Cup and Plate weekend reports

Dundalk took on neighbours Boyne in the Anderson Cup quarter final on Friday night at Mill Road having already accounted for the other Louth team, Ardee, the
previous week.  It was a cold dry night on a very dry pitch which saw dust rise on occasions. There a good vociferous attendance from both clubs for what was a typical cup match, tight, hard fought with much use of tactical kicking featuring teams that both had a good mix of youth and experience. The referee for the game was Helen O Reilly from Ashbourne RFC.

Dundalk set out their stall from the kick off with Pierce Campbell well up on the kick-off to force a Boyne knock on. From the scrum Simon Byrne tackled but was penalised and Boyne kicked for touch. Boyne knocked on from the line out but the ball was sent straight out after winning the scrum. Another lineout was followed by a scrum which Dundalk took and Aidan Reilly kicked for touch. John Kerr took a great ball and drove forward and was awarded a penalty which we again kicked for touch.

Dundalk jumpers Kevin Fearon, Conor Kane and Brian Crosbie were beginning to lord it in the lineout and took three Boyne balls on the trot and this gave us the opportunity to run at Boyne. Line outs and kicking were a major part of the game at this stage.

Boyne took a line out and their full back opted to kick ahead with a monster kick which was very well taken by Eamonn Roe who ran back strongly at Boyne and
from the ensuing ruck the ball was moved through great hands to free Pierce Campbell to score a wonderful try in the corner. Chopper converted to leave the score at 7 – 0.

Aidan Reilly took the kick off and found touch on the half way. Again Dundalk attacked the lineout and a great drive from Kevin Fearon gave us a scrum. From the
scrum Kevin picked and went, released to Chopper who found touch. Simon Byrne stole the ball from the lineout and again quick hands and quicker feet left Pierce
with try number two. His effort went unconverted 12- 0 after 15 minutes. Pierce was denied try number three minutes later by a Boyne tackle after chasing a kick ahead. Another try was missed due to a pass that went behind Pierce, who was on fire in attack and defence.

Boyne then scored a try from a maul from a line out as their scrum half went over on the narrow side leaving the score at 12 – 5 after 25 minutes. From the kick off
we went to a lineout. The ball was taken by Alan Byrne but he was penalised for holding and Boyne converted the penalty to bring the score to 12 – 8 on the 30th minute.

J.K. took a good ball and drove leading to a good attack which saw Darren Guest run and cleverly kick to bring Dundalk into the Boyne 22. Dundalk knocked on in
the ruck but a penalty was awarded against Boyne in the scrum. Chopper’s kick went just wide. A penalty for tackler not releasing gave Boyne an opportunity to register another score but the out half’s effort was wide.

Boyne now attacked with greater intent and a number of saving tackles were put in by the Dundalk defenders. A penalty for the tackler not releasing, saw Boyne kick
for the corner, where a Chopper tackle definitely saved a try. Kicks by Chopper and Eamonn Roe relieved the pressure on the home team and a catch by Will Matthews, who passed to Eamonn saw a tricky situation dealt with well. Boyne were awarded another penalty which they opted to run come to nought and a further kicked penalty
was missed leaving the half time score at12 – 8.

Boyne started the second half in a more determined fashion and saw an early attack come to nothing because of a poor final pass. Chris Mc Gee had come on for Niall
Kerley and was making his presence felt. Conor Kane took a good lineout ball and we got a penalty from the ensuing ruck. Eamonn Roe brought us out the field and from a good break out Pierce was again halted by brave Boyne tackling. Eamonn Roe went off with an injury and a high tackle saw a penalty awarded to Boyne but
the effort of their out half went wide.

