It was certainly a weekend for nail-biting finishes.
While Carlow were leaving it late on the hurling pitch in Newbridge, so too were Tullow and Carlow on the rugby pitch with close shaves in their respective opening rounds of this year’s Provincial Towns Cup.
Tullow, trailing 30-23 to New Ross in the late stages of their first round clash, rallied to a 33-30 finish.
Carlow were single-point winners over Longford, a 19-18 finish there.
The draw for round two was made in Balbriggan on Sunday afternoon in the aftermath of their 40-3 defeat at the hands of Athy.
Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup – First round results:
- Carlow 19 – 18 Longford
- Wexford Wanderers RFC 22 – 48 Boyne
- Edenderry 23 – 22 Cill Dara
- Enniscorthy 15 – 34 Mullingar
- Clondalkin 23 – 21 Portlaoise
- Wicklow 33 – 39 Naas
- New Ross 30 – 33 Tullow
- Arklow 5 – 24 Tullamore
- Navan 33 – 22 Roscrea
- North Kildare 39 – 26 Skerries
- Balbriggan 3 – 40 Athy
- Newbridge 59 -5 Midland Warriors
Ashbourne RFC, Dundalk RFC, Kilkenny RFC and Gorey RFC all received byes into the 2nd round.
Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup – Second round draw:
- Edenderry v Kilkenny
- Navan v Carlow
- Athy v North Kildare
- Ashbourne v Naas
- Tullow v Dundalk
- Tullamore v Mullingar
- Newbridge v Clondalkin
- Boyne v Gorey