THE Towns Cup. The competition which Leinster provincial club sides live for. Since the Branch changed the structure of the Leinster Challenge Cup in the mid 1920s and introduced the Provincial Towns Cup, County Carlow FC lead the Roll of Honour with twelve wins. With two successes, Tullow lag a long way behind their county rivals and only won their first Towns Cup in 2017. Yet, as much as any other club, they love the Towns Cup competition as out-half, Garrett Fitzgerald, explains.
“When the cup comes around in Tullow it is a different attitude,” says Fitzgerald.
They had a mixed league but the cup focussed them as they dispatched, with aplomb, Athy, Carlow and Gorey.
Last year, Garrett scored two tries in their 24-20 final win over Kilkenny in Athy.
“That was special. The one in 2018 which we lost was over in the blink of an eye. I had got injured in the first 20 minutes. I was disappointed with that. I was hoping it wouldn’t happen again. They don’t come around that often.
“There are guys in Tullow who would give anything to have a Towns Cup medal,” he points out.
Garrett Fitzgerald is aiming for another Towns Cup with Tullow on Sunday
Photo: Thomas Nolan Photography.
He was still in school when Tullow won their first ever Towns Cup pennant in 2017. He played the following year when Enniscorthy prevailed 20-13.
Out-half in nearly every game, he was at number nine last year. For the final he must presume he is moving out one step further away from the set-pieces but is not certain yet.
“The team is not named yet so I don’t know what way they are going to be.
Scrum-half is my favourite position but played a good few games at out-half this year. It depends on Maurice (Logue) and Sean (O’Brien) what way they are going to pick the team.”
Garrett loves his rugby. It is hard not to as he acknowledges the quality that is in the squad.
“We have a fairly solid team. Our forwards-there are good. Our back-row of Sean O’Brien, Stevie Smith and Cillian Murphy are probably one of the strongest back-rowers around.
“We have Atho (Keiaho Bloomfield) back too. He hasn’t played that much. He won a seconds cup last year but he is back. He is brilliant. The best around. Great to have him. Even just his experience and his communication on the field. I have learned a lot from him.”
Garrett had a year out playing in Dublin but is back in Tullow for what must be the glory years.
“I nearly always played with Tullow. From whatever age a young fella starts. All the way up. I did a season in Lansdowne in Dublin but came back down the following year. A Tullow man the whole time.”
He has massive respect for Sean O’Brien. He says the former Irish rugby international has to be worth a few extra points. Not that he wants to rely on that?
“His presence on the field is a big thing. Can you imagine togging out on the opposite of him? Sean is good. Very good. Look at what he has done in his career. It is great to have him with us. Even though he would let you know when you have done something wrong, you need somebody like that to let you know.
“His coaching and his presence on the field. He is always talking and as I say he will let you know when you do something wrong. He is a born leader. Even when he played at the highest level he was a leader. It is great to have him.”
Garrett admits he will be a big of nerves in the lead up to the game on Sunday.
“I will sleep Saturday night but I will have a pain in my stomach Sunday morning. I am not great going into games. I get nervous for some reason. I don’t know what it does. Once the ball is kicked off, that goes and ready to rock then,” he says.
PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP FINAL
Tullow v Ashbourne, Sunday 21 April, 3pm in Carlow RFC
