Saturday 22nd November.
All Ireland Junior Cup Quarter Final.
Newcastle West RFC 10 – 24 Dundalk RFC
Dundalk travelled to the home of the Munster league leaders outside Limerick to play an unknown opposition. Expecting to be met with a well organised and passionate opposition Dundalk’s ability to gain control of the game and play it on their terms would be critical if the Leinster league leaders were to prevail.
Newcastle West kicked off and immediately came up in numbers, Dundalk gathered the ball and were met with some big tackles from the start. The first scrum resulted, and Newcastle West got the push on. Dundalk drovethem back in a determined fashion. Dundalk had met a strong Munster scrum and would have a battle on their hands, two minutes later and another scrum was awarded , this time to Dundalk. Better set and ready Dundalk hit hard and drove Newcastle West back, causing them to calliopes the scrum and Dundalk were awarded a penalty approximately 5 metres inside the oppositions half. Ultan Murphy, the Dundalk out half who has been having a magnificent season place kicking, stepped forward and calmly kicked the ball over the bar putting Dundalk into an early 3-0 nil lead. The home site mounted attack after attack with each phase of play, but great tackling from Ene Fa’ atau, Stephen Martin and Enda Murphy stopped the Newcastle West forwards time and time again. Gaining little ground the home side switched tactics and kicked the ball in behind the Dundalk defence only to find the hugely experienced Stephen McGee there, fielding their kicks and returning them with interest. Dundalk now took the game to the opposition. Robbie Farrell and Johnny Gray drove hard into the heart of the Newcastle West forwards. Rucking and mauling was no place for the faint hearted, Paul Meegan easily winning ball for Dundalk in close contact and presenting good ball to Thomas Campbell at scrum half. Dundalk began to move the ball wide playing their trademark expansive game. With an injury to Chris Scully Jonathan Williams partnered MJ McKevitt in the centre. The backs moved the ball wide and appeared to have broken though the Newcastle West defences and attacked with only metres to the line. Stephen McGee drew his man leaving Stephen Murphy unopposed and the tryline at his his mercy. However, Murphy lost his footing and the opportunity was lost. The battle raged on but more and more the game was being played in the Newcastle West half and more and more each time they tried to attack the Dundalk defence held firm. Despite the home advantage and the home crowd the Munster side were making little impression on the game. On occasion when Newcastle West did move the ball wide in the backs they elected to grubber kick the ball in behind the Dundalk line, something that hasn’t been seen in Leinster rugby in quite some time. Owen McNally gathered this unexpected supply and made off up the field gaining ground all the time. Dundalk continued to pressurise the Munster side and as ruck followed maul Johnny Gray saw an opportunity to snatch a try for Dundalk. Converted by Murphy Dundalk had put their mark on the game. From the restart Dundalk returned the ball and in the resulting maul were awarded a penalty which was converted just before half time, leaving the score 10-3 to Dundalk at the break.
Newcastle West would have to come out for the second half in a higher gear if they hoped to defend their home patch. An early attack after 8 minutes was stopped by a magnificent tackle from Jonathan Williams Lotu Nuku was starting to really come into the game while James McConnon continued from where he had left from last week making powerful bursts through the oppisition defences and gain ground. The big back row was causing a lot of difficulties for the Munster men. As the second half progressed Dundalk moved the ball comfortably and the interchange between forwards and backs insured that Dundalk retained possession of the ball as they set the ball up and moved from set piece to set piece. Lotu Nuku’s throwing into the lineout was excellent with Dundalk winning their own ball while Enda Murphy and Paul Megan continuously disrupted the oppositions set piece. Set plays and ball recycling continued and brought play into the Newcastle West 22. Rucking and mauling towards the home side’s line, Thomas Campbell saw an opportunity and snatched a try to stretch Dundalk’s lead. The conversion was good and Dundalk eased further ahead. The laws of this competition allow for 5 rolling substitutions which Ene Fa’atau used to great effect. With Eugene McEntaggert and Kenny Dorian on the side line exercising the game management plan Dundalk made the most of the ruling. Another penalty for Dundalk converted by Murphy and Newcastle West now had a mountain to climb. They started to play loose rugby , perhaps not their style but it gave Dundalk opportunities. The Munster men kicked away possession allowing Dundalk to gather and clear their lines. Pressure on the Dundalk line was relieved when David Whatley intercepted a pass and broke loose from the Dundalk 22, supported by Ciaran Brannigan the pair took play to the half way line. Time was running out for the home side as Dundalk held a firm grip on the game. Newcastle West tried to regroup but Dundalk swarmed on their every move and prevented any meaningful counter. A consolation try in the 84th minute of the game saved the oppositions blushes but Dundalk had well and truly beaten the Munster side to progress to the semi final.
Team 15 Stephen McGee, 14 Owen McNally, 13 Jonathan Williams, 12 MJ McKevitt, 11 Stephen Murphy, 10 Ultan Murphy, 9 Thomas Campbell, 8 Ene Fa’atau, 7 James McConnon, 6 Stephen Martin, 5 Enda Murphy, 4 Paul Megan, 3 Johnny Gray, 2 Lotu Nuku, 1 Robbie Farrell.
Subs Derek Williams, Tiernan Gonnolly, Ciaran Brannigan, David Whatley,James Shields.
Next week sees an even tougher task for Dundalk when they meet Enniscorthy in the league. Dundalk who are 5 points ahead of Enniscorthy in second place could put some daylight at the top of the table. Should Enniscorthy prevail, the league could be tiedat the half way point in the League. Next Saturday at the Mill Road will see Dundalk firsts and seconds take on the Wexford sides.
