Dundalk hosted Cill Dara on Saturday for their third Leinster League match. The squad was full of confidence after two impressive wins over Newbridge and Enniscorthy. Cill Dara came to Mill Road looking to bounce back from their defeat to Tullow.

Again it was a perfect day for running rugby and it was hard to believe it was an October afternoon. Dundalk like previous games started off very strongly and were able to build their phases and put Cill Dara under pressure. Dundalk’s lineout and scrum was firing well, giving the team plenty of possession.  But the level of opposition had increased dramatically from previous weeks and Cill Dara brought a huge pack and a very well organised defence. Time and time again Cill Dara turned over possession and their out half, with his well educated left boot, was able to relieve pressure for the Kildare men. Cill Dara scored the first points of the match, when they were awarded a penalty on their first visit to the Dundalk half and their fullback slotted it over. This was to be story of the first half.  Dundalk played the majority of the rugby but lacked discipline and the cutting edge to break down the oppositions defence. They had a couple of penalties in the first half to open their account but Ultan Murphy was unable to capitalise. Again more ill discipline allowed Cill Dara to keep the scoreboard ticking over with two further penalties before Murphy added a fine penalty to leave the score 9-3 at half time to the visitors.

Dundalk were in an unusual position of been behind at half-time for the first time this season. The young team needed to respond as they were in a right old dogfight and respond they did. The team came out firing at half time and they produced much quicker ball to disorganise the Kildare defence. The back-row of James McConnon, Brendan Hadden, Ene Faatau and substitute Kieran Brannigan were impressively carrying the ball and maintaining possession. Eventually this pressure payed off and good work by Hadden and Mike Bentley led to Isaia Petelo making a fine break. Petelo then fed scrum-half Thomas Campbell who was in support to run in under the posts to score the try. Murphy converted to leave it 10-9 to Dundalk.  This seemed to give the Mill Road some confidence and energy but Cill Dara came fighting back and again landed another penalty to go back in the lead, 12-10. Yet Dundalk dug deep and played the majority of their rugby deep inside the Cill Dara half. They were awarded a penalty for their efforts and Murphy kicked an excellent penalty to give the lead back to Dundalk,13-12. Extraordinary this was not the end of this exciting match. With 30 seconds remaining Cill Dara were awarded a penalty just inside Dundalk’s half which they opted to have a shot at goal. Thankfully for Dundalk it landed short and they sealed their third victory. Next up is another home league match against Clondalkin next Saturday.

J.Shields, O.McNally, I.Petelo, J.Williams, R’O’Hagan, U.Murphy, T.Campbell, E.Faatau, B.Hadden, J.McConnon, P.Meegan, M.Bentley, J.Smith, J.Gray, R.Farrell Subs: K.Brannigan, D.McGuinness, C’O’Hanlon, S.Murphy, R.Shields