Willie Duggan smiled, mentioned that some valium would be great to soothe his nerves, as he prowled the pitch prior to the start of yesterday's Provincial Towns Cup final at Oak Park, Carlow. Those who recall the halcyon days of Duggan's playing career for Blackrock College, Leinster, Ireland and the Lions probably couldn't remember him as animated. One could sense that he would have given anything to be out on the pitch. Instead he had to be content with passing on advice, the water bottle and his frustration in no particular order to a Kilkenny team that included his son Willie junior at openside flanker.
The nature of proceedings did little to soothe the nerves. Kilkenny's fourth title in the competition was delivered three minutes from time through the boot of outhalf Dave McMahon who landed a 45metre penalty, 10 metres in from the touchline.
He struck it magnificently, the ball clearing the crossbar by no more than a metre, to the delight of Kilkenny players, management and supporters alike. The victors would still have to endure another seven minutes before referee David Keane brought an end to an enthralling contest, that while at times short on quality, was never less than a whole-hearted tussle.
Kilkenny entered the fray without the first choice halfbacks Barry Daly and Quentin Hearne and left wing Alan Pembroke, late withdrawals because of injury. It made McMahon's role all the more laudable as he kicked the three penalties that guaranteed victory.
The manner of their success owes a great deal to excellent defence, character and perseverance. They were decimated in the scrums initially, struggled a little out of touch and, save for the odd thrust by the excellent Simon Manauel and Frikkie de Villiers in the centre, were largely pedestrian behind the scrum.
In contrast, Portlaoise - backboned by the Rigney brothers - dominated up front, twice pushing Kilkenny off their own put-in, mauling powerfully and to great effect and translating good quality lineout possession into powerful surges. Crucially, though, Portlaoise had little to offer in a creative capacity outside the boot of 18-year-old outhalf Alan Kingsley.
Instead it was left to scrumhalf Kevin Flanagan, the game's outstanding performer to provide the main threat. A strong and elusive runner, he grabbed the game's only try.
The issue was delicately poised at halftime, 3-3, McMahon and Kingsley exchanging penalties. Former Blackrock players Pat Holden and Willie Mahony and prop Brendan Corbett were conspicuous for Kilkenny as ball carriers with Nigel Peavoy excelling for Portlaoise. When the latter turned with the advantage of the breeze, the result appeared assured in their favour.
Flanagan powered his way over on 49 minutes from a scrum just inside the Kilkenny 22, checking to the shortside and handing off two tacklers. This nudged Portlaoise in front 8-6 - McMahon had kicked a second penalty just after half-time - but despite their territorial superiority they could not eke out a decisive advantage, even when Kilkenny were reduced to 14 players, captain Manauel being sin binned from the 62nd to 72nd minutes.
The introduction of Jason Delaney made a big difference to the Kilkenny scrum and their increasing reliance on a more expansive game was beginning to pay dividends. McMahon's master-strike, the introduction of former Blackrock player Mick O'Neill and his two subsequent lineout takes, allowed Kilkenny to see out the match in the Portlaoise 22.
Scoring sequence: 18 mins: McMahon penalty, 3-0; 24: Kingsley penalty, 3-3; 42: McMahon penalty, 6-3; 49: K Flanagan try, 6-8; 77: McMahon penalty, 9-8.
KILKENNY: B Ayers; S Hazlett, F de Villiers, S Manauel (capt), D Brennan; D McMahon, B Williams; E Byrne, I O'Brien, B Corbett; L Salmon, P Holden; N O'Gorman, W Mahony, W Duggan. Replacements: J Delaney for Byrne (50 mins), B Nolan for Ayers (70 mins), M O'Neill for Holden (79 mins).
PORTLAOISE: M Fennelly; M Delaney, D Graham, D Kerr, T Flanagan; A Kingsley, K Flanagan; A Gee, D Kane, T Gee; D Rigney (capt), K Rigney; J Fleming, N Peavoy, B Gee. Replacement: H McEvoy for Kane (76 mins).
Referee: D Keane (IRFU).
