Badly in need of a result to get their stuttering league campaign back on track, Clondalkin pulled off a bonus point win over a strong Dundalk team on Saturday 11th January in Gordon Park. Lying second from bottom of Leinster League Division 1A, Clondalkin came into the match low on confidence having lost their previous 5 league matches, which included a 31-3 reversal in Dundalk in October. The omens before kick-off were not good with 7 players unavailable for the home team and when Stevie Cunningham pulled up with an injury in the warm up, Clondalkin had to field a side shorn of 8 regular players.
Dundalk started the brighter and an unconverted try brought them 5 points ahead. They continued to apply pressure but Clondalkin responded with a Mikey Russell intercept score which was converted to leave Clondalkin ahead by 2 points. Dundalk struck back with a second unconverted try before Mikey Russell once again intercepted a loose pass and backed himself from half-way to dot down under the posts, leaving the Dundalk full back trailing in his wake. 14-10 to the home team at half time saw a Clondalkin team begin the second period with renewed confidence and Neil Finley added to the home team lead with a pick-and-go score after some excellent forward pressure on the Clondalkin line. Man of the match Mikey Russell claimed his hat-trick score after an excellent build-up involving Simon King and Captain Paul Nolan leaving Russell to beat the Dundalk winger for the try. Dundalk only managed to score a solitary penalty after half-time and despite pressurising Clondalkin with some penetrating runs, the home team had the momentum and Niall Nolan scored an opportunists try after Dundalk failed to deal with a long kick into their 22. The final try came after Karl Jebb crowned an impressive outing from Number 8 with a push and drive score from a Clondalkin lineout.
The win catapults Clondalkin up into 4th position in the table and with 3 games remaining, their continued status in Division 1A is now in their own hands. Next up on Saturday 18th is an away fixture against Cill Dara who currently sit one place ahead of Clondalkin in the table. Clondalkin 2nds kept their own league chances alive with 19-18 win against Dundalk, thanks to a drop goal in the last kick of the game. They lie 3rd in the table, just 2 points off Coolmine in 1st place.
