CARLOW went into the final of the Provincial Towns Cup, a competition sponsored by] Smithwicks, against Mullingar in Tullamore yesterday with a two-fold objective - they wanted to regain a trophy won three times in a row between 1992 and 1994, and to capture it for the 11th time, thus joining Skerries at the top of the roll of honour.
Carlow left Tullamore last night in celebratory mood. It was mission accomplished with a 25 points to 10 victory over a Mullingar side for whom it was disappointment yet again. It was their third defeat in the final since 1989 and, yet again, they failed in their quest to win the trophy for the first time since their last success 40 years ago.
In a match played in good conditions and before an enthusiastic crowd of 4,000, Carlow struck early and often in the first period when they had the advantage of the wind. And the man who set them on the road to success was their oldest player, 36-year-old outside half Harry Sothern. His prolific kicking was crucial in getting his side to the final, his skills were honed to their sharpest edge yesterday as he scored 20 points.
After he had helped the club to that three-in-a-row in 1994 retirement beckoned for Sothern. Fortunately for his club, he had second thoughts and his captain and half back partner Leonard Peavoy said after yesterday's victory, "Harry had a blinder".
Sothern dropped a goal after five minutes. Then he gave a demonstration in the art of place kicking he was on target with four penalties from distances ranging from 30 to 46 yards and from angles on right and left.
Mullingar conceded the penalties as a result of the pressure applied by the Carlow forwards and Sothern reaped the harvest. In contrast, Mullingar missed five first-half penalty chances with outside-half Liam Plunkett, and then his scrum-half partner Fred Butler, unable to convert any.
While Carlow's Sothern and Peavoy were content to keep the ball in front of their forwards. with astute kicking for the greater part, Carlow struck a crucial blow just on half-time with an excellent try scored in the left corner by wing Robert Kidd after a great break by centre James Waddock. Sothern converted from the touchline.
To their great credit Mullingar produced a very spirited second-half performance - there was no passive surrender. Butler kicked a penalty after two minutes and Mullingar dominated territorially and won plenty of possession. But they could not capitalise.
Too often Mullingar lacked subtlety in their efforts to break through and too often they tried to do it too close to the forward exchanges rather than moving the ball wide.
The well-organised Carlow defence dealt readily with the assaults and soaked up the pressure. But Mullingar did get a just reward for their endeavours when flanker Padraig Lynn, a tireless worker in their cause, scored a try and Butler converted.
The try came 10 minutes from time, but appropriately it was Sothern who had the final say when he kicked his fifth penalty in the 77th minute for a 100 per cent return and his fourth Provincial Towns Cup medal a distinction he shares with five other of his team mates on duty yesterday.
Struggling Western Province downed semi-final contenders the ACT Brumbies 25-16 in a Super 12 match at Newlands yesterday and the Australians also suffered the indignity of having No.8 Owen Finegan sent off.
