Dundalk RFC end league campaign on a high note with victory over Coolmine

Dundalk concluded their Leinster League Division 1A campaign on a positive note when they ran out 24-5 winners over Coolmine on Sunday.

Having already secured second spot, the Mill Road men were looking to put together a strong performance ahead of Sunday’s Towns’ Cup quarter-final clash away to Enniscorthy.

Things started off badly for Dundalk when winger James Shields was rather harshly red carded for a tip tackle after just 10 minutes.

Coolmine took advantage of the extra man by getting in for a try soon after to make it 5-0 in their favour.

This was as good as it got for the visitors though as Dundalk came back at them with Thomas Campbell converting a penalty to reduce the deficit to 5-3 at the break.

Dundalk started the second half strongly and three further penalties from Campbell had them 12-5 in front midway through the half.

The hosts continued to play excellent rugby and Johnny Gray got over for a deserved try which Campbell converted to effectively seal the game at 19-5.

Dundalk weren’t done just yet though with Owen McNally getting on the end of a neat chip from Campbell to score.

Dundalk RFC: S McGee, J Shields, O McNally, MJ McKevitt, R O’Hagan, J Williams, T Campbell, E Faatau, S Martin, J McConnon, C O’Hanlon, M Bentley, R Farrell, J Gray, C Brannigan Subs: C Williams, J Smith, L Steen, S Murphy, R Williams.

There was no such luck for Dundalk 2nds, who went down to a heavy 64-5 defeat to the same opposition, with John McGahon grabbing the consolation try.

The seconds take on Wicklow away in the Provincial Seconds’ Cup on Sunday March 23^rd.

Third straight defeat for Dundalk RFC against Wanderers

Ultan Murphy charges through the visitors defence against Wanderers on Saturday

Dundalk RFC couldn’t prevent already crowned league champions Wanderers from inflicting a third straight defeat on them as they went down 16-11 to the Dublin outfit at the Mill Road on Saturday.

Playing with the breeze early on, the home side started brighter and took the lead when quick thinking by Ultan Murphy saw him take a quick penalty before darting over the line for the game’s opening try.

He missed the conversion and that spurred Wanderers into their best spell of the game. Despite good pressure, they struggled to breach the Dundalk rearguard before they eventually tapped over a penalty to leave it 5-3.

They looked like they would add another penalty soon after but opted to kick or the corner. From the line-out, they set up a maul and drove their way over the line for a converted try that left it 10-5 in their favour.

Dundalk did manage to reply with a penalty from Murphy before the break to leave it 10-8 at half-time.

Indiscipline proved costly for the home side on the restart, however, as two penalties inside the opening ten minutes saw Wanderers stretch their advantage.

Dundalk dug deep in the close stages and close the gap with a penalty from Murphy but unfortunately they never looked like getting a try that they so badly needed at that point to turn things around.

There was also bad news for the 2nds, who went down 28-0 to Wanderers in their tie – putting a huge dent in their title ambitions as they are now five points off Coolmine with just two matches to go.

Dundalk are in action away to Athy in the Towns’ Cup this Sunday.

Dundalk: J Shields, S Murphy, I Petelo, MJ McKevitt, O McNally, U Murphy, T Campbell, E Faatau, S Martin, J McConnon, C O’Hanlon, M Bentley, J Smith, J Gray, R Farrell Subs: C Williams, G Whately, S McGee