Having beaten newly promoted Ashbourne and relegated Suttonians,
Clondalkin it could be argued were to be Dundalk’s hardest test to date. The
Dublin side performed well and with a large catchment area with no shortage of
recruits they should be a step up in terms of opposition. Dundalk have a
battle hardened side and should be well positioned to deal with the
visitors. MJ Mc Kevitt the team captain returned to the centre after a
shoulder injury which kept him out of last weeks action. McKevitt’s return
saw Ultan Murphy move to the wing and last weeks wing sensation Rory O Hagan
dropped to the bench. In the pack a leg injury sustained during training
forced Ene fa Atu to miss the game giving Tiernan Gonnelly his first start
in the no 8 position with the first team.  Clondalkin kicked off in ideal
rugby weather, dry, cool and with a light breeze in front of an average
crowd at the Mill Rd. The kick off was returned with interest from Stephen
MC Gee placing the ball in the Clondalkin 22. Returning up the field and with
some early passing interaction between the Clondalkin forwards and backs
play was brought to the Dundalk 22. In the ensuing ruck, Dundalk were deemed
to have come off aside and a penalty awarded to Clondalkin , which they duly
missed, after only 2 minutes of play.the kick was returned and well placed
into open space by Stephen McGee, recovered by James McConnon and laid
off to Jonathan Williams by Thomas Campbel and rucked again. Campbell off-
loaded to Mike Bentley taking the ball into contact but unfortunately the referee
deemed Bentley to have held the ball on the ground and awarded a penalty
against Dundalk. It wasn’t long before the Dundalk pack settled into the
game and imposed themselves on the opposition, forcing Clondalkin to try and
move the ball in their backs. Again the partnership of MJ MC Kevitt and
Chris Scully in the centre tackled everything coming their way with the
support of the back row of Tiernan Gonnolly, James McConnon and Stephen
Martin. Clondalkin found it very difficult to find space from which they
could establish a platform. A penalty to Dundalk was just past the posts by
Ultan Murphy and a let off for Clondalkin. From the 22 dropout a line out
to Dundalk was won and offloaded quickly to Stephen MC Gee who carved his
way throught the Clondalkinn backs with his trade mark steps and jinks, off
loaded to James MC Connon who was in support and powered
his way forward to set the ball up for Mike Bentley, Dundalk were now up on
the Clondalkinn 5 metre line. The ball was retrieved by Clondalkin who
failed to find touch. Owen Mc Nally gathered and scored Dundalk’s first try
of the game after 14minutes. A well worked backs move after sustained
pressure from the forwards allowed the winger to slice through the defence.
Ultan Murphy converted. Some six minutes later Stephen McGee found himself with
ball in hand and open space in which to operate. A powerful burst from
McConnon and wonderful offload before he hit the deck enabled the full back
to score Dundalks second.try. Again converted by Ultan Murphy and after 20
minutes Dundalk looked relatively comfortable.  Play reverted to a forwards
style battle with the visitors hoping a sustained pick and go approach would
see them puncture a hole in the Dundalk defence but to no avail. The Dundalk
pack, to a man, tackled everything that came their way and held out Clondalkin.
Just before half time a turnover from Dundalk allowed Thomas Campbell to let the
ball out to Jonathan Williams who with a perfectly timed pass released Chris
Scully who turned up the pace and bypassed the Clondalkin defence and score
for Dundalk. Again Murphys accuracy with the boot picked up the extra two
points and going into half time Dundalk were comfortably ahead.
Coming out for the second half Clondalkin were determined to get back into
the game and set about right from the off. As if to prove their pack was
equal to Dundalks they focused their attack and were rewarded with a
converted try five minutes into the second half. Dundalk continued to
exercise control of the game but persistent Clondalkin pressure, at 14
minutes into the second half, was rewarded with another try from their
centres which was converted. All of a sudden the visitors could see light
and with some 22 Minutes  left on the clock Dundalk would need to up their
game and put this game to bed. Tackling from David Whatley, who had replaced
Stephen Martin at half time, held the Clondalkin pack while Jonathan Williams
and Chris Scully were resolute in defence. With 15 minutes left on the clock
a reoccurrence of MJ McKevitt’s shoulder injury forced his retirement,
Ultan Murphy moved to 10, Jonathan Williams to 12 and Rory O Hagan came on to
the wing to inject some pace into the Dundalk attack. Dundalk upped their
game.  McNally, Grey and Bentley combined down the right touchline, Campbell
moved the ball quickly from an ensuing ruck and Meegan offloaded to Robbie
Farrell 5 metres from the line. Unstoppable from that distance Farrell
crashed over the line, right under the posts,  in the 62nd minute to score a well earned try.
Converted by Murphy, Dundalk were back in a comfortable lead. A penalty in
the last minute of the game had no bearing on the final result of 31-17 to
Dundalk
Three wins from three, and picking up a 4 try bonus point Dundalk are
beginning to establish a pattern of play that oppositions will find hard to
deal with. Next week the league leaders play Monkstown away. The useful
Dublin 4 outfit put 30 points passed Ashbourne in their league match and
will test Dundalk in next Saturday’s contest.
Team 15 Stephen McGee, 14 Owen McNally, 13 Chris Scully , 12 M J McKevitt,
11 Ultan Murphy, 10 Jonathan Williams, 9 Thomas Campbell, 8 Tiernan Gonnolly, 7
Stephen Martin, 6 James McConnon, 5 Mike Bentley, 4 Paul Meegan, 3 Robbie
Farrell, 2 Lotu Nuku , 1 Johnny Grey. Subs David Whately, Rory O’Hagan, Enda
Murphy, Will Lauaki and Paddy Reilly.