DUNDALK UNDER 12’s v BOYNE Sun 9th November
This week the under 12’s team travelled to local rivals Boyne Rugby club on Sunday morning on a wet cold and miserable day. Conditions were not idea,l despite this both sides tried to put on a show of entertaining running rugby .Both clubs had two teams so four matches were played with Boyne narrowly coming out on top on all four.
Overall Boyne were strong and well drilled, Dundalk allowed them to run at them and were punished for doing this on no less than 9 try’s in total . Dundalk dug deep and at any chance laid siege to the Boyne try line and were with rewarded for their effort with try’s from Lee O’Carrol. Jack Mulroy’s poaching of Boyne was rewarded with another great try.
Elijah Faapito was a real threat to Boyne, whenever he got on the ball, his awareness and ability to sidestep to evade the tackles together with his speed meant he broke through their defence 3 times scoring 3 trys on the day.
Dundalk played with real passion on the day but poor conditions and a well organised opposition gave the spoils tto the home team.
DUNDALK UNDER 11’s v BALBRIGGAN Sun 9th November
Dundalk Sharks Under 11s met Balbriggan on a lovely mild morning in Mill Road, raring to go and buoyed on after watching a fantastic performance from Ireland against South Africa the previous day. Balbriggan brought 2 teams to face Dundalk’s 2 teams, the Black Sharks and the White Sharks.
First up for the Black Sharks was Balbriggan B and the onlooking parents were treated to a fine display of free flowing rugby. Superb tries from Conal O’Callaghan, Kieran McArdle, Robert Malone, Eoghan Staunton, and 2 from Fionn Duffy, who was back to his imperious best after a quiet outing the previous week. Solid performances up front came from Laurence Jones, Ronan McDonnell, Aron McEvoy, Cillian Halpenny, Conal O’Callaghan, and Brian McCahill added to a great performance all round.
The second game for the Black Sharks against Balbriggan A was a ferocious battle, with Balbriggan’s giant Michael, who at 10 years of age towered over his adult coach, putting it up to the Sharks who had to stand up and be counted. It predictably turned into a ding dong affair between the physicality of Michael and the support of his teammates and Dundalk’s incisive passing, running and free flowing rugby which was more than a match for anything that was thrown at them. The game saw 2 more tries from the outstanding Fionn Duffy, 2 from the free scoring Kieran McArdle and one each from Ethan Gilligan, a fine effort, and Eddie Finnegan. It was just reward for a fine forward display from Brian McCahill, who made a crunching tackle on Michael, over twice his size, Ronan McDonnell who made several crunching tackles on the aforementioned Michael, Robert Malone, Laurence Jones, Eoghan Staunton, Cillian Halpenny, Tadhg Dunne, Calum Grant, Riain Rafferty and Aron McEvoy. A super effort from the Black Sharks. Balbriggan got 4 good tries.
The White Sharks met Balbriggan A first off lead by that man Michael and they put in a fine effort. Tries came from the superb James O’Connor (2), Joseph Pheifer, Milo Moore and Leo MacRuairi, but were offset by 6 Balbriggan tries as Michael ran riot towards the end of the match.
Match 2 saw the White Sharks hit their stride, tries coming from Peter Rice, James O’Connor, Milo Moore, 2 from the excellent Leo MacRuairi who was also tackling like a man possessed, Mark Lawless, Aaron McGuinness Smith and a fantastic first try for Caoimhin O’Neill capping a fine performance in only his second match for the Sharks. Balbriggan got one good try. A super performance for the White Sharks, Sam Malone was brilliant as usual, good solid performances from Luke Andrews, Peter Rice, Aaron Speight, Liam Dorian, Caoimhin O’Neill, Luke Clarke, Alex Gregory and Fiachra O’Gorman.
All in all a good outing for the Sharks against good Balbriggan sides and the lads will look forward to training next Thursday at 6:15pm in the club, as we prepare for next Sunday’s game against Ratoath.
