Portlaoise 23 Navan 3
2003 Leinster Provincial Towns Cup Final
Having come up short just two seasons previous, Portlaoise came into the 2003 Towns Cup final looking to make amends.
They started as underdogs but a fired up and fiercely determined Portlaoise side defied the form guide, as they produced a truly magnificent performance to crush vaunted Navan by 23-3, claiming the club’s second Towns Cup.
On the day, captain Mickey Fennelly had a great game and his two superb tries allowed Portlaoise to establish a firm foothold in the game that Navan found very hard to claw back.
Portlaoise dictated the flow of the game completely, and they were full value for their comprehensive twenty points victory.
Another standout performer was Nigel Peavoy, who was crowned the man of the match, and his leadership of a dominant front eight that bullied their way up and down the Roscrea pitch.
Navan opened the scoring with an early penalty, and at that stage not many expected what was to unfold. On the ten minute mark, Nigel Peavoy barrelled over for the games first try.
Alan Kingsley added a superb drop goal to make it 8-3 at the break, but the Portlaoise following knew that a big second half was needed to secure the title, and they certainly got that.
Straight from the restart Portlaoise began to run the game again, and it was led by a mighty pack and the half back pairing of Kevin Flanagan and Alan Kingsley, who time and time again allowed the back line to maneuver down the pitch.
Captain Mickey Fennelly grabbed his first when he judged a Navan attack perfectly to intercept and race towards the Navan posts and touch down, with Alan Kingsley converting.
The game was already up when Portlaoise crossed over for their third. Another piece of dominant work from the Portlaoise pack, allowing the back-line get in position to release Mickey Fennelly through the Navan defence and he touched down again to round off the game.
When the game was was finally ended, the scenes were both ecstatic and emotional, as big grown men hugged and shared both smiles and tears as they raised the cup.
PORTLAOISE TEAM: Mossy McDonald, Ian Galbraith, Mickey Fennelly, Johnny Kingsley, Mark Delaney, Alan Kingsley, Kevin Flanagan; Colm Casey; Patrick McEvoy, Gearoid Horan, Graham Peavoy, Donal Rigney, Bryan Gee, Glen Adams, Nigel Adams. Subs: Joe Fleming for Donal Rigney.
