February 14th, 2013 
Rob 
Provincial Towns Cup – Round of 16 (Sunday 2:30)
Cill Dara v Gorey
Fascinating tie in store here. First tier v third tier in the Junior leagues and that should make it a straight forward prediction but the Wexford men toppled Dundalk in round one on home turf and are one of a number of sides left in this competition that have been building towards a Cup run from before Christmas. A well balanced side with a strong coaching ticket.
Cill Dara meanwhile are focused on staying up, All Ireland league promotion Tullamore would assure them of that whatever the result of a play off but they can’t take anything for granted. That said, after the home upset in the Quarter final last season against Ashbourne they’ll want to make amends. The safe bet is where we lie on this but a high scoring nail bitter is inevitable.
Home by 2
Caption: Action from Gorey’s victory over Dundalk in Round 1. Pic: Gorey RFC match gallery.
Mullingar v Tullamore
Only one winner here you’d think. The all Ireland Cup champions have had eight days to recover from their hugely impressive display against Enniscorthy and face a Division 2a side in Mullingar that have worked hard to kick on from last year’s promotion and are making progress.
That said, there isn’t any major momentum behind the Westmeath club and it would surely rank up there with any upset in the competition’s history if they toppled the Ofaly men.
Away by 15
Ashbourne v Co Carlow
The bottom two in Division 1b clash and while Carlow still have some hope of catching the Meath men in the league this is a game that will have less tension than the league encounter stlll to come.
The Meath side were knocked out at the semi final stage by Tullow last season and will want to go one better but this season’s form suggests that a final spot is unlikely, traditional cup kings Carlow are a transferred side since the Christmas break and might cause an upset here.
Away by 2
Naas 2nds v Edenderry
It’s been a while since an AIL J1 side made a push in this competition but having upset Portarlington, Naas will be confident of getting to the last eight with a home win here.
Edenderry are still in the running for promotion in Division 2b and that might be the priority but they would love to add a cup scalp to their end of season report and an away win here would certainly rank as that as Naas are now a force.
Home by 3
Wicklow v Newbridge
Huge game in Ashtown lane on Sunday as Wicklow who have adjusted to some key personal changes this season and being a strong top four side in Division 1b look to upset Division 1a top four contenders Newbridge.
The visitors are very much targeting a cup run in a competition that has brought very little success down through the years. Last year’s semi final spot was a first and they’ve never beaten a side from the top two divisions in the cup since the league started in 1996.
Yet they have to be favourites here having reached the All Ireland Cup last season and challenged early in the league this season. If there really is a significant gap between the top two tiers it should show here with an away win but it’s going to be a very close cup tie.
Away by 4
Longford v Enniscorthy
Certainly potential here for an upset as Longford look to give the faithful at CPL Park a Cup day like no other. They have rarely made headlines in this competition but with the reigning champions in town, that could change.
Enniscorthy’s coaching staff will have had a challenging job in lifting spirits after their heavy Cup final loss last Saturday. The tries either side of half time killed the tie and there was a feeling that key players gone from last year were sorely missed against Leinster’s strongest side, yet you still can’t go against them here.
There will be a minute silence before the game for Derek Bannon who was part of the Longford squad in the previous two campaigns and tragically passed away this week. It puts perspective on the tie and will add huge emotion to the home dressing room.
This is a very hard game to call but as All Ireland finalists and reigning champions Enniscorthy get the nod with a back three that could prove key in what will likely be a tight and entertaining contest.
Away by 6
Athy v Roscrea
This tie is hidden away among the others this weekend. One of these two teams will make a very low key entry into the last eight draw on Sunday evening and the visitors seem the more likely from that point of view.
Athy have Cup pedigree but are operating in a Division below Roscrea and they’ve struggled in that fourth tier for good measure. Roscrea went to the last eight last year and Tullow needed extra time to beat them, they’ll be confident of returning to that stage.
