No Laois club but plenty of Laois interest as Athy pip Carlow to claim Towns Cup

Leinster Provincial Towns Cup Final 

Athy 18 

Carlow 17 

THE growth of rugby's popularity was clear for all to see in Forenaughts on Sunday afternoon, as the home of Naas RFC hosted the 2025 Leinster Provincial Towns Cup final between Athy and Carlow.

In an atmosphere reminiscent of Electric Picnic, supporters from both clubs flocked to the Kildare venue to see Athy crowned champions for the first time in over 40 years.

Carlow had all of their four Laois players in the starting lineup, with Killeshin's David McDermott at outside centre and an all-Laois front row of Arles man Patrick Rogers at loose head prop, Crettyard's Scott Neale at hooker and Killeshin's Tadhg Ronan in the number three jersey.

Athy have six Laois players among their ranks, with three in the starting lineup and another two on the bench. Wolfhill's Darragh Farrell started at inside centre with winger Cathal Fennessy and prop Karol Donohoe both hailing from Ballylinan. Another Ballylinan man, Eoin Farrell, was joined on the bench alongside Oran Kelleher of Barrowhouse; while their fourth Ballylinan man, Ciaran Fennessy, missed the final through injury.

These are two sides steeped in Towns Cup history, with Carlow winning the trophy on 12 occasions out of 16 finals before today, while Athy have been champions five times after 15 previous trips to the final.

This game was the fifth time Carlow and Athy have met in the prestigious Towns Cup final and the second time in a row for Athy to come out on top after Carlow had won the first three. Carlow have not been to a final, however, since 2002 and have not gotten their hands on the trophy since 1997. The wait has been even longer for Athy, who last reached the final in 1991 and last lifted the trophy in 1984 with a famous triumph over Portlaoise.

Athy owned the ball in the opening ten minutes of an amazing game of rugby. But Carlow defended incredibly well and pushed Athy all the way back into their 22 where Jonathan Crossley found space and darted in for the opening try. Former Knockbeg College student Ben Crotty added the extras.

Carlow almost went in for a second try straight from kick off, but Athy turned the ball over before releasing David Downey who ran the length of the pitch to touch down for an unbelievable try after quarter of an hour. Athy took the lead in the 33rd minute when another breakaway move saw Jack Henry receive a lovely pop-pass before racing over in the corner.

The Kildare side were in for a third try just two minutes later when Cathal Fennessy created some space out wide before galloping over in the opposite corner. Unfortunately for the Ballylinan man, he tweaked his hamstring scoring the try and was forced to leave the field. Despite huge pressure from Carlow in the final ten minutes it ended 15-7 at half time.

But Carlow had the perfect start after the break when Ben Crotty raced over in the corner in the opening minutes. Carlow went to their power game midway through the second half and regained the lead when Rhys Edgehill crossed over for his side's third try to go 17-15 in front.

Darragh Farrell was sensational in midfield but he was faced with three incredibly difficult conversions in the first half - all of which were from out on the sideline and all of which went narrowly wide. But to his enormous credit, he brushed all that off on the hour mark when he stood up and landed a lovely penalty from 35 yards out that not only put Athy back in front, but proved to be the winning of the game.

Carlow threw everything at Athy in last 20 minutes and had a penalty from halfway to win the game with the clock well in the red, but Crotty's kick fell just short as Athy got the ball clear to a rapturous ovation in Forenaughts.

SCORERS:

Athy: David Downey, Jack Henry, Cathal Fennessy (1 try each), Darragh Farrell (1 pen).

Carlow: Ben Crotty (1 try, 1 con), Jonathan Crossley, Rhys Edgehill (1 try each).

ATHY: Aidan Henry; David Downey, Tom Sheedy, Darragh Farrell, Cathal Fennessy; Craig Miller, Culann Carbery; Karol Donohoe, Niall O'Hanlon, Teodor Ciobanu; Kevin Downey, Niall Dunne; Jack Henry, James Sheedy, Tadgh Foley.

Replacements: Shane Horgan, Aaron Rowan, John Sheedy, James Harris, Eoin Farrell, Oran Kelleher, Graham O’Shaughnessy.

CARLOW: Ben Crotty; Jonathan Crossley, David McDermott, Sean Quinlan, Jamie McCabe; Brian Broderick, Daniel Crotty; Patrick Rogers, Scott Neale, Tadhg Ronan; Wesley Shirley, John Lyons; Cormac McElligott, Joel Brown, Conor Tracey.

Replacements: Evan Gordon, Caolan Fitzhenry, Rhys Edghill, John Murphy, Josh Cope.

Referee: Ian Thompson (Tullow & LBIRFU)