Dundalk 3xv travelled to Ratoath on Saturday. Dundalk’s back line was depleted through injury and had to start with a number of players playing out of position. Dundalk held out a very good, well drilled and youthful Ratoath side. But after about 20 minutes Dundalk’s defence dropped and Ratoath lived off Dundalk’s mistakes and scored their first try. As hard as Dundalk tried they couldn’t live up to Ratoath’s youthful back line and Ratoath led 20-3 at half time.

Dundalk came out of the blocks in the second half and caused Ratoath problems at scrum time turning over three Ratoath scrums. Dundalk’s line out and rucking caused the Ratoath forwards trouble, allowing second row Alan Kennedy to crash over the line. Ratoath came back strong with some well rehearsed moves and inter play between forwards and backs putting pressure on the Dundalk back three and even though they never gave up Ratoath proved too strong and scored a couple of more breakaway try’s.

Richard McGuinness converted a penalty late in the second half to leave the final score 40-10. Grattan O’Hagan and Gerry Lawless played well at full back and wing with some try saving tackles and counter running. In the forwards Chris Duffy played well at tight head and showed great power and strength enabling Dundalk to turn over a number of scrums against the head. Dundalk 3xv face Ashbourne away this Friday in their next match.

1: Andrew Holmes, 2: John Kerr, 3: Chris Duffy, 4: Bryan Crosbie, 5: Alan Kennedy, 6:Brian Igoe, 7:Niall Kerley, 8: Gavin Mullen, 9: Cathal Myles(c), 10: Mike Doyle, 11:Pearce Campbell, 12: Alan Bryne, 13: Richard McGuinness, 14:Gerry Lawless, 15: Grattan O’Hagan.