Dundalk close to upset in Leinster Junior Final

March 1987

Dundalk come close to upsetting the rugby establishment before going under 10-6 to Lansdowne 2nds in the Leinster Junior 1 League final.

Victory in the St. Patrick’s Day clash at Donnybrook would have earned Dundalk a place in senior rugby, and the distinction of being the first provincial team to win the league.

In driving wind and rain, the Co. Louth outfit leads for most of the match.

Early pressure presents out-half Gerry O’Hara with a couple of penalty opportunities. He misses both, and then Lansdowne get over in the corner after forcing a number of scrums.

Dundalk press and win another penalty, but, again, O’Hara is off target.

However, he redeems himself with a couple of superb dropped goals, and despite another penalty miss, Dundalk go in leading 6-4.

The Mill Road club maintains the tempo early in the second period. A long-range penalty effort by O’Hara just misses, and then another, from the Lansdowne ’22, comes back into play off an upright.

With centres Derek Williams and Andy McDonald tackling heroically, the Dubliners opt to pump high balls forward, and these are capably dealt with by full-back Paul Woods.

However, eight minutes from time, Lansdowne regain the lead with a penalty, and then near the end, make sure with an excellent dropped goal.

Dundalk: Paul Woods, Dermot Lennon, Derek Williams, Andy McDonald, Philip Murphy, Gerry O’Hara, John McCabe, John McKevitt, Mark Halpenny, Conor Dolan, Robert Shekleton (cpt.), Jim Martin, George Clare, Ultan Herr, Tom McDermott.