Newbridge and Naas advance in Towns Cup as Athy learn their fate
Centre James Parkinson was influential in Newbridge overcoming Clondalkin in the Towns Cup on Sunday. Photo: Michael Anderson.
Newbridge began their Towns Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory over familiar foes Clondalkin in Rosetown on Sunday. Coming into the game, Newbridge sat third in Leinster League Division 2A, while Clondalkin arrived as the bottom side in Division 1B.
The hosts started brightly and took the lead after ten minutes when captain Denis Clarke powered over from close range. Donal Cashman added the conversion.
Clondalkin got on the scoreboard with a penalty, but a Robbie Waters try, converted by Cashman, left Newbridge up 14–3 at half time.
The hosts began the second half with two tries from Gavin Houlihan, the first created by James Parkinson and Darragh Whyte while Will Jennings and Paddy Corbett made the second.
Clondalkin hit a purple patch, with Alex Doyle and Lemeki Vaipulu both powering over for a try as the deficit was slashed to 26–15.
But Newbridge finished in style when Parkinson and Waters made space for Stephen Cooke, who touched down in the corner to put daylight between the sides.
Portlaoise await in the Last 16 after they beat Portarlington in the Laois derby.
Darragh Whyte; Gavin Houlihan, Riain Murphy, James Parkinson, Zack Meehan; Donal Cashman, Robert Waters; David Morgan, William Jennings, Brendan Commane; Steven McElligott, Jack Moore; Cameron English, Denis Clarke, Max McLoughlin.
Adam Bingham, Connall Sharkey, Cillian Beirne, Patrick Corbett, Chris Leech, Fergal Doyle, Stephen Cooke.
Naas's first team play in the AIL, and as such, it falls on their seconds to represent the club in the Towns Cup. Naas 2 ply their trade the Leinster League Premier 2, where they currently occupy top spot, while Ashbourne are mid-table in Division 1B of the Leinster League.
Naas took an early lead with tries from Sam Dunne and Paddy McMahon, both converted by Peter Osborne. Fintan O'Malley added a third try midway through the half before Ashbourne hit back with a converted try.
The Kildare side responded with a fourth try courtesy of Lorcan Murphy, converted by Osborne; but a second converted try from the hosts left it 26-14 at half time.
Osborne landed a couple of penalties for Nass after the restart, but a the hosts replied with two tries and a conversion to trail by just six points with an hour gone.
But Naas closed out the game with Osborne converting late tries from John King and Ethan Travers.
Naas are back in Ashbourne's neck of the woods for Round 2, when they face a Boyne side who received a bye in the first round.
Peter Osborne; Andrew Carroll, Colm Stapleton, David Butler, Sam Dunne; Ethan Travers, Cormac King; John King, Fintan O'Malley, Patrick Brophy; Paddy McMahon, Lorcan Murphy; Jason Cutler, Mikkel Andresen, Paul Tolofua.
Calum Coyne, Tadhg Dooley, Conor Butler, Jack Rogers, Muiris Cleary, Ruairí Cleary, Derry Lenehan.
North Kildare knew they were up against it when they welcome Longford to Kilcock on Sunday, a team who have lost only twice all season and sit 14 points above North Kildare in Division 2A.
Longford ran in three tries in a comfortable victory, and added insult to injury by keeping their hosts scoreless.
Christopher Sheils; Patrick Casey, Daniel Corr, Conor Byrne, Jack Gartland; Dylan Morrow, Conor McCrossan; Conor Duff, Jack Wiseman, Callum Wall; Ryan Clancy, Luke Dempsey; Colm O'Searcaigh, Dillon Grogan, Mark Prendergast.
Graham Loughran, William Tiller, Luke O'Leary, James Phelan, Jonathan Deane, Joe Gerry, Michael O'Donoghue.
Reigning Towns Cup Champions Athy received a bye in Round 1 and will start the defence of their title at home to Navan seconds, who play in the same league as Naas seconds and beat Edenderry 23-7 in Round 1.
