Division 2B leaders Gorey entertained Division 1B side Clondalkin at Clonattin on Saturday last, 4th February, in the first round of the Provincial Towns Cup.

The game, played in difficult conditions, was a typical cup battle with both teams adapting to the atrocious weather. Clondalkin were first on the scoreboard with their Irish youth full-back kicking a penalty after good sustained pressure.
The lead was shortlived as the Gorey pack went up a gear and, when the visitors were penalised in front of the posts, Aidan O'brien opened Gorey's account. The Gorey back row of Ben Horan, Adrian Copeland and J.P. Redmond pressurised the visitors at every breakdown and created the platform for the Gorey pack to shade the exchanges.

Gorey were soon back in the Clon '22 as the pack worked their way towards the line. A quick ball to the right saw winger Tommy Martin burrow under three defenders to go over in the corner, and O'brien was just wide with the conversion.
Clon were soon back on the attack and, as the half drew to a close, two further penalties saw them leading 9-8 at the break.
The second-half started with Gorey playing with the wind in their backs. The pattern was soon set as the Gorey pack took the first scrum against the head.

Gorey kept Clon pinned in their half for long periods and after 20 minutes they were finally rewarded with Ben Horan touching down. The game was finely balanced with one score between the teams, when the Clon centre intercepted a Gorey attack to break out. He was just crossing the halfway line when Adrian Copeland tracked back to execute a tremendous tackle.

This was to be Clondalkin's last real chance as a further penalty saw Gorey advance to the second round on a score of 16-9. In what was a great team effort on a day that was not suitable for expansive rugby, the Gorey pack were outstanding with the front row of Barry O'connor and the two Ciaráns, Smith and Hennessy, in great form.
Tommy Martin and Tomás Sheehy were the pick of a resolute back division as Gorey advanced to round two for a mouth-watering fixture at home to Killkenny in a fortnight's time.

Team: C. Smith, B. O'connor, C. Hennessy, A. Copeland, P. Wafer (capt.), M. Woods, B. Horan, J.P. Redmond, M. Bater, A. O'brien, K. Breen, C. Pevoy, J. Mannion, T. Martin, T. Sheehy, I. Porter, P. Horan, C. Furney, W. Pevoy, E. Warren, C. Owley, P. Furney.