Ashbourne on the brink of second title in three years after Kilkenny win

ASHBOURNE maintained their 10-point lead at the top of the Leinster League Division 1A following their 19-10 win at home against Kilkenny last Saturday and with only three games left they could secure the title tomorrow.

The Meath club won the crown two seasons ago, but at the end of a long campaign where they were fighting on three major fronts, they ran out of steam in the All-Ireland Round Robin and failed to gain promotion to the AIL.

Veteran No 8 Simon Deevy led the way in wet conditions as he scored two second-quarter tries following early dominance by the visitors that failed to yield a score and the hosts led 12-0 at the break.

Prop Ciarán Roche scored a try 10 minutes after the resumption, but the home side had to endure more Kilkenny dominance that yielded 10 points, but they failed to earn a precious losing bonus point in their battle to steer clear of the relegation play-off seventh place.

Seapoint occupy that spot after a 25-18 defeat away to Suttonians, when they scored first but ultimately succumbed.

Helped

Tries scored by Ciarán Clifford and Tom Sexton, along with seven points from the boot of Nathan Henderson, helped the home side into a 17-8 lead at the interval.

Another Henderson penalty and a try by Conor Jennings kept Seapoint at arm’s length, although they did secure a losing bonus.

Bective Rangers remain third after beating Wicklow 12-3 away and the result all but consigns their hosts to automatic relegation as they trail Seapoint by 12 points with only three games left.

Rodrigo Fernandez scored a first-half try, while Adam Cullen’s second-half touchdown ensured the Dublin 4 club triumphed.

Gorey won 26-3 at Dundalk to move up to fifth, a place adrift now of their vanquished hosts.

Tomorrow, Ashbourne travel to Donnybrook to play Bective, Gorey host Suttonians, Kilkenny entertain Dundalk and Seapoint welcome Wicklow.