Boyne edge derby
DUNDALK BOYNE
THE derby bragging rights went to Boyne for the second time at Mill Road this season as they ended Dundalk’s interest in knockout competitions for this season on Friday night.
Both teams had been entered into the Towns Plate following first-round defeats in the Cup competition and it was the Drogheda men who prevailed after a scrappy 80 minutes played in bitterly cold conditions.
Boyne’s victory was built on a solid performance by their pack and they were ultimately deserving winners, although Dundalk will feel they got a raw deal on several occasions from some bizarre officiating.
Nevertheless, both the winners’ tries came from five-metre scrums as their number 8 Karl Keogh controlled the ball at the back before touching down as he and his colleagues drove over the line.
On the first occasion Boyne had gained field position following the award of a sixth penalty against Dundalk as they incurred the wrath of a rather fussy referee.
A sweet inter-change between the Williams brothers Robert and Derek nearly led to a Dundalk try in response, but with the try line in sight winger Ciaran Murray was barged into touch.
On his first-team debut Dundalk’s 18-year-old scrum half Jack Hughes was yellow-carded after taking out Keogh as Boyne honed in on the line once more, with Hughes feeling he was entitled to tackle the ball-handler controlling the maul and the referee clearly disagreeing.
However, on the stroke of halftime the home side were back in it as Derek Williams went in under the posts after a surge forward by Hamish Walker. The impressive Gearoid McDonald’s conversion left the scores tied at 7-7.
However, Keogh put Boyne back ahead shortly after the restart with a penalty and that seemed to be a turning point as they wrestled back control of the match.
The decisive second Boyne try had a touch of controversy about it as Ciaran Brannigan was sinbinned for a scrum infringement and the visitors’ kicker boomed the ball into touch deep in Dundalk’s territory.
Then, despite the lineout not looking quite straight, play continued and Boyne forced another penalty from which they took the scrum and drove over the Dundalk line.
Keogh’s missed conversion mattered little as Boyne never looked like being caught, and Dundalk now turn their attention back to the league with an away fixture against Wicklow this Saturday. DUNDALK: Conor Williams, Seán Arrowsmith, Ciarán Brannigan, Hamish Walker, Joe Marks, Ciarán Lennon, Laurence Steen, Tiernan Gonnelly, Jack Hughes, Charlie Donnelly, James McConnon, Derek Williams, Ciarán Murray, Robert Williams, Ciaran Bellew. Subs: Darragh Conroy, John Kerr, Gearóid McDonald, Andrew William, Alistair McCormack, McConnon for Brannigan. JOSEPH O’Brien’s successful start to the year at Dundalk continued on Friday night when Highly Approved (11/2, Wayne Lordan) landed the card’s opener, the Dundalk Business Club 2018 Maiden. It was Joseph’s seventh Dundalk winner so far this year and he is setting a fast pace in the track’s leading-trainer championship.
The emergence of Fergal Birrane’s County Mayo-based training operation was again in evidence via the smooth success of Rock On Dandy (10/3) in the ASM Chartered Accountants Race under a last-to-first ride from Denis Linehan.
Racing over two miles for the first time, it was the winner’s third win from five runs since joining Fergal from the Newmarket yard of Ed Dunlop. It should come as no surprise that the beautiful setting of his new stable seems to agree with him.
Tracey Collins had a quiet 2017 but that all looks to be behind her now as Nivvo (8/11f) became her second winner at Dundalk this year when gaining a deserved first success in landing the Celtic Adventures Fillies & Mares LOCAL rally duo Ruairi MacArtain and David Crilly made a promising debut in the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship recently.
Round one was held in Carrick on Suir Forest Park and the Ravensdale/Jenkinstown duo finished 10th in the junior class.
With Ruairi at the wheel of the Honda Civic and David navigating, the good friends overcame a blackout on the three night-time stages as their lights failed.
The pair are sponsored by Maiden under Pat Smullen.
Another trainer enjoying a good year at Dundalk is Pat Martin and he was on the scorecard again when Reckless Lad (10/3), under a perfectly-judged ride from Killian Leonard, landed the Alska Swedish Cider Handicap. It was the gelding’s eighth win at Dundalk and Pat’s fifth win this year at the venue.
Pat made it two wins on the night when Easy Boy (15/2), racing in a visor for the first time, won the card’s finale, the Visitcarlingford. com Handicap, under another well-executed ride from Killian.
The Patrick Prendergast-trained War Hero (4/5f) gained reward for consistency when landing the Shabra Charity Race under a positive, front-running ride from Ronan Whelan.
The gelded son of Declaration Of War had won once and finished second four times in five runs leading up to tonight’s success but, as he has in each of his races, he stuck his head down and ran all the way to the line.
A mention should be made here of Shabra Gerry Cumiskey VW, Crilly’s Londis, Martin’s Bar Riverstown, Car-L-Parts, gx2 automotive, O’Reilly Signs, Autopaint Newry, SMARTCOOL and SCI Services.
The next event is in Limerick next month when the lads hope to line up on the starting grid again.
To follow their progress follow them on Facebook at MacArtain Motorsport. Charity, a foundation set up by Rita Shah and the late Oliver Brady.
Since its inception, over €600,000 has been raised and used to build schools in Kenya and Nigeria and in providing hospital equipment and research funding in Ireland. The work involved by all concerned has been truly outstanding.
Rita had five runners on the night, including Fashaar in the Hibernia Steel Apprentice Handicap.
He ran well to finish third but the race went to Michael Halford’s Storm Ryker (9/2), who was racing in a hood for the first time. It was Michael’s fourth win of the year at Dundalk and he will be in no rush to relinquish his leading trainer crown at the track.
The winning jockey was Ross Coakley, who was riding at Dundalk for the first time since enjoying a month with legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse in Australia.
Dundalk’s next meeting is on Friday February 16th when the action will start at 5:30pm (5pm if a race divides). The feature is the €25,000 Fastfix Handicap.
Friday
RACE 1 Elsa Blue won in 28.48 for Martina McCann & Ambrose Quinn and Craigavon trainer Ambrose Quinn
Race 2 Fridays Tess won in 28.79 for owner/trainer Paul Whyte (Lifford)
Race 3 Valeries Master won in 29.02 for Michael Doyle & Thomas Butterly (Drogheda)
Race 4 Matching Noah won in 21.72 for Martin Manning and Hillsborough trainer Marina McKeown
Race 5 Brannock Dapper won in 34.77 for John McCann (Newry)
Race 6 Beretta Ten won in 21.88 for owner/trainer Michael Kelly (Clogherhead)
Race 7 Fridays Topic won in 29.02 for owner/trainer Paul Whyte (Lifford)
Race 8 Tullymurry Reel won in 21.88 for EamonMaginn and Downpatrick trainer Damian Maginn
Saturday
RACE 1 Ballymorris Mike won in 29.39 for Brendan McLaughlin (Londonderry)
Race 2 Burgoyne Boomer won in 21.34 for Patrick J. Harkin (Derry)
Race 3 Touch Of Luck won in 19.18 for Gerard Lee (Dundalk)
Race 4 Billy Junior won in 29.60 for Gerard Irwin (Castleblaney)
Race 5 Annamore Rusty won in 29.56 for Kieran Hicks (Drogheda)
Race 6 Sin Away won in 19.44 for Colm Farrelly (Hackballcross)
Race 7 Raving Rabbid won in 29.42 for Peter O’Reilly and Swords agent Thomas McGuirk
Race 8 Win For Caitlin won in 29.28 for Jennifer Pyne (Balbriggan)
Race 9 Corner Bar won in 30.37 for Peter Kelly (Coalisland)