Dundalk Rugby Club U17s clinch Leinster Premier Division title
Dundalk 28 - 8 Boyne
The Dundalk Rugby Club U17 boys side beat their neighbours, Boyne RFC, for the U17 Leinster Youths Premier Division title.
The final, played in Skerries on Saturday 20th April, was a nervy affair in the first half, with neither side giving an inch.
Dundalk took the lead with Eliot Usoh scoring after a powerful run with Ronan Foley adding the conversion to make it 7-0.
That wasn’t enough to settle the nerves as Boyne, through a cleverly worked play orchestrated by their out half, Harry Brooks, got five points back, leaving it at 7-5 to Dundalk.
As the game progressed, Dundalk piled the pressure on through their powerful forwards. Tadgh Halpenny, a Northeast Leinster representative, shored up the scrum while being very effective in open play in the middle of the park.
He wasn’t alone, supported by strong running from Joe Liscoe, JP McKeown, Mikey Daly, Sean Larkin and Damien Carolan.
Defensively, Dundalk were led by captain, Robin Hamill leading the tackle count. Dundalk’s backs made some great ground through Thomas Heeds, Conall Cunningham, Andrew McCardle, Dylan Rendall, and Harry Valentine.
With the arrival of Dundalk's own 'bomb squad', with Ryan McCutheon, Gerry Dorian, Don Mullen, Liam Byrne, and James Meehan, the Mill Road men were able to push on their newly added power and pace, further extending their lead, with another try from Eliot Usoh, and two from Mikey Daly.
Ronan Foley, commanding from out-half, was able to maintain a 100% record from the tee, leaving the score 28-8 at the finish.