Double blow for Dundalk as Clondalkin dent title hopes on the double

Dundalk’s Leinster League Division 1A title hopes look to be over after they went down to their second successive defeat away to Clondalkin on Saturday on a 38-13 scoreline

The Mill Road men started the year 10 points behind pacesetters Wanderers but this defeat, coupled with one the previous week against Cill Dara, have proven hugely costly.

Dundalk started brightly with Thomas Campbell getting over for an unconverted try.

However, their good work was undone moments later when the Clondalkin scrum-half intercepted a pass before running half the field to score a try, which was converted.

They did respond well to this setback with James Shields getting over for his first try of the season.

Despite the conversion being missed by Ultan Murphy, Dundalk continued to dominate but another interception saw the Clondalkin scrum-half break again for his and the home side’s second try of the game.

That left it 12-10 at the break and things only went downhill in the second half with Dundalk giving away silly penalties and making unforced errors.

Clondalkin had tagged on two further converted tries by the time Murphy added a penalty – Dundalk’s only score of the half – to leave it 26-13 with 20 minutes to play.

At that stage an Owen McNally try was disallowed after he was adjudged to be in front of the kicker.

With Dundalk throwing caution to the wind in the closing stages, Clondalkin took advantage with two further tries to end a five game losing streak.

Next up for Dundalk is a home clash with Wanderers this Saturday before they begin their Towns Cup campaign a week later away to Athy.

There was also heartbreak for the seconds on Saturday when they lost to Clondalkin 2nds on a 19-18 scoreline after conceding a drop goal with the last kick of the game.

Dundalk had led 18-3 but the defeat means they drop to second in the table, with the result proving hugely costly as scrum half Simon Byrne received a red card and out half Donal Clare going off injured.

The Mill Road men were immense in the first half with two tries from winger Rory O’Hagan, both assisted by Stephen McGee, and a conversion and penalty from Robert Williams and another penalty rom Donal Clare, leaving the score 18-6 at half-time.

Clondalkin fought back in the second half before stealing the game in the end to leave just three points separating the top four of Coolmine, Dundalk, Clondalkin and Wanderers, who are visitors to the Mill Road this weekend at 1pm.

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

Dundalk 2nds: Will Luaki; Sean Arrowsmith; Dermot Laide; Conor Kane; Gavin Mullen; Vincent Perez; John McGahon; Greg Whately; Simon Byrne (Capt); Donal Clare; Rory O’Hagan; David McGuinness; Robert Williams; Pearce Campbell; Stephen McGee. Subs: Darren McGuinness; Laurence Steen; Enda Murphy; Daniel McGuinness.

Mixed start to the year for Dundalk RFC

Dundalk RFC made a losing start to the New Year on Saturday when they went down away to Cill Dara on a 15-9 scoreline.

The result was another huge blow to their Leinster League title ambitions as they already trailed pacesetters Wanderers by 10 points.

Dundalk led twice early on courtesy of two Ultan Murphy penalties but fell behind against the run of play when the home side broke to score in the corner.

Cill Dara failed to convert with another Murphy penalty before the break giving Dundalk a 9-8 lead at half-time.

Dundalk continued to press in the second but were caught out by another breakaway try, that was converted on this occasion.

There was better news for the seconds, however, as they beat Cill Dara 10-5 to move top of the Leinster Seconds League with four matches to play.

An early Donal Clare penalty was followed up with a try from Gavin Mullen – his first for the club. Clare then converted to leave it 10-0 but the home side soon hit back with a try of their own.

Cill Dara pushed forward in the second half but Dundalk held out well for a fine win – their sixth in-a-row.

Next weekend Dundalk are away to Clondalkin, which is a top of the table clash for the seconds.

Dundalk 1sts: J Shields, S Murphy, I Petelo, MJ McKevitt, R Shields, U Murphy, T Campbell, E Faatau, S Martin, J McConnon, C O’Hanlon, M Bentley, J Smith, J Gray, C Brannigan. Subs: C Williams, S Arrowsmith, L Steen, B Hadden, S McGee.

Dundalk 2nds: Dermot Laide, Sean Arrowsmith, Stephen Soraghan, Conor Kane, Diarmuid Sloane, John Mc Gahon, Laurence Steen, Greg Whately, Simon Byrne, Donal Clare, David  Mc Guinness, Johnny Whately, Padraig Conroy, Daniel Mc Guinness, Stephen McGee. Subs. Alex Whately, John Kerr, Gavin Mullen.