Classy Cill Dara get one over on Newbridge
Cill Dara try scorer, Rory Conway was magnificent in his side's victory away to Newbridge on Saturday evening.
Rosetown was the venue for the first big Kildare derby of the 2026/27 Leinster League season, with Newbridge suffering a surprise defeat at home to Cill Dara on Saturday evening.
Both sides had impressive wins in the opening round, with Cill Dara putting 59 on New Ross at Silken Thomas Park, while Newbridge travelled to Roscrea and left with all five points.
The neighbouring clubs met a few weeks ago in the Hosie Cup, where Newbridge came out on top - just as the Rosetown men did in all three meetings of the clubs last season. But this game proved to be the turning of the tide between the two rivals, with Cill Dara running in three tries in each half to take home all five points on offer.
The visitors got off to a bright start, with Adam Meehan, playing at outside centre, carving through the Newbridge line. Cill Dara butchered a two-on-one out wide, yet regained the ball and crashed right up to the try line, only to be turned over by the hosts.
Cill Dara persisted, however, and after taking Newbridge through several phases, scrum half Pete McDermott spotted a gap out wide and released William Doran for a try in the corner in the ninth minute. Bryn Moore's conversion drifted slightly to the left and wide.
Moore had another shot moments later, but his 40-metre penalty attempt hit the upright before coming back off the crossbar, causing all sorts of chaos in the Newbridge 22. Cill Dara went to their set piece and produced a brilliant training-ground move to release Rory Conway who powered over for a second try.
Moore again missed the target to leave the visitors 10-0 up after quarter of an hour.
Newbridge mounted their first meaningful attack midway through the half, pinning Cill Dara back inside their own half. The visitors showed tremendous resolve, however, and eventually cleared their lines unscathed.
With 25 minutes played, Cill Dara had worked themselves onto the Newbridge 22 with an attacking lineout. They went through a couple of quick phases before number eight JJ McIllwrath pounced to go in for his side's third try. Moore found the target this time and suddenly the lead was 17.
Cill Dara were playing all the rugby and won another penalty 25 metres from goal after a lovely breakaway move involving Chris Cousins, Colin Moloney and Conway, with Moore from the tee making it count on the scoreboard.
The next ten minutes were very loose on both sides, but that passage of play ended with another shot at the posts for Moore, with his second penalty of the evening making it 23-0 at half time.
Riain Murphy led the charge for Newbridge at the start of the second half, but Cill Dara turned the ball over, went straight up the other end and spread the ball from one wing to the other, with Meehan playing in his full back, Paddy McGrath, who crossed in the corner for the bonus-point try. Moore added the extras to bring the visitors up to the 30-point mark.
Cill Dara continued to test the Newbridge defence, with the home side doing well to turn the ball over on their own line.
Newbridge had to be patient to work the play into the Cill Dara 22, with the hosts going through multiple phases before replacement, Eoin Walsh, spotted a gap and went through it for the try. Donal Cashman, also fresh off the bench, added the conversion to bring Newbridge up to seven points.
The visitors looked to hit back straight away, but Newbridge again turned the ball over on their own line. Cill Dara remained on top midway through the half, however, and Newbridge finally gave way, with McIllwrath powering over from close range for try number five. Moore added the extras and it was back to a 30-point game.
Newbridge soon replied, however, with the same two men on the scoresheet as Cashman converted Walsh's second try after he powered over off a nice lineout move.
The hosts came again moments later and crossed for a third try, spreading the ball wide and releasing Mark Bennett, who finished well in the corner. Cashman was again up to the task and made it three out of three off the tee to cut the gap to 16 points heading down the final stretch.
The hosts now sensed an opportunity to salvage a four-try bonus-point. They kicked to the corner once more and the resulting lineout saw Cill Dara replacement, CJ Corcoran, sent to the sin bin.
But the visitors had other ideas, with Paddy McGrath intercepting the ball and racing half the length of the pitch to go in for his second try of the game, bringing an end to proceedings in style.
Newbridge are away to New Ross in the next round of league fixtures, while Cill Dara will host Portlaoise.
Gavin Houlihan; Stephen Cooke, Riain Murphy, Robbie Waters, James Kennedy; Tim Murphy, Nathan McDonald; Scott O’Keeffe, Will Jennings, Bren Comanne; Cam English, Eoin Collins; Mark Bennett (1 try), Chris Leech Max McLaughlin.
Dave Morgan, Jack Barry, Fergal O'Grady, Eoin Walsh (2 tries), Donal Cashman (3 cons).
Paddy McGrath (2 tries); Bryn Moore (2 pens, 3 cons), Adam Meehan, Rory Conway (1 try), William Doran (1 try); George Twigley, Pete McDermott; DJ Brannock, Aaron Kane, Conor McCormack; Chris Walsh, Conor Smith; Chris Cousins, Colin Moloney, JJ McIllwrath (2 tries).
Darragh Dempsey, Stephen Walsh, CJ Corcoran, Ross Dooley, Sean Behan.
Luke Judge.
