Seven-try Athy retain Fitzpatrick Cup
The Athy team with the Ann Fitzpatrick Cup Photo: Martin Rowe
The 2025 North Midlands Anne Fitzpatrick Cup belongs to Athy after a hugely impressive win over Kildare rivals, Naas, on Sunday afternoon in Silken Thomas Park.
Defending champions Athy ran in six tries, with full back Julie Nolan scoring a remarkable four tries, all created and converted by her fly-half partner Liz Brophy.
Athy came into this game with a 100% record in the round robin phase, including a narrow 34-31 win over Naas in Forenaughts. The sides collided in the league in November, again at Forenaughts, with Naas coming out on the right side of a narrow 17-13 result.
The final began with with a remarkable three converted tries in the opening 12 minutes. Athy got off to a blockbuster start and a opened the scoring in the sixth minute when a powerful scrum led to a delightful show-and-go from Brophy who released Nolan. The full back still had a lot of work to do, but brilliantly raced over for the try before Brophy added the conversion.
The Naas response was immediate as their pack forced their way towards the Athy try-line and soon went over thanks to a great pick-and-go from prop Emma Tully.
Amy McGuire's conversion levelled things at 7-7, but parity lasted only two minutes before Athy were in front again. Just as they had five minutes earlier, Brophy and Nolan combined for a brilliant try, with the full back crossing for her second of the afternoon as Brophy converted again to make it 14-7.
Naas tried to slow the game down after that and used their physically imposing pack to attack Athy at the set piece. They dominated possession and territory, but Athy held firm with 20 minutes of hard-nosed defending.
Their reward was a third try in the 34th minute which came after a series of patient and controlled phases before Nolan turned provider, releasing Sarah Hendy as the winger finished expertly in the corner. A sensational conversion from Brophy from the sideline continued her 100% record off the tee.
Scrum half Emma Henry had been running the show for Athy, but she was forced off injured on the stoke of half time with the her side leading 21-7 at the interval.
The second half was barely five minutes old when Athy crossed for their fourth try, this time coming from a lineout, as lock Niamh Goggin brought the play wide before Niamh O'Connor released centre Ella Keatley-Kindregan who charged in for the score.
Try number five came after quarter of an hour as Athy showed they can go direct, with some powerful drives from their forwards culminating with an impressive finish from prop Niamh Lavelle to make it 31-7 and the result all but decided.
Naas continued to press but were unable to manufacture a score throughout the third quarter.
Athy lost Goggin to the sin bin midway through the half and from the resulting penalty Naas went to the corner. They gathered the lineout and stretched Athy from right to left before lock Asta Rowe finished the move with a brilliantly finished try.
Amy McGuire could not close the gap further, however, as she was unlucky to see her conversion come back of the upright.
Athy responded in scintillating fashion, with the deadly duo of Brophy and Nolan combining once again as the fly half released her full back, with a fabulous finish as Nolan completed her hat-trick.
Brophy had missed her first two conversions of the half, but landed this one to make it 38-12 with ten minutes left on the clock.
Athy were briefly reduced to 13 players when centre Abbey Neale joined Goggin in the sin bin, but Naas were unable to make it count on the scoreboard this time around.
Instead it was Athy who broke away for another score, with Brophy and Nolan combining again with some sensational handling from Brophy and another outstanding finish from Nolan. Brophy added the extras to make it four assists and four conversions for Nolan's four tries.
Naas also ended the game with a player in the bin when Char Walker was shown a yellow card. Athy could not add to their tally, but the job was done and dusted as a 33-point victory saw them retain the Anne Fitzpatrick Cup in some style.
The result was part of a tremendous day for the club, with Athy's senior men beating Portarlington to capture the Lalor Cup as part of a famous double.
Julie Nolan (4 tries); Leah Molloy, Ella Keatley-Kindregan (1 try), Abbey Neale, Sarah Hendy (1 try); Liz Brophy (5 cons), Emma Henry; Niamh Lavelle (1 try), Shauna Healy, Rebecca Dunne; Aoibhinn Egan, Niamh Goggin; Amy Lynch, Anna Maguire, Claire Hughes.
Aoife Collins, Elaine Lynch, Alisha Lawlor, Niamh O'Connor, Lily Cunningham, Clodie Duclos, Jen Keane, Donnagh McManus.
Aoife Furlong; Isabel Furlong, Emma Lackey, Sophie Francis, Jamie Garland; Amy McGuire (1 con), Muireann Cawley; Emma Tully (1 try), Ellen Murray, Sorcha Nolan; Char Walker, Asta Rowe (1 try); Saoirse Ahern, Cleo Hubbard, Erica Vaughan.
Sophie Carroll, May Kelleher, Laura O'Brien, Abbie Cleary, Emma Kelly.
Tom Spollen
