In-form Dundalk dent Enniscorthy title hopes
DUNDALK’S title hopes may have evaporated early in the season, but that didn’t prevent Mike Walls troops from putting a big dent in Enniscorthy’s Leinster League aspirations at Mill Road on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts were looking for their second win in a row after beating Monkstown the previous week.
After a minutes silence to mark the recent passing of players from both clubs, Dundalk made their intentions known to second-placed Enniscorthy from the start, putting the Wexford outfit under pressure from the kick-off.
This visitors were visibly rattled in the opening minutes and a well-executed line out for Dundalk enabled Jonathan Williams to unleash his back line with Laurence Steen and Stephen McGee making huge gains.
From a subsequent ruck the forwards took over and Cole Stewart crashed over for the first try.
Gearoid McDonald added the extras to round off a superb start by Dundalk.
Enniscorthy weren’t happy and their discipline suffered as they were pushed back again by the big Dundalk defence.
With the pack making hard yards from inside passes from Williams and Walls, and the backs breaking the gain line repeatedly, it was only a matter of time before the pressure told and Enniscorthy gave away a penalty in front of the posts, which McDonald duly converted to make it 10-0.
With 20 minutes left in the half Dundalk didn’t let up and continued to turn the screw.
From a ruck own on their 22, a lovely inside pass found Stephen Martin who carried two Enniscorthy players and the ball over the line for try number two.
The try came at a cost as Martin was injured in the process leading to a 20-minute delay to proceedings.
However, when the game restarted McDonald added the conversion and Dundalk retired at half-time leading 17-0.
The second half started just as the first had - with Enniscorthy on the back foot.
With Stephen McGee applying severe pressure Enniscorthy played into Dundalk’s by kicking long time and again, allowing their hosts to counter-attack at will.
Enniscorthy’s lineout and maul were strong, allowing them to gain territory, but the Dundalk defence was far superior throughout.
Enniscorthy’s indiscipline continued to fray and off-the-ball incident saw their outsaide centre yellow-carded.
Dundalk used their numerical advantage to devastating effect with a training ground move releasing Derek Williams, who released to Steen to sprint in the third try. Again Murphy converted to put the icing on a superb Dundalk display.
Dundalk will be hoping to make it three wins in a row when they travel to Kilkenny this Saturday for their final league game of 2016. DUNDALK: Stephen McGee, Derek Williams, Laurence Steen, Gearoid McDonald, Robert Williams, Jonathan Williams, Mike Walls Jonathan Gray, Sean Arrowsmith , John Smith, Greg Whately, Enda Murphy, Stephen Martin, Cole Stewart, David Whately. Subs: Robert Farrell, Ciaran Brannigan, Andrew Williams, Ciaran Lennon, Ultan Murphy.