Portlaoise 18 Newbridge 16
2009 Towns Cup Second Round
We decided to go back to 2009 when Portaoise had a titanic struggle with Newbridge in the second round of the Towns Cup.
Portlaoise had reached the game following a 27-8 opening round victory over Clane.
Jamie Kavanagh was on great form that day kicking five penalties. Portlaoise had Richie Bond, Trevor Roe and Mark Delaney on their starting team for the game against Clane, but in the next game all three failed to feature.
The Laois side were again heavily reliant on Jamie Kavanagh against Newbridge, with him having a big part to play in Portlaoise progressing into the quarter-final.
The opening half was dominated by Portlaoise, but they struggled to convert their dominance to the scoreboard and Jamie Kavanagh was unlucky with his first three attempts on goal, missing narrowly with two and striking the upright with his third.
Ian Galbraith then went roaring down the touchline and was certain to score until he was called back for putting his foot slightly into touch.
But he was to have redemption when he was set away by a good back line move and dived over in the corner for the opening and only score of the first half.
Kavanagh struck the post again for his conversion attempt. The 5-0 half-time score gave the impression of a tight contest despite Portlaoise dominating the half from start to finish.
The second half start much like the first, with Portlaoise on top as Kavanagh missed an early penalty.
But the game was seemingly over when Gavin Thompson ran through for a try following another good back line move. Kavanagh converted the try to leave the scores at 12-0.
To be fair to Newbridge, they never stopped battling and were beginning to find some reward when their kicker John McNamara slotted two penalties to make it 12-6.
And they ended up surprising everyone when Rory McCann bashed through to grab the try which was converted and Newbridge took an unlikely 13-12 lead.
Portlaoise grabbed their second wind when they pushed back into the Kildare side’s half and forced a penalty which Jamie Kavanagh slotted to restore the lead of Portlaoise, but there was another twist.
Newbridge’s John McNamara managed to get away a drop goal against the run of play to give Newbridge back the lead with little time left to play.
But that wasn’t the end of it, as Portlaoise showed great calmness and resolve to work themselves into scoring range for Kavanagh and eventually managed to break down the Newbridge side when they were called for off-side and Portlaoise were awarded a penalty.
Kavanagh stepped up and slotted the kick to spark big celebrations and hand Portlaoise a narrow win in what was the last action of the game. It ended 18-16 in a game was only came alive in the last 15 minutes.
Portlaoise went into the quarter finals against Tullow and eventually ran to the end of the road. They were beaten 20-16 away from home in a game that they could have won but their luck had run out and were beaten by a better side.
PORTLAOISE XV: Shane Reilly, Clive Gee, Alan Gee, Will Sherlock, Michael McEvoy, Graham Peavoy, Joe Cooper, Nigel Peavoy, John Kingsley, Jamie Kavanagh, Gavin Thompson, George Cooper, Gavin L Thompson, Ian Galbraith, Michael Fennelly.
Alf Harvey was there on the day and captured some of the best moments.
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