Saturday 22nd November.
Dundalk RFC – U14’s V Portarlington – 22/11/2014
Dundalk U14’s made the journey to Portarlington on Saturday morning for their third game of the season in the Leinster league. Due to weather enforced postponements and the mid-term break this was the first run out for five weeks for this team. It was a perfect day for rugby after all the rain of the last few weeks and both sides were determined to make the most of it and from the start they really got stuck into each other with some ferocious tackling from both sides. Although Dundalk enjoyed plenty of territory and possession they were unable to convert this to points on the board and it was Portarlington who scored first when breaking from their own half with some nice interplay between their backs to cross over in the corner, the conversion attempt not being successful. Dundalk pressed again to get back in to the match but were unable to breach a 
determined rearguard action from Portarlington. It was the home side who struck again just before half time when a pass was intercepted by their tall inside centre and he ran away Tommy Bowe style to finish under the posts, the conversion easily made which left the half time score 12-0 to Portarlington. After some inspirational half time words from their head coach, Dundalk really came out fighting and were camped in their opponents half for a lot of the second half but took them 15 minutes or so to finally make the break through when lock Cathal Purcell stormed over after great work in the tight by the forwards. Purcell kicked his own conversion, leaving just five points in it. Portarlington were stunned into action by this and duly went down the other end and scored their third try of the day, again failing to convert. Dundalk rallied once more and with some good kicking found themselves camped in their opponents 22 for most of the remainder and went over for their second try of the game through Cathal Purcell once again, the conversion not being made this time around. With only a couple of minutes left to get what would have been an equalizing try Dundalk really gave it their all and had some great chances to equalize but were unfortunately unable to convert any of them leaving the final score at 17-12 to the home side. Best on the day for Dundalk were Cathal Purcell, Connor McCarron and Luke McSherry in the forwards and Ciaran Brown and Emmet Byrne in the backline.
The team in full was Conor McCarron, Sean Wallace, Eugene McEntegart, Cathal Purcell, Gerard White, Tom Dorian, Ryan McShane, Luke McSherry (Capt.), Kingori Ndungi, Ciaran Brown, Ruairi McMahon, Jack Hanna, Neil Thornton, Dean Conway, Emmet Byrne, Daire Crilly, Jack McKenna, Mike Territt, Leon Keegan .
Training continues at the club on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6.00-7.30. All new players are welcome, this age group being for anyone born in 2001.
Sunday 23rd November.
Under 11 Sharks Perform Well in Skerries
Dundalk Under 11 Sharks travelled to Skerries on a beautiful, crisp Sunday morning that was perfect for rugby. 28 Sharks made the trip for what were always going to be crunching encounters against Navan and Skerries, two of the best teams in the Northeast at Under 11 level. The Sharks were divided into 2 even teams, the Black Sharks and the White Sharks.
First up for The Black Sharks was Navan and straight away Dundalk applied pressure to a resolute Navan defence. With their backs against the wall under severe Dundalk pressure, Navan went for broke and just like a certain Irish number 14 the day before, intercepted a Dundalk pass to run the length of the pitch and score, just as Dundalk were sensing blood. The Sharks regrouped afterwards and were playing some lovely flowing rugby, with Conal O’Callaghan pulling the strings at scrum half and some fine passing phases resulting in Luke Andrews scoring a good try. Navan scored again which set the stage for some great Dundalk pressure with the forwards fronting up with Ronan McDonnell, Leo MacRuairi, Liam Dorian, Laurence Jones and Aaron McGuinness setting the platform for Kieran McArdle to score a super try after a trademark dynamic run bamboozling the opposition. Noteworthy was a good try saving tackle from Ethan Gilligan in the latter stages of the game. A super match from both sides.
The second match for the Black Sharks was an equally exciting encounter with 3 great Dundalk tries coming from Ronan McDonnell, Conal O’Callaghan and Kieran McArdle and 2 good tries from Skerries. A great game for, the Black Sharks, super performances from Kieran McArdle, Conal O’Callaghan, Ronan McDonnell. Some good forward play from Lorcan Ticehurst, Liam Dorian, Laurence Jones, Alex Gregory and Riain Rafferty. In the backs, solid performances came from Robert Malone, Leo MacRuairi, who worked his socks off, Ethan Gilligan, Luke Andrews, Aaron McGuinness and Fiacra McCormick.
The White Sharks kicked off with a thrilling encounter versus Skerries. The tries were coming thick and fast, with Sam Malone marshalling proceedings excellently at scrum half and some brilliant forward play and fantastic rucking setting the stage for some fantastic passing and running from the backs. Fionn Duffy continued his form of the previous week with 2 tries, James O’Connor and Eoghan Staunton were unstoppable with 3 tries each and Milo Moore got a fine try. Skerries scored 5 tries. Noteworthy defensively was newcomer Caoimhin O’Neill who tackled ferociously and is improving each week and also an excellent try saving tackle from Milo Moore.
The second match was a bruising and at times unsavoury encounter against Navan. Eoghan Staunton was again unstoppable with 3 great tries and Sam Malone scored a super try. Navan were strong at the breakdown and at times were too strong in the ruck, scoring 6 tries. Outstanding for Dundalk were Ciaran Tiernan and Aaron Speight, with Calum Grant also having a fine game. Edward Finnegan was man of the match with an inspired performance.
Overall a great mornings rugby and plenty to admire the boys from the wee county, who did their club and families proud.
