Tullamore and Longford have qualified for the Provincial Towns Cup Final sponsored by Cleaning Contractors after victories in Sunday’s semi-finals…
A huge crowd packed into Athy Rugby Club’s grounds at the Showgrounds for the eagerly anticipated clash between Tullamore and Tullow.
After a tight opening forty minutes of a high-quality encounter it was the county Offaly side that led 3-0 but they asserted their authority early in the second period as they stormed into a 17-3 lead by the hour mark before eventually running out convincing 24-15 winners.
Longford survived a late barnstorming assault on their goal line as Roscrea tried unsuccessfully to breach a five-point deficit in Edenderry Rugby Club. Longford, who led 12-6 at half time scored the game’s only try early in the second half and held on for an exciting 20-15 win and their place in the Provincial Towns Cup Final for the first time since 1932.
The final is fixed for Sunday 21st April at a venue that will be announced early in the week and is the first ever all-Midland Area decider; Tullamore will be bidding for their fifth title while Longford have never won the fable pot. David v Goliath!
* If Tullamore are involved in an AIL Playoff on 20th April as a result of finishing second in the AIL Round Robin the final will be played a week later on Sunday, 28th April.