Away by 5
Tullow v Kilkenny
The Quarter Final draw will be in Black Gates after this tie between the top sides in the second and third tiers of Leinster club rugby. Kilkenny’s promotion push to return to Division 1b continues apace and they look set to take the title.
However, they still have work to do and Malahide are on their shoulder. Tullow on the other hand wrapped up the Division 1b title last week and can relax now and focus on a another cup run with a view towards going one better than last year. It’s a mission for the Carlow men and it won’t end Sunday.
Home by 8
Posted in
Kilkenny to suffer the second biggest defeat of the weekend according to your preview? Come on lads, sloppy work.
Anyone think mullingar will put up a fight against Tullamore?
B.F.G.
No
Your probably right in fairness
Tullamore cant take anything for granted look what happened in Ashbourne last year big surprise. Tulllamore should win but it will be a dog fight..
Can’t wait to have a go at Tullamore on Sunday
logford to cause the upset of the weekend against weary travellers from the south. in fairness enniscorthy have been hard hit with injuries and after a run of big games they might just find this a game too far. would also back Gorey to cause a mini shock against kildare
tullamore wont have things their own way aginst mullingar, big derby match, wouldnt suprise me to see a very close match
will the donal milne project continue to spurise? or will naas have too much firepower? apparently derry 15 broke his jaw last week!
warning signs here for the big guns, potential hazards for scorthy, bridge, tmore. cup rugby is always a dangerous place. go on the gar!!!
seen mullingar a couple of times this year, not a bad side probably lacking confidence to put away points. If they put doubt in tullamores mid we could be in for an interesting contest.
come on lads get real mullingar wont lie down i no but thet wont be able deal wit tullamore not a hope.
Maybury has the plan to beat Tullamore.
@the Garr
Unless his plan involves either hijacking or bombing the Tullamore team bus I reckon it ain’t gonna work.
Gorey by 1pt
Tullamore by 40pts
Carlow by 8pts
Naas by 9pts
Newbridge by 5pts
Enniscorthy by 5pts
Roscrea by 15pts
Tullow by 1pt
big nasty surprise in store for newbridge. this will test their mental ability, all the best to longford rfc and all their players affected by the tragedy.
my predictions:
Gorey by 8
Mullingar by 5
Ashbourne by 10
Edenderry by 2
Wicklow by 7
Longford by 12
Athy by 4
Kilkenny by 6
Gorey by 3pt
Tullamore by 5pts
Carlow by 3pts
derry by 3pts
Newbridge by 1pt
longford by 5pts
Roscrea by 15pts
Tullow by 15pt
Cill Dara by 10pts
Tullamore by 25pts
Carlow by 6pts
Naas by 4pts
Wicklow by 5pts
Enniscorthy by 5pts
Roscrea by 15pts
Kilkenny by 6pts
BFG you’ve great faith in Longford to win by 12 points?? It will be interesting to see what way recent events affects their performance!
I suspect Tullamore will beat Mullingar easily. Although Mullingar are a tough team with good heart but they just don’t have the pool of players Tullamore have…
Tullow should win easily against Kilkenny. They havent lost all yr and I cant see them starting now!
An exciting weekend of rugby to look forward to!!
I just wanted to go against the grain, but there will be upsets tomoro especially in Longford and wicklow
enniscorthy back 3?? what back 3?? they have been hopelessly out of their depth all season and will lose this wkend against a very organized and hard working longford team.
teams now know when playing scorthy all you have to do is put a bit of structure to your game, bully them up front and come up hard in defence for their quick taps and they have nothing else to offer. its like they are trying to play super 15 in the backs but forgot you still have to have a scrum and lineout.
also think wicklow will knock over newbridge. tullamore should win but not by much, mr maybury and his mullngar team are no slouches and mark my words they have a few surprises planned for tulamore sunday. watch this space.
scorthy are still a bloody good 1a side and have just been unlucky with injuries and loss of form at key stages. deccie o’brien will have his thinking cap on in the build up to this weekend, the longford bludgeon versus scorthys rapier in some respects. lets not forget scorthy are still ptc holders. in barber, poole, wall, murphy, dunne and jacob they have players on a different level to longford and are used to a higher paced game from 1a
mullingar are a good side and a great bunch of lads and nobody from tullamore will take them lightly
I’m looking forward to a great weekend of Towns Cup rugby.