GIRLS U16’s
Suttonian 7 Dundalk 13
Great results for our senior girls tag team, made up of younger players from our U14 team and more experience players from our senior team. Within the first couple of minutes, Suttonian girls took it to Dundalk and stated their intentions with good passing and running to score a try within the first 2 minutes of the game. Dundalk kept their cool and came back with an equalling try. For the next 10 minutes it was try for try then Dundalk finally warming up and getting into the stride picked up their defensive game and started putting the pressure on Suttonians. Outstanding defending work rate by all players in particular Orla Conway, Jessica Malone, Neasa Boyle, Eva Toal, Katie McGee, Zoe Valentine, Aoife Craven(?and Shona Kelly, who all kept their cool and kept the pressure on Suttonians not given them the room to play their preferred fast running game. Dundalk continued to run, and pass, finding the space and getting the ball back to their fast paced support players. Try Scorers: Zoe Valentine continually left Suttonians in her wake and, who grounded the ball on the try line 6 times, had an outstanding game; Deborah Malone with her fast pace and low centre of gravity was difficult to tag; Niamh Belton who found her stride on the wing; Maedhbh O’Callaghan who had a great break and try on the wing; Sadhbh McDonnell with her sheer determination and speed through the centre found the try line 3 time; Eva Toal the youngest of the team had a great game. Outstanding team effort girls, very impressive defensive game which showed in the final score Dundalk 13, Suttonians 7. Keep up the good work!
U16’s: Zoe Valentine (C), Meadhbh O’Callaghan, Shona Kelly, Eva Toal, Siadhbh McDonnell, Aoife Craven, Orla Conway, Deboarh Malone, Jessica Malone, Niamh Belton, Neasa Boyle, Katie McGee
U12’s
With some new players on our side this year – it was the first dip in the competitive world of tag rugby for some Dundalk girls today – this proved little challenge for our U12’s, who oozed confidence and control throughout the game. From the off the girls threw themselves into a flowing game and consistently pushed at Suttonians line of defence – with Caoimhe O’Callaghan running a quick try to signal Dundalk’s intentions. Caoimhe was well supported by Captain on the day Clodagh Flynn, and fiercely competent defender on the day, Grace Cranny, who let nothing pass her on the wing. The sister act of Holly and Lily McEntegart knew no fear and constantly ran at the opposition, setting up and scoring trys for their club. New player Caolfhlinn McCarthy showed her budding ability, throwing herself into the game from the first whistle unafraid to run for the line. Strong support and imaginative play led to a dream team with Tara Herr and Temi Fagbamilla taking every chance to intercept opposition ball and showcase their skills and ability. Hugely positive start from our U12’s, leaving us all on a high for the season ahead. Can’t wait!
U12’s: Clodagh Flynn (C), Temi Fagbamilla, Caolfhinn McCarthy, Holly McEntegart, Grace Cranny, Lily McEntegart, Tara Herr, Robyn Coan, Caoimhe O’Callaghan
U10’s
With a big influx of new Under 10 players this year, we were looking forward to seeing how our girls would fare in their first outing of the season. From the kick off we weren’t disappointed – the girls threw themselves into the game and surprised the coaches and spectators with their text book
delivery – try after try! it was a big team effort from all our new girls and we’re hugely proud of the performances of our new girls – Hannah Laverty, Eve Conway, Orlaith McGeough, Saorla O’Mara, undaunted by the occasion – they got stuck in – quickly got to grips with passing with Orlaith McGeough running in her first try for Dundalk – way to go Orlaith! Our ‘seasoned’ U10 players provided the run away tries – Ruth McGee, Bronagh Hughes and the wonderful, talented Natascha Swan. It’s impossible to single out players but special mention has to go to Hazel Malone…simply fantastic play. The final whistle produced celebrations that would rival a grand slam win and what else can we say about these U10’s – a bundle of talent and fun, fun, fun…ones to watch!
U10’s: Natascha Swan (C), Ruth McGee, Bronagh Hughes, Hazal Malone, Mia Coan, Eve Conway, Orlaith McGeough, Hannah Laverty, Saorla O’Mara
