Tense derby win for brave 17s
DUNDALK Under-17s’ winning streak in the Leinster Youth League Premier Division continued with a fantastic win away to Boyne at Shamrock Lodge last Saturday.
These derbies are always tense, especially so considering this was a top-of-the-table clash.
With these two teams unbeaten this season in this competition, something had to give, and as expected it was an extremely physical match. Boyne started on the front foot and Dundalk’s defence had to be at its best - and it was as they kept their line secure, only conceding a penalty in the 14th minute which Boyne converted.
Dundalk came straight back and won the restart and after a number of rucks and quick hands Aidan Kane touched down.
Then, from a Boyne scrum on their 22, Dundalk’s quick line speed forced a turnover. After multiple phases Aidan Kane crossed over in the 28th minute and Lee O’Carroll converted for a 12-3 lead.
BOYNE DUNDALK 15 19
In the second half Boyne came out fighting, and after a sustained period of pressure their Ireland underage centre Karl Martin touched down for a try in the 50th minute.
The same player pushed the conversion to the left and wide, but the referee deemed that the Dundalk props started their chargedown too quickly and ordered a re-kick which was also missed.
Dundalk were close to scoring again when the ref deemed there was a forward pass to Stephen Dyas who looked certain to score.
The next score was to be from Boyne when Martin again scored a try and this time he converted to give Boyne a 15-12 lead.
However, Dundalk continued to play with true team spirit. After sustained pressure in the Boyne 22 the home side managed to clear their lines with a kick to half-way, but Timmy Connolly retrieved the ball and ran back, and after quick hands from the backs the ball ended in the hands of Lee O’Carroll who ran to the 22, cut inside and gave a flat pass to Daragh Maher who handed off two players and scored in the left corner.
O’Carroll kicked the conversion from the corner to give Dundalk a four-point lead in the 73rd minute.
Boyne now had to score a try, but Dundalk kept cool heads and went through enough phases to see down the clock and kick the ball out to joyous scenes.
This win now leaves Dundalk Under-17s sitting top of the table in the Leinster Premier Division. DUNDALK: Timmy Connolly; Lee O Carroll, Aidan Kane, PJ Tiernan, Donal Leavy; James McDonald, Tom Corcoran; Adam Duffy, Niall Bermingham, Darragh Maher; Seamus Boyle, Fionn Martin; Stephen Dyas, Joshua O’Hare, Danial McArdle. Replacements: Sam Dawson, James O Connell, Lochlainn O’ Conbouirne, Aodhan Fitzpatrick, Gavin Meally, Jonah Powers, Killian McNally, Ethan Johnson.