Mullingar, Gorey and Edenderry have interesting ties. No-one gives any of them any real hope but you know this is the cup.
Gorey are a good side, and I think they will win.
As for Edenderry, can’t see them doing it but having seen them this year they are a very proud, determined and tight group of lads. I’m sure they will do their best to at least compete with the giants of Naas.
Mullingar would be a huge upset, can’t see it happening.
To all the underdogs, remember this is the cup. On any day any junior club can beat anyone else.
The cup allows teams to dream, so I invite you all to dream. I predict,
Gorey by 2
Tullamore by 20
Ashbourne by 5
Naas by 5
Newbridge by 7
Longford by 2
Athy by 2
Tullow by 6
Would love if we were lucky enough to compete in this competition.
Good luck to all the Teams. Trying to decide which game to go to.
why do so many people love having a pop at newbridge and cheer whoerer we are playing against? like whats your problemo, is it an anti kildare thing or because we might have a better pitch and facilities than most other teams? the lads give their all every game and the club itself has come on so much in just a few years
The first XV of Pygmy Old Boys from the Western Congo Basin would struggle to fit into the Newbridge dressing rooms and the hill on their pitch makes Spollenstown look like the Serengeti plains….
enniscorthy will have taken their beating last week and moved on and be the better for it. in some ways they were very unlucky last sat, ok tullamore were the slightly better team, but it should have been 7-0 after 5 minutes and the ref would have been well within his rights to issue several yellow cards, to the tullamore 7 and 6 in particular who were like slugs on a piece of lettuce all day long, they just would not let go and roll away.
the real scorthy will come out this wkend and unleash the dogs of war and blow longford off the park and they would welcome a re-match with tullamore in the next round
are u on drugs tullamore destroyed ye last week same as they destroyed ye in league and will destroy ye again if we meet in towns cup get real ye are no way tough enough and patetic in defence,in fairness ye try to run ball but its all back foot the very same as newbridge.
all sorts of questions to be answered this weekend,
Are Gorey a force on the rise? or will Kildare build on their recent upturn?
Can Newbridge dog it out when they’re pressed upfront? Wicklow will test their resolve
Do Tullamore have the squad depth and hunger for another cup assault? or will mullingar embrace the challenge and shock the junior scene? Maybury is a shrewd old customer.
Can Derry fight the good fight again under the old workhorse Milne?
How Will Scorthy react after last weeks set back and do they have the bottle for a long journey and an impassioned encounter with longford?
Can Roscrea tap into the spirit of a bygone age when they regularly competed with the best in the province?
hahaha Derek Maybury will love you calling him old!!!! hahaha
have to love the ptc
You can’t beat the Town’s Cup.The underdog always has a sniff.No second chances.
Momentum and self belief to win it. Gorey by 5
Mullingar’s pitches are in shite.Tullamore by 10 Carlow’s game last week to stand to them. Carlow by 6
If they are at full strenght they should be good enough,just.Edenderry by 8
I’d excpect them to have to much firepower out back.Newbridge by 8
Cup experience to bring them home after one hell of a battle.Enniscorthy by 11
It will be physical but Roscrea should have the firepower.Roscrea by 10
Whoever wins the battle up front will scrape home.Could be a cracker.Kilkenny by 2.
jb 15 you are very quiet this week? predictions??
my predictions would be:
Cill Dara by 2, probably gonna be the best game at the weekend I think. I think Gorey are well capable of beating Cill Dara at home but I think home advantage will prevail here.
Carlow in Ashbourne….very hard to call. Ashbourne gave us an absolutely hidin at the start of the season, probably scored more tries that night than they have done all year. Havent hit the heights that was expected but i think they will been on the right end of the scoreboard here. Ashbourne by 10.
