Stylish Shield win for combination team
METRO SHIELD PLATE MU BARNHALL 17 DUNDALK/ARDEE 42
TWO tries from David Murdock as well as scores from Cathal Purcell, Caolin Traynor, Danny Morse, James Reilly, Gavin Farrell and Jack Hughes secured Leinster Rugby Metro Shield Final victory for Dundalk/Ardee U-18s.
MU Barnhall started brilliantly and took control from the start with a well-worked try to take the lead.
Dundalk/Ardee came back into contention thanks to huge carries from Cathal Purcell, Cormac McGuigan and James Reilly. Then, with ball in hand, Cathal Purcell burst down the right wing, handing off any opposition who got in his way to crash over the white line.
The teams exchanged penalties to leave the score at 10-10, but just before the break an MU Barnhall player’s kicked was expertly plucked out of the air by David Murdock who then barged over the line - 15-10.
MU Barnhall were looking for scores from the start of the second half, but Dundalk/Ardee produced some of their best attacking of thel season.
There was a scare in the camp when it looked like they might have lost Jack Connolly to injury, but the warrior wanted to carry on.
In the backs, Jack Connolly, David Murdock, Gavin Farrell, Caolin Traynor and Danny Morse were disciplined and their tackling low and precise. This was in addition to the physical dominance in the pack of James Reilly, Conor Waters, Cathal Purcell, Peter Kerley, Cormac McGuigan, Tom Dorian and Ryan McShane, led at the front at all times by captain Zak Coan.
Barnhall did pull three points back, but Dundalk/Ardee responded with tries from wingers Caolin Traynor and Danny Morse.
The, from a scrum, Gavin Farrell offloaded to David Murdock who sidestepped a Barnhall player, ran the length of the pitch and powered over the try line. Moments later Murdock made another searing break and as he approached the line offloaded the ball to Gavin Farrell who used all of his strength and physicality to touch down.
Congratulations go to the players and to their excellent coaching team Conor Kane, Kieran McCabe and Kieran McCague.