Boyne Lift Provincial Towns Cup For The First Time
Boyne secured the Newstalk-sponsored Provincial Towns Cup for the first time in their history with a 27-21 victory over Tullamore at Ashbourne RFC on Sunday afternoon.
2009 NEWSTALK PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL: Sunday, April 19
BOYNE 27 TULLAMORE 21, Ashbourne RFC
Scorers: Boyne: Tries: Niall Kerbey 2, Richard Downey, Brian Howell; Cons: Niall Kerbey 2; Pen: Niall Kerbey
Tullamore: Tries: Colin Hughes, Brian Geraghty; Con: Gearoid O’Grady; Pens: Gearoid O’Grady 3
Boyne full-back Niall Kerbey was the man-of-the-match in Sunday’s decider, claiming a 17-point haul in a fine all-round display as Tullamore’s hopes of an AIB Junior Cup and Provincial Towns Cup double were dashed.
Kerbey opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a try. After 25 minutes Boyne centre Richard Downey touched down, with Kerbey converting a difficult effort from the touchline, to extend the lead to 12-0.
Tullamore’s response was immediate and left winger Colin Hughes scored an unconverted try two minutes later.
Out-half Gearoid O’Grady added a penalty to make the score 12-8 before a sudden scoring frenzy saw Brian Howell touch down for Boyne, with Kerbey converting.
The Offaly side’s second row Brian Geraghty touched down to make it 19-15, before Kerbey added a penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 22-15 at the interval.
O’Grady was first out of the blocks in the second half with a 47th minute penalty goal and for the next 15 minutes it was nip and tuck until the decisive score in the match which came from Kerbey in the 63rd minute, though he missed the conversion.
Tullamore skipper O’Grady narrowed the gap to six points, three minutes later, with a 30-metre penalty goal, but try as they might they could not break down the resolute Boyne defence.
Boyne held on to spark delirious celebrations at the final whistle and lift the Provincial Towns Cup for the first time in their history.
BOYNE: Niall Kerbey; Adam Sherrard, Bevan Duffy, Richard Downey, Brian Howell; Brian Collins, Craig McGrath (capt); Cillian Duffy, Brendan Muldowney, Paddy Cooney, Paddy Muldowney, Ian O’Reilly, Nico Vorster, Hadley Dryden, Eoin Collins.
Replacements used: Laurence McEvoy for Cooney (55 mins), John O’Callaghan for Vorster (71).
TULLAMORE: Niall Geraghty; Mark Whelan, Ivor Scully, Aaron Deverell, Colin Hughes; Gearoid O’Grady (capt), Richie Hughes; Ronan Glennon, Cian Glennon, Alvin Bracken, Dave Hanlon, Brian Geraghty, Donal Milne, Cathal Feighery, Colin Finnerty.
Replacements used: Andy Melville for Milne (43 mins), Ronan Scally for Bracken (65), Derek Farrell for Hughes, Philip Gardiner for Hughes (both 70).
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Leinster)