Edednderry will beat Naas I would say but it will be tight, Edenderry are very well drilled and I think there kicker will win them this one. Edenderry by 3
Newbridge against Wicklow will be a cracker, 2 teams with a point to prove. Havent really lived up to their pre season hype but still 2 very good teams. Im goin with Newbridge. Fire power out wide will be to strong. Newbridge by 8.
Longford at home to Enniscorthy, longford to win and win well by 15. There pack is strong and the pitch is heavy. Will not suit Enniscorthy. Seen them against Tullamore last week and they couldnt deal with the physicality of tullamores pack and scrambled alot in defence.
Roscrea by 20, not much contest here. Roscrea are an all round good team and Athys pitch will be in good nick so it will suit them.
Tullow Vs Kilkenny, an epic battle ensues here. Tullow champions of 1B, south east champions, beaten finalists last year all is good in the camp at the moment and Im sure having Sean O’Brien on the sideline for this will be a boost but Im going with Kilkenny. Played them twice this year and there a cracking team. Steve Ashmore has done brillaint things this year. Very physical and very direct. There backline are good runners and there centres are very powerful. Kilkenny by 5
john u never gave a prediction for the mullingar vs tullamore match!!
Ya can’t expect me to give my view on a game I’m playin in!!!
kk havnt a hope, tullow for the double
Newbridge will be sent back across the gap with their tails between their legs. The Wiclow pack are going to bully the bejaysus out of the Newbridge 8. They’re soft as a a bag of socks!
come on derry! theres a bif performance in us, chance to make the last 8!our 2nds showed pride and endevour last weekend against a tullamore 2nds team loaded with first team players
I doubt they “loaded” there 2nds team with 1st players with the final the next day. I heard it was a Seconds match anyway and from what I have been told Edenderry had the majority of their 1st team out
Not true, i know a fair few of the tulliers boys, they had a couple of 1sts lads returning from injury but by and large it was a young 2nds team apart from old timers mike fox and ed connor
im sick of all this bluster week in week out, let the lads do their talking on the pitch! dont need cyber warriors building up certain teams for a big fall. be great to see some of the minnows throw up a big result though. ill back wicklow to give newbridge an almighty scare but still lose narrowly
Wicklow and Newbridge will be a decent game for the first hour but Newbridge will have too much pace in the backs for a Wicklow side that will have to play out of their skins to have any chance. Newbridge will be hoping for a dry day and it looks like they will get it. Wicklows pitch is always in superb condition which will suit the away side. If I was Wicklow Id be out watering the pitch and marking it 10 metres narrower than normal.
Newbridge by 10.
Sean o’brien isn’t playing for tullow,although they might need him on Sunday… Kilkenny to win by 10..
Kk kid nobody said Sean O’Brien was playing for Tullow.And by your comment you have a different version of the Tullow Tank in your side. What’s he called the Kilkenny ?.
That said it should be a cracker.
gorey are a decent side and have had cup upsets in the past but cill dara are too organised and cute in how they play for gorey to come away with this one, cill dra by 12
unfortunately for mullingar the only thing thats going to stop tullamore putting 50 points on them is the state of their pitches grinding the game to a standstill.
Longford are by no means going to be the whipping boys come sunday but the lose of some of theie players from last year has cost them nothing but a scorthy win here but it will go down to the wire as cpl park is not an easy place to go unless you’re facing longfords seconds side. scorthy by 12
all this hype about kilkenny is really irritating although they may be on the rise they wont be any match for an extremely physical and well drilled tullow side. Kilkenny supporters seem to be getting a bit ahead of themselves but tullow will sonn sort that out, tullow by at least 15.
