Dundalk Grammar’s first experience of the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup ended with defeat to CBC Monkstown at Anglesea Road on Monday.
The Fr Godfrey Cup qualifiers must have been brimming with confidence from a remarkable run of eleven straight Cup victories in three competitions to make it this far.
Their problem was they played into a strong wind to begin with and the League finalists were able to use the kicking of fly-half Sean Power and their well-rehearsed five-man lineout to good effect.
They accompanied heavy pressure with tries by props Luke Hallam and Liam Foster in the same corner as a consequence of solid phase play to hold a 10-0 lead at the break.
The balance of play evened out thereafter as Grammar’s out-half Jack Connolly used the elements well. They just couldn’t find the reward to match their work.
Heretofore, Dundalk had been able to drive home their advantage with lethal back play. The elements made this an outside bet.
CBC were not forced onto the back-foot completely and they had enough in the tank for flanker Tadhg Quinn to punch in their third try and full-back Theo Brady completed the victory in injury-time.
At Anglesea Road – CBC MONKSTOWN 20 (L Hallam, L Foster, T Quinn, T Brady try each); DUNDALK GRAMMAR 0.
CBC MONKSTOWN 20 DUNDALK GRAMMAR 0
CBC: Theo Brady; Logan Brady, James Reynolds, Cian Tallon, Eoghan Healy; Sean Power (capt), Daniel Montayne; Luke Hallam, Eoin Mahon, Jonathan Browne, Liam Foster, Niall Scully, Tadhg Quinn, Ryan Hayes, Ethan Ryan.
Replacements Used: Darragh Power, Adam Patterson, Ben O’Farrell, Donal Madden, Tomas Conlon-Cahill, James Finnegan, Patrick Nolan, Daniel Drummond
Dundalk: Dundalk: Flyn Kieran; Thomas Clarke, David Murdock, Max McGloin, Dillon Dunne; Jack Connolly (capt), Gerald Boylan; Tobi Akinseloyin, Zac Coan, David Nwambu, Jake Moran, Jonathan Johnston, Luke McSharry, Andrew Cox, Ronan Greene.
Replacements Used: Harry O’Neill.
