Wicklow v Ashbourne Provincial Towns Cup

Ashbourne Bow Out of Towns Cup

Provincial Towns Cup is over for this season when they bowed out in Wicklow on Sunday to a home side who were up for the challenge and never let Ashbourne into the game. On a wet day in Wicklow Ashbourne never turned up and will have to wait till next season for another chance.

Discipline was an issue for both sides with both getting two yellow cards a-piece but it seemed to have more of an effect on Ashbourne. The first yellow cards were given 15 minutes in with Keith Kennedy and the Wicklow hooker being given a 10-minute break and with a minute Casey Dunne had put Ashbourne ahead. But with 8 minutes Wicklow carved open the Ashbourne defense to score under the post for a converted try. Dunne responded with another penalty and at 7 to 6 Ashbourne was in with a shout.

Set pieces have been a strong point all season for Ashbourne but Wicklow were more than a match with a well-drilled pack and in the lineouts they were working many moves from good ball. This seemed to drain some of the confidence from Ashbourne but Wicklow defense were also nipping any Ashbourne move in the bud before they gained any momentum.

Two more Wicklow penalties before the break saw Wicklow turn leading 13 points to 6 but Ashbourne were still only a score of the pace, but disaster struck from the kick-off to start he second half when Wicklow score in the right corner and their 10 converted a difficult kick.

Ashbourne continued to work hard and McCaghy led from the front with Gavin Kennedy and David Carey working well at halfback. Keith Kennedy made way for Mark Rooney while Jake Wall was replace by Eugene Gallagher. Progress was difficult and Ashbourne’s discipline was an issue. It was not helped with James Rooney was yellow carded which seemed harsh. In the 25 minute Wicklow stretched their lead with another 3 points.

Ashbourne had their best period of the game and with the pack gaining in confidence. It resulted in penalty try and Ashbourne you thought were back in business. Down by 23 points to 13 and with Wicklow a man down an expected fight back was expected. But it did not materialize. Dunne missed a penalty but Wicklow converted two more to stretch the lead to 29 points to 13. When the final whistle went Wicklow celebrate d their day and Ashbourne were left to rue a bad day at the office.

Team:

Alan Wall, James McCaghy, Mark Behan, Sean Kent, Jake Wall, Keith Kennedy, James Rooney, Simon Deevy, Gavin Kennedy, David Carey, Conor McNally, Charles Coyle, Adam Sherrard, Casey Dunne, Dermot Colreavy

Subs:

Daniel Norton, Ciaran Roche, Mark Rooney, Eugene Gallagher, Kelan Toolan