A great Boyne attack was spoiled by a knock- on, on the Dundalk 5 metre line after some great passing. Dundalk put in to the scrum and Boyne were awarded a penalty. Great defence from Chris Mc Gee and a fantastic drive by Brian Crosbie brought us to between the 22 and the 10 metre line. A tap down from the line out was knocked on, scrum Boyne. From a kick ahead the ball hit a Dundalk player giving Boyne a line out on Dundalk’s 5 metre line. Dundalk took the ball and we had some aerial tennis. James Shields took a good catch and made a super run forward from which Chopper found touch in Boyne’s 22. Dundalk took the line out but there was a high tackle on Pierce and James Shields took the three points for his team 15 – 8 on 24 minutes.

More aerial tennis and lineouts from both sides were the order of the day and good defensive tackling kept Boyne out. They however could sense opportunities and kept up the pressure on Dundalk. Chopper was sin binned for a high piggy back style tackle giving Boyne a penalty in front of the posts. Boyne No 10 took his points 15 – 11 with nine minutes to go. Game on!

Dundalk played like demons with their fourteen men. Penalties were awarded against Kev for not releasing. Boyne kicked to touch and took the line out. A ruck
formed and Alan Byrne cleaned it out only to be penalised for going off his feet. Boyne again kicked for touch and drove the ball. Boyne knocked on after a great tackle again by Darren Guest but were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck by Dundalk. Boyne opted for the scrum, as they were going for the win. The scrum was reset twice and the referee spoke to both front rows. From the scrum Boyne attacked but wonder -tackling by Pierce, Simon and Darren kept them out. Eoghan Whelan came on to bolster the pack and contributed greatly to defence. A kick ahead by Boyne was tapped into touch by James Shields. Boyne mauled from the lineout but were driven back by a determined Dundalk pack. The ball came out and Boyne let it out the line only to see a repeat of a previous identical poor final pass result in a knock on almost on the Dundalk line.

Three minutes left, bodies everywhere, both sets of supporters screaming, the teams gathered themselves for a final effort. Scrum 5 metres from the Dundalk line, ball in both sides driving as best they could — penalty Dundalk for Boyne wing forward breaking his bind.

We take the kick and the line out but props start appearing at out half and the supporters worry more. Boyne took the ball but a tackle from Chris Mc Gee forces a Boyne knock on. Scrum down, Dundalk put in, Simon to James Shields who kicked it dead to finish the game. We move on to the next round with another close encounter.

Dundalk:
E.Roe, W.Matthews, R.Mc Ardle, D.Guest, P.Campbell, A.Reilly, S.Byrne,
D.Laide, J.Kerr, J.Whyte, B.Crosbie, C.Kane, A.Byrne, N.Kerley, K. Fearon,
C.McGee, J.Shields, S.Smyth, E.Whelan, C.Myles

The weekend got off to a bright start with the news that Skerries had conceded to Dundalk in the Provincial Towns Plate and so we now move on to compete against Clondalkin on Sunday 14th April. The venue will be decided by the toss of a coin so we await the result of the toss. Clondalkin, having recently beaten Cill Dara in the Promotion / Relegation play offs, will no doubt be anxious to test themselves against a team who will be in the same league next season, so we can anticipate a stern test on the 14th.Rumour has it that we are at home so keep in touch.

 

Dundalk lose out by one point margin

Carlow and Dundalk met in the Seconds Towns Cup at Mill Road on Sunday. It was a bright but cold day and a reasonable crowd looked forward to a good contest.Dundalk kicked off and a good tackle by Robin McGee forced a lineout on the Carlow ten metre line. A good take by Dundalk in the line out followed by a good shove saw the referee award a scrum. Dundalk were awarded a penalty which saw David McGee drive forward. Carlow won the ball from an ensuing scrum but David Mc Guinness returned the kick and after some basketball we were penalised for offside. Carlow kicked for touch reaching the Dundalk five metre line. They took a clean catch and following a powerful drive they went over for a try on the seventh minute 7 – 0. From the kick-off Chris Scully ran back at the Carlow line with great follow up from Mike Bentley. Dundalk were awarded a penalty for offside but Sam Mulligan’s kick was just wide.

