Leinster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors

A Towns Cup to Savour
BY DEBBIE CARTY
Kilkenny RFC are a
provincial club with a
strong tradition.
The club is located in Foulkstown,
on the outskirts of the city and
in the heart of hurling country.
Despite this, rugby is thriving in
the marble city, with almost 600
members and modern facilities,
the club is well prepared for
future success.
2022 was the year for the county's
rugby club to fly the flag of success
for the county, successfully bridging a
20-year gap to regain possession of the
most unique and coveted junior rugby
competition in Ireland, the Bank of
Ireland Provincial Towns Cup.
Under the mentorship of head coach
Steve Ashmore, the club had come up
short on two occasions, in 2014 and
2015, losing both by narrow margins.
The pain of these losses can still be felt
amongst the playing group, but the
lessons from the losses made them better
value in victory. Ashmore departed the
club in 2017 to explore other coaching
opportunities, but his philosophy and
blueprint remained.
Fast forward five seasons, player coach
David O'Connor worked tirelessly
to assemble a cohort of players and
coaching staff that could put Kilkenny
back in contention for provincial
silverware.
Ironically, this included the return of
the aforementioned Steve Ashmore as
senior coach. Eamonn Dooley and Ray
Pembroke came in as team managers
with John Buckley added to the ticket
as assistant coach and Mark Coughlan
was appointed as team administrator.
The squad was bolstered throughout,
with focus on bringing home grown
players back to the club. This saw the
return of utility back Hugh Corkery from
UL Bohemian, Andrew Warner from
Old Wesley and Aiden McDonald from
Cashel, while import Jake Pratley also
joined.
After a bye in the opening round, they
beat Edenderry in a typically tough battle
in Coolavacoose. Next up was a tricky
quarter-final draw at home to old rivals
Carlow, who are coached by Corey
Carty, son of current Leinster Rugby
President, Debbie. Luckily, the Noresiders
got the home draw. Played in warm
conditions the match was a quintessential
cup tie. Kilkenny came out on top in a
fiercely contested game. A semi-final
against Dundalk awaited.
Played in Foutnaughts, home of Naas
RFC, Kilkenny raced into an early lead,
but a resilient Dundalk chipped away to
make it a real contest. In the final play of
the game, Kilkenny's Podge Mahon, just
managed to hold up a certain try and by
the skin of their teeth the cats were back
in the Provincial Towns Cup Final.
With the experience of 2014 and 2015
finals tucked away, and the methodical
approach of Dave O'Connor and Steve
Ashmore now to the fore, Kilkenny had a
steely focus in their preparations.
Ashbourne, the same side who beat them
in 2014, were their final opponents but
they were no match for Kilkenny as they
beat their old foes 32-06 to banish the
ghosts of 2014 and 2015.