Ashbourne and carlow will be very close but with carlow results of late you’d have to favour them marginally, they may both be going down but still a lot of pride on theline here.carlow by 3… maybe…
Athy and roscrea it doesnt really matter who wins as neither side will go any further than the next round id have to say roscrea by 12 in this one.
im a little dissapointed that there is no towns plate previews up for this weekend some good games in it as north kildare who shook longford in the first round of the cup take on promotion hopefuls clondalkin, it will akso be interesting to see if skerries can live up to any of the hype they created about themselves or is it another first round exit for them… somehow i think so against a distinctly below average wanderers side.
Kk have struggled in recent years at adult level but they always had a decent youth set up. Considering they’re the only club in county kk, irish rugby needs a strong kk club. Good to see them on the rise again
what day is the cill dara match? At the top there it says its on saturday?
Fixed that, All games Sunday at 3pm. Sorry folks.
im heading to the bookies to put the heating allowance on newbridge to win the towns cup, word on the street is they have every single one of their players back fit and primed and with the league now over will focus everything on this competition and prioritise it over everything else, you have been warned
Ya may pray for a mild spell before the summer months pat! You’re sounding as delusional as George hook these days.
Newbridge at full strength will have too much class for a Wicklow side that tends to bottle it when the chips are down. Newbridge at a relative canter by 12.
I heard that John Sothern has also come back to Newbridge for the cup campaign. Nice asset to have…
Southern comfort you might call it. Need something a bit more special than that to shake ye boys up
Newbridge to win the Towns Cup! Me Stones! Very simple Newbridge don’t have the forward pack to win in Wicklow let alone the Towns Cup. I wouldn’t like to get Wicklow in 1/4 final.
Last I heard Wicklow’s loose head and hooker are out injured!
well biff you wont have to worry about getting wicklow in the quarters unless your in the plate
whoever wins the tullow vs kilkenny match will win the towns cup FACT! All of the 1a teams are average and wont win it, apart from Tullamore who will be focused on their rounder robins playoff
yes stock mix all the 1a sides are average thats why they are playing 1a rugby and not 1b 2a 2b or 3… FUCKING IDIOT
Stock Mix,
Eh No! Tulliers will win PTC and Round Robin. Lets not be silly…..
they will struggle to do both biff! they are a fine side but with respect winning both would mean winning the next 7 games in a row! if key players are any way doubtful they will be rested for towns cup games so they can play in the ail playoffs
I tell ye boys one thing, cill dara are back in form and will prove just who exactly is the biggest junior club in Kildare before seasons end. Newbridge have built their squad on a bunch of college kids and journeymen. We have far more roots in the local county kildare community
Seamus,
You could make a living doing stand up! Cill Dara are in form! Oh Dear..
With 6 to 7 senior players set to retire with no players set to graduate from your youths section for atleast 4 years. Your 2nds are rubbish! Journey men! What a joke…. In two years Cill Dara will be in Div 2A and struggling.
Seamus go away please a solve your own problems! Before your starting a muck ball fight with Newbridge. You gobshite!
well i am from neither cill dara and newbridge. id have to say that cill dara is a far better club and place to play.
cill dara always give a great welcome and players and fans alike are gentlemen.
newbridge is the opposite.
i got verbally abused up there a few years ago, the level of abuse from a small section of your fans was shocking.
i will never forget it.
cill dara’s ‘journeymen’ won the league only 6 years ago and are still fine players. what have newbridge ever won?
so go on and see how many players you can poach from carlow or athy for next year and dribble on about ‘what a progressive club you are’. i for one hope wicklow beat the shite out of the ‘brave black and yellow boys’ tomorrow.
Here Ken,
Ask Clondalkin about the “great welcome” they got in Cill Dara.
Like any team in decline Cill Dara are reduced to pure thuggery so they can be competitive. Laughable!
The newbridge crowd have always been fair and welcoming and any banter or sledging was only in jest I’m sure. All decent rugby folk and what happens on the pitch stays there. There’ll always be the odd fool in any club that says the wrong thing but we’re all adults here lads and should realise it’s only a game played for ones enjoyment!