The 22 drop off was cleanly taken by Robbie Williams who found Donie Clare whose kick ahead went straight into touch. Carlow took the lineout but the ball was knocked on giving a scrum to Dundalk. David Mc Gee picked and went but lost the ball on contact. Some good Carlow play saw the ball out across the line but their ahead was marked by Donie Clare. His kick from the mark was chased by David McGuinness but unfortunately the ball was knocked on. The Dundalk scrum was penalised on a number on occasions.

The lineout was more successful with good disruption from the Dundalk jumpers leading to a Carlow knock on, giving Dundalk a scrum on their own 22. Robbie Williams relieved pressure with a superb kick which brought us to the Carlow ten metre line. The Carlow throw in was crooked giving Dundalk a scrum but the referee penalised them for a delayed put in. A 22 dropout was taken by Robbie Williams but in the ruck the ball was lost to Carlow who drove forward but knocked
on.

From the scrum good hands and a clever switch saw Robbie kick through for a lineout on the Carlow five metre line. Carlow took at two and drove out but a penalty was awarded for an offside which Dundalk kicked to touch. Robin took the ball in the lineout and as the ball went out the line. Dundalk were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on Robbie. Sam’s effort was narrowly wide.

Carlow were awarded a penalty for a late tackle on their full back which they kicked for touch taking the lineout and driving over for a second try in the 33rd minute 14 –0
The remainder of the first half saw a number of penalties against both sides with David Fearon sin binned for his effort to remove an offending Carlow player on the wrong side of a ruck. Chris and Mike put in some great tackles during this time Dundalk were eventually awarded a penalty which Sam converted leaving the half time score 14 -3.

Dundalk focused themselves for the second half and attacked well from the kick off. A drop goal attempt by the Carlow outhalf fell short and was knocked on for a scrum under the Dundalk posts. Dundalk eventually after two reset scrums took the ball against the head and it was cleared to the 22 by Donie. A Dundalk penalty was tapped and Mike carried with great support from Dave Fearon but a knock on gave Carlow a scrum. A kick ahead was taken well by Robbie who sidestepped two opponents but was penalised for not releasing in the tackle. Carlow missed the kick.

Mike broke out of his own half ably assisted by the Dundalk hooker and brought us to the Carlow 22. A scrum followed by a good strong powerful drive saw Ciaran McCabe cross the line leaving the score 14 – 8.

Chris Scully, after a great lineout steal, made a mazy run before being eventually forced into touch inside the Carlow 22. Carlow cleared their lines but a drive from Paul Meegan saw Donie find Chris and Robbie Shields was unlucky not to score after a good chase. Dundalk were camped in the Carlow half with 15 minutes left. A Carlow kick ahead went dead giving Dundalk a scrum back on the Carlow ten metre line. A good drive saw the referee award a penalty to Dundalk which they tried to tap and go but were called back. James Shields kicked the penalty 14-11 with 14 minutes to go.

Play was fast and furious with strong tackling on both sides. Carlow were awarded a penalty which the Carlow number 10 slotted between the posts 17- 11. Dundalk were awarded another penalty which James put to touch. Meego took at two and a good drive saw Dundalk awarded another penalty. Again we kicked for position. Meego again took at two and a strong drive saw David McGee go over in the corner 17-16 with five minutes to go. James’s conversion attempt was held up in the wind.

Dundalk played their hearts out in this last five minutes with carrying by Mike, hands from Robbie Williams and Donie saw Dundalk press the Carlow line. A Sam
Mulligan kick through was just too strong for the chasing winger. Dundalk made every effort to keep the ball alive for the final minutes but failed to create a winning opportunity and so Carlow won out by the narrowest of margins. Dundalk could have taken this game but it was not to be, so we wish Carlow all the best in the next round

DUNDALK
R. Williams, Daniel Mc Guinness, C Scully, S Murphy, R Shields, D Clare, S
Mulligan, C Williams, L Steen, C McCabe, R McGee, D Fearon, M Bentley, D
McGee. C McGee, P Meegan, D Laide, J White, J Shields, David McGuinness.