REMAX PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP

NAVAN    27    TULLAMORE   10.

The final score line does not reflect how close a game this was in Balreask Old. Navan dominated the first half of this game and Tullamore took over in the second but failed to take their chances of both possible tries and kickable penalties. To rub salt into the Tullamore wounds Navan scored on their only two visits to the opposition 22 in the second half.

Tullamore got off to a bad start by dropping a pass in midfield that allowed Navan to gain possession and attack. This attack resulted in the Navan no 8 Iro scoring a try that out half Roberts converted after three minutes. The home pack were on top at this stage and with their out half kicking every ball they kept Tullamore pinned in their own half for thirty minutes. This pressure yielded two successful penalty kicks for Australian Ryan Roberts in the thirteenth and seventeenth minutes. He followed that up with a drop goal five minutes later to leave the home side 16-0 up after twenty-five minutes.

Tullamore gradually found their feet with the introduction of two replacements in Aaron Deverell and Rhys Morgan  and on the half hour mark Gearoid O’Grady kicked a penalty. Navan replied with a similar effort five minutes later. The visitors laid siege to the Navan line for the remainder of the half and almost scored on two occasions. Aaron Deverall was inches short of the line and a wayward pass cost a try in another attack. The half time score was 19-03 to Navan.

Whatever coach Kevin Lewis said at half time worked as Tullamore were a different side in the second half and did not let Navan out of their own half in the next thirty minutes. They could not break down the home defence for twenty minutes until Gearoid O’Grady broke the gain line from a scrum to score a try, which he converted after twenty-five minutes. Shortly afterwards Tullamore missed a vital kick following the sinbinning of the Navan second row.

In their first attack of the second half Roberts kicked a penalty from the ten metre line in the thirty fifth minute and in the seventh minute of injury winger Geraghty got in for a try for the home side.        

Tullamore introduced four replacements and maybe at least three of them should have started the game. The season is far from over with two Leinster League Division 1 games left and the semi final of the A.I.B. All Ireland Junior Cup against Clonmel on the 9

  March.

TEAM; Dermot Galvin, Paul O’Grady, Ivan Dunne, Ivor Scully, Rory Deverell, Gearoid O’Grady, Richie Hughes, Ronan Glennon, Alan Lewis, Eamon Bracken, Nigel Ravenhill ( c ) David Hanlon, David Milne, Rob Connor, Donal Milne.

REPLACEMENTS USED; Aaron Devarell, Rhys Morgan, Ivor Devarell, Derick Farrell.

 

Next Sunday Dundalk are the visitors to Spollenstown in the league with a win needed to maintain Tullamore in fourth position in the league

The 2

team is away to Dundalk and the 3 team is at home to Birr in the area league

 

The annual Valentine's day ball will take place in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Friday the 15th Febraury. As always tickets are selling fast for this wonderful evening, but some tickets are available. If you are interested, move quick as to avoid disappointment. Contact Dave Phillips 086 8290631

As part of the Hearbeat Live series Josh Ritter with full band will play at the clubhouse on Friday 30th November.

Tickets are 30.00Euro and are on sale from the Heartbeat City store, the Bridge centre, Tullamore, Co.Offaly (057-9341822)

The annual Presidents and Captains Dinner will take place in the clubhouse on Friday the 26th October. So come join us in this annual celebration, as we thank those who have worked so hard throughout the last year and welcome the newly appointed. Tickets available from club.