
Replay<br />
Navan 5 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 0<br />
1965<br />
Co Carlow 9 Athy 6<br />
1966<br />
Navan 8 Wexford Wanderers 3<br />
1967<br />
Curragh 6 Drogheda 3<br />
1968<br />
Navan 6 Arklow 3<br />
1969<br />
Edenderry 6 Drogheda 3<br />
1970<br />
Dundalk 8 Navan 3<br />
1971<br />
Skerries 14 Navan 6<br />
1972<br />
Skerries 19 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 6<br />
1973<br />
Skerries 12 North Kildare 11<br />
1974<br />
Skerries 6 Arklow 3<br />
1975<br />
Roscrea 8 Curragh 7<br />
1976<br />
Tullamore 9 Drogheda 3<br />
1977<br />
Co Carlow 9 Athy 6<br />
1978<br />
Athy 14 Curragh 9<br />
1979<br />
Skerries 12 Co Carlow 7<br />
1980<br />
Roscrea 11 Portlaoise 10<br />
1981<br />
Athy 8 Co Carlow 3<br />
1982<br />
Portlaoise 7 Naas 6<br />
1983<br />
Edenderry 6 Athy 3<br />
1984<br />
Athy 13 Portlaoise 6<br />
1985<br />
Arklow 9 Drogheda 6<br />
1986<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 10 Curragh 0<br />
1987<br />
Dundalk 13 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 6<br />
1988<br />
Navan 7 Portlaoise 3<br />
1989<br />
Enniscorthy 6 Mullingar 0<br />
1990<br />
Navan 14 Co Carlow 13<br />
1991<br />
Navan 34 Athy 15<br />
1992<br />
Co Carlow 25 Enniscorthy 15<br />
1993<br />
Co Carlow 9 Mullingar 9<br />
Replay<br />
Co Carlow 25 Mullingar 18<br />
1994<br />
Co Carlow 20 Tullamore 15<br />
1995<br />
Naas 17 Enniscorthy 6<br />
1996<br />
Co Carlow 25 Mullingar 10<br />
1997<br />
Co Carlow 21 Navan 3<br />
1998<br />
Naas 13 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 3<br />
1999<br />
Navan 18 <strong>Ashbourne</strong> 10<br />
2000<br />
Navan 9 Dundalk 7<br />
2001<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 9 Portlaoise 8<br />
2002<br />
<strong>Kilkenny</strong> 33 Co Carlow 13<br />
2003<br />
Portlaoise 20 Navan 3<br />
2004<br />
Arklow 8 Portlaoise 3<br />
2005<br />
Naas 23 Boyne 16<br />
2006<br />
Tullamore 25 Wicklow 3<br />
2007<br />
Navan 14 Skerries 3<br />
2008<br />
Navan 30 Tullow 13<br />
2009<br />
Boyne 27 Tullamore 21<br />
2010<br />
Boyne 32 Tullamore 25<br />
2011<br />
Dundalk 35 Tullamore 20<br />
2012<br />
Enniscorthy 23 Tullow 17<br />
2013<br />
Tullamore 38 Longford 6<br />
2014<br />
<strong>Ashbourne</strong> 6 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 3<br />
2015<br />
Enniscorthy 9 <strong>Kilkenny</strong> 8<br />
2016<br />
Wicklow 28 Enniscorthy 21<br />
2017<br />
Tullow 20 Skerries 3<br />
2018<br />
Enniscorthy 20 Tullow 13<br />
2019<br />
Enniscorthy 10 Wicklow 9<br />
2020<br />
Unplayed due to Covid-19<br />
2021<br />
Unplayed due to Covid-19<br />
2022 BANK OF IRELAND PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL | 23<br />
ASHBOURNE <strong>RFC</strong> VS KILKENNY <strong>RFC</strong>