Dundalk U-18.5 boys start campaign with win
Dundalk 38 – 7 Skerries
The Dundalk U-18.5 Boys got their Northeast campaign off to a great start with an emphatic 38-7 win against Skerries on Friday night at the North Dublin club.
The new-look squad featuring three of last year’s 18 squad, along with Ben O’Hare and Joshua McParland coming in from Carlingford, seemed to have had no problems gelling.
Dundalk set the tempo early but was frustrated at times by the speed at which Skerries got to the breakdown. Dundalk continued that fast tempo for the full 70 minutes, based, no doubt, on a great preseason with S&C coach, Gareth Lynch.
Kevin Rafferty at hooker made himself busy all night and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.
The pack provided great go-forward ball, through powerful running from the whole pack, Robin Hamill, JP McKeown, Jamie Callaghan, Ben O’Hare, Mike Daly, Joshua McParland, Kevin Rafferty and Joe Liscoe.
Robin Hamill and his back-row counterparts, O'Hare, and McKeown seemed to be everywhere on the pitch, in both defence and attack, involved in big dominant tackles, rucks, and carving gaps with ball in hand.
(Eliot Usoh’s deft pass which led to Donohue’s try)
Joshua McParland scored in his competitive debut for the club, running a lovely line after a strong line-out maul. Michael Daly scored off a quick tap penalty and Ryan McCutcheon bagged a try from multiple phases.
Eliot Usoh was commanding in the middle at 13, with strong running and selflessly putting his centre partner, Mark Donohue in for a great score with a deft, well-timed pass.
Kai Mahne, also enjoying his competitive debut, looked electric on the wing, while Harry Valentine’s impressive footwork from fullback got Dundalk out of trouble several times. Valentine's clearance kicks, which will please his Dundalk Gaels coaches, gave the Mill Road boys plenty of territory.
Jordan Nieuwenhuys, from nine, caused Skerries all sorts of problems, with slick distribution and some sniping running into gaps beside the ruck. He’ll be very happy with his opportunistic try, spotting the tiniest of gaps between Skerries defensive line, to squeeze over from five yards.
The best score of the evening was via Thomas Heeds, hot-stepping his way from his own 22 after an intricate backline decoy move involving Marketing Donohue and Ronan Foley.