Mr Dan Donnley every rooster has his day …true our boys are getting older …but if we go down we will still be proud to play the great game at any level….we older players have left a great legacy to our youths , with out club and grounds as good as there is in any provience ….we still will serve our little Town and community with pride ……O just heard the old boys sneaked another win ….good stuff!!
Carlow will thump Ashbourne. A bit late for the league maybe but big things are happening in Oak Park.
midlands man.
the only reason any kind of decent rugby is being played in oak park is because the womens 6 nations matches are being played there
Some rugby follower you are..Oak Park is Carlow’s ground..nice one.
No one ever said Oak Park wasn’t Carlow’s grounds.
pretty sure they did..
@midlands read it again, go on third time lucky! ‘Dumbass’
Someone needs to read the thread again but I don’t think it’s Midlands.
Anyone know where ya can get odds for the Towns Cup??This is from a completely neutral point of view as the team Im involved with are out already but Im an interested observer,my money is on Tullow,I have seen them play a few times this year and if they can get their lineout together,them and Tullamore are the teams to beat!Tullow have a serious backline and one that could compete at AIL level….
my mistake midlands man clearly cos i got that wrong i mustnt have a clue about whats going on typical pretencious carry on that happens around here. im a player rather than a follower by the way.nice one
ah yea I suppose players don’t follow.
Cill Dara v Gorey If Cill Dara can open up an early lead they should be able to hold on, otherwise I’d gamble on Gorey to sneak it.
Gorey by 3.
Mullingar v Tullamore Why there is any talk about this game is beyond me.
Tullamore by 17
Ashbourne v Carlow This will be a very interesting game. Ashbourne are never easy to beat at home, but Carlow are playing very well at the moment.
Ashbourne by 2.
Naas 2vx v Edenderry I’d like to see Naas to go through.
Naas by 5.
Wicklow v Newbridge This should be a good game for 50 mins, I’d say Newbridge will draw clear in the second half.
Newbridge by 12.
Longford v Enniscorthy The only way that Longford are going to win this is if they can open up an early lead and stay ahead. I doubt that will happen though. Longford have a good line out but are not great come scrum time. ‘scorthy’s backs should be far too good.
Enniscorthy by 15.
Athy v Roscrea Roscrea will probably keep it tight and win it in the pack.
Roscrea by 9.
Tullow v Kilkenny It’ll be a big day out for Kilkenny’s forwards. If they deny Tullow quick ball at the rucks they should be ok. Tullow’s pitch will be like a bog, very heavy, this shouldn’t be a high scoring game and I think Kilkenny have a good chance to come out on top.
Kilkenny by 1.
I think you are wrong with your prediction on the Tullow V Kilkenny game…. Tullow by 7 i think,
I hope your right, it should be a great game anyway, both teams are flying at the moment.
Gorey’s biggest problem tomorrow will be all the cheap shots coming their way…it’s the last kick of a dying horse… That’s all the old farts in Cill Dara have left to give… Disgraceful!
< < < < < Comment Deleted > > > > See our Charter for guidelines as to why.
Or at least that’s what you’ll tell me after the match tomoro. It’s a mans game lads. Toughen up
its also a game played by kids and women …….
and you seem to be encouraging throwing digs …?
You really must be a big man , good luck with your parenting skills…… !
Oh we’re all well aware it’s a mans game… A thinking mans game… That’s why you lot have lost 80-90% of your games. Your thuggery gets you nowhere…yokels!
What a day for rugby beautiful, have a feeling could be upsets in the cards today lads!!! I woke with a special feeling in my stomach and it wasn the curry I had last night!!! On Gorey, edenderry, Kilkenny and mullingar
results?
Longford 14-9 enniscorthy …. Great day in CPL Park…
Wicklow 24-21 newbridge. Try and touch line conversion last minute to win.
CILL dara old boys win by 2 …
Plate should be good. Newbridge v Enniscorthy would be fun.!!!!
Tullow 38…Kilkenny 18
Tullow have Ashbourne at home in next round