Anderson remembers the Towns Cup glory days
Members of Athy's 1984 Towns Cup winning pose for a picture outside Clancy's Bar in memory of their former team mate, Ger
It’s been a long wait but Athy are finally back in the Provincial Towns Cup Final. 34 years since the last final appearance, and 41 since their last win, feels like a lifetime ago but it wasn’t always that way.
Roger Anderson was part of the last Athy team to claim the Towns Cup in 1984. During the 1970’s and 80’s the club reached nine Towns cup semi-finals and five finals during a ten year golden era for the club.
“In 1977 we got to the final against Carlow,” remembers Anderson.
“We went into the game as huge underdogs. We kind of came out of nowhere. We were beaten after extra-time, it was 6-6 and then Brian Carberry kicked a penalty to win it, 9-6. It was a big game because Athy hadn’t won the cup since 1938. We then got back to the final in 1978. We played the Curragh in the final in Dundalk. Again, we went into the final as underdogs. They hadn’t lost any game all season and won their league, but we got the win in a tight game. We were a more seasoned outfit though after losing the final the year before, we won the 1981 and 1984 finals. A good few buses from Athy went up to those,” said Anderson.
The former Athy player said it was a special time to play for the club and that the town of Athy got behind the team.
“The town really got behind us during the period, but the same people that were at the final in 1977 were there in Dundalk in 1978. We got to 9 semi-finals in 10 years, the one year we didn’t get to the final, we won the plate. We won the 1981 final, 8-3, against Carlow. We went into that one as favourites. It was a typical Athy and Carlow game. There was a big crowd at that final in Portlaoise. We lost one final then after that in 1983 against Edenderry. We won the cup then though the following year, we beat Portlaoise in the final in Roscrea. I was very lucky I came into the team when there were a lot of good players in the club. It was a brilliant time and was very enjoyable.”
Anderson said there are some big differences between Athy RFC now, compared to the club back in the 1970’s and 80’s.
“Pretty much all the players in our squad now, have come through the underage structure in the club and have played in the underage structure in the club. It’s the same with nearly all clubs. In our day, we all came through the school’s system and played schools rugby. There was no underage in the club back then, it was just school’s rugby.”
Anderson is looking forward to this weekend’s final and believes this Athy have a great chance of making their own history.
“There is a great buzz around the town. The pressure doesn’t weigh on this team. It was a big thing for the club to reach the semi-final. That didn’t affect the players in the semi-final, the pressure of the semi-final didn’t affect them at all. They’re a good young team. Carlow are a good side as well. Our lads did very well to beat Tullow in the semi-final. The final will be a great occasion for both clubs. Both clubs have great tradition in the competition. If you like the history of the finals in this competition, I'd say Athy and Carlow is the most common pairing in the final. There have been great battles between the clubs down through the years and I am sure next weekend will be no different.”
