Rugby – Leinster League 1A
Dundalk received a chastening welcome back to Leinster Division 1A on Saturday, suffering a 34-0 defeat away to Seapoint.
However, the scoreline did not tell the full story. The Louth side dominated much of the first half but failed to turn their pressure into points. At the interval, Seapoint led by just 7-0, before a stiff breeze at their backs helped the hosts pull away after the break.
Starting strongly before fading has been a recurring feature of Dundalk’s pre-season, and it is an area the team will need to address. The Mill Road side travelled to South Dublin without their entire back row from last season, while recent recruit Mose Tuialli was also unavailable after picking up a minor knee injury in Dundalk’s final pre-season fixture.
Head coach Campbell also handed four players their league debuts. Three members of last season’s U18 squad – hooker Alex Pepper, Joe Liscoe and Kai Mahne – made the step up, with Pepper particularly impressive. Thomas Heeds, who featured for the seconds last season, also started with the first team.
The opening 15 minutes were fiercely contested, with Dundalk twice being held up as the visitors spent almost the entire period inside the Seapoint 22. Tadhg King appeared to have scored the opening try following a well-worked passing move, only for the referee to rule that he had been held up.
Stephen McGivern also impressed on his first appearance for the side in some time, helping Dundalk gain the upper hand at scrum time.
Despite being under sustained pressure, Seapoint had just one visit to the Dundalk 22 during a one-sided first half. They made it count, scoring a try and conversion to take a 7-0 lead into the break.
The wind proved a significant factor after half-time. With it at their backs, Seapoint began adding to their tally early in the second half. Dundalk struggled to make tackles as the game wore on, allowing the hosts to find the try line with increasing ease.
Despite the heavy defeat, Campbell was not overly concerned afterwards. He praised Dundalk’s first-half display and believes there is plenty for the team to build on.
This Saturday, Athy make the trip to Mill Road, and Dundalk will face another difficult test. No fixture in this division will be straightforward, with Athy having opened their campaign with a convincing 55-12 home win over Tullow, scoring nine tries in the process.
The Town’s Cup holders are also among the sides fancied to make the step up to AIL rugby.
Campbell will hope the return of several key players, combined with home advantage, can produce a more competitive performance. The objective remains unchanged from last season – win at Mill Road and make home advantage count. Kick-off on Saturday is at 3pm.
Dundalk: Robert Williams, Kai Mahne, Conall O’Callaghan, Ultan Murphy, Thomas Heeds, Conor Hennessey, Darragh Conroy, Stephen McGivern, Alex Pepper, Robert Farrell, Ronan McDonnell, Tadhg King, Ciaran Lennon, Max Ward, Laurence Steen. Replacements: James Canning, Jamie Rafferty, Joe Liscoe, Philip Shekleton, Luke McDonough.