O'Grady helps settle Tullamore nerves

JUNIOR CUP FINAL:Tullamore 23 Navan 13

THE FORMBOOK was upset when Tullamore defeated holders Navan in a lively tussle at Dubarry Park. Tullamore had first use of the breeze but coughed up a soft, seventh-minute try to Alan Hickey.

However, two Gearóid O’Grady penalties settled the challengers and Mark Whelan capitalised on outhalf O’Grady’s sublime diagonal kick on the half hour to grab a try which O’Grady converted for a 13-5 lead. Skipper O’Grady tagged on a penalty to stretch the half-time lead to 16-5.

Navan sustained a huge setback when number eight Bernard Smyth was red carded in the third quarter.

O’Grady then set up a 62nd-minute try with another top-class crossfield kick. Substitute Philip Gardiner dotted down and O’Grady added the conversion to ease Tullamore 23-8 ahead.

Navan battled gamely to retain their crown with Karl Manning kicking a 65th-minute penalty and replacement Shane Dawson charged over for a 76th-minute try.

But it proved too little too late as the Offaly club, for whom scrumhalf Richie Hughes was named man of the match, savoured a rare victory over the Royals.

TULLAMORE:N Geraghty; M Whelan, I Scully, A Deverell, C Hughes; G O'Grady (capt), R Hughes; R Glennon, C Glennon, A Bracken; D Milne, B Geraghty; C Feighery, C Finnerty, A Melville. Replacements: P Gardiner (for Geraghty, 39 mins), R Scally (for Whelan, 50 mins), M Harte (for Gardiner, 63 mins), C O'Sullivan (for N Geraghty, 77 mins), D Farrell (for Finnerty, 79 mins), D Lowry (for Bracken, 80 mins).

NAVAN:K Manning; T Geraghty, S Donnelly (capt), S Iro, S Hogan; A Hickey, K Mattson; E Dunne, C Brady, D King; S Byrne, J Duffy; P Fennelly, T Clarke, B Smyth. Replacements: P Regan (for Byrne), J Baker (for Brady, both 49 mins), O Hanratty (for Geraghty, 57 mins), C Joyce (for King, 66 mins), S Dawson (for Clarke, 66 mins), M McAuley (for Manning, A O'Keeffe (for Mattson, both 79 mins).

Referee:Dudley Phillips (Leinster).