Competition, Venue, Date, KO Time: Provincial Towns Cup, At Mullingar, Sunday 7.30pm kickoff

This turned out to be a thrilling Towns Cup match, which, unfortunately, Ashbourne lost out be a single point deep into injury time. This is a game visitors should have won!

On a crisp but clear evening, under Mullingar's new lights both teams engaged in attacking and running rugby. Mullingar, bolstered by some of their promising Under 21 squad were a different side that Ashbourne meet in the League earlier in the season. But Ashbourne started strongly with Cathal Field and Gavin Kennedy prominent from the beginning. Their probing kicks to the corner kept Mullingar deep in their own half and gave Ashbourne confidence. Stephen O'Neill showed up well but the breakthrough came in the 7th minute.

Prop Alan Wall was up quickly to charge down a clearance kick in the Mullingar 22 and won the chase for the touchdown, which Gavin Kennedy converted. Ashbourne sat back a bit and Mullingar started working their way down the field and were awarded in the 12 minute with a well taken penalty. This was repeated 5 minutes later with another penalty conversion for lazy runner infringement.

All night Swanipoel was big in the tackle but in the 22nd minute the ball was moved to him and he took it into contact and set up the ruck. Mullingar were penalised for hands in the ruck and Kennedy added the 3 points. There is no doubt at this stage Ashbourne were looking the better side. The young front row of Jordan, Wall and Keegan were more than a match for the opposition while Shane Eoin Kennedy and Eugene Kennedy add the power and were very mobile. Bolster (in as a replacement for Emery), McManus and Gavin were covering great ground in the backrow and it Gavin who set up Ashbourne's second try in the 28th minute.

Gavin was up quickly on the Mullingar outhalf as he cleared his lines. He charged down the ball and winger Sean Casey was in hot pursuit. Though his opposite number recovered the ball, Casey wrestled the ball from him and dived over the line for a try. Kennedy converted. Mullingar had two more attempts at goal before half time, but their kicker was only successful with one. The teams turned with Ashbourne up by 8 points.

Halftime:

Mullingar .................. 09

Ashbourne ............... 17

Ashbourne started the second half on the attack and were deep in the Mullingar 22. The ball criss crossed the field, until Kennedy turned and took an opportunist drop goal to stretch the lead to 20 points to 9. But unfortunately this was to be the last points for the visitors and though the maintained the pressure it was penalties that was their undoing.

The Mullingar kicker should his capability with 4 penalties in the second half to bring Mullingar in by a point. The last penalty came deep in injury time and it broke the hearts of the visitors. A number of games this season have been lost in this manner, but discipline is the key and Ashbourne has to work at this.

In Cup matches, no team wants to lose but the spectators on the night walked away having watched a great game. Back to the League!

Full-Time Score:

Mullingar .................. 21

Ashbourne ............... 20

Next week Ashbourne are home to Gorey in the Leinster League on Sunday next at 2.30pm

Best for Ashbourne:

Stephen O'Neill, Shane Eoin Kennedy, Gavin Kennedy

Man of the Match:

Alan Wall

Try Scorers:

Alan Wall x 1

Sean Casey x 1

Penalties:

Gavin Kennedy x 2

Conversions:

Gavin Kennedy X 2

Team List:

Dermot Colreavy, Sean Casey, Peter Swanipoel, Stephen O'Neill, Eric Greene, Gavin Kennedy, Cathal Field, Frank Keegan, Alan Wall, Christy Jordan, Shane Eoin Kennedy, Eugene Gallagher, John Gavin (Capt), David McManus, Jason Emery

Subs: Barry O'Neill, Ken Bolster, Stephen Magee, Ciaran Boylan, Allan Gallagher