Swords Cut Down Malahide

Swords 21 Malahide 5

The Auld Triangle rang out around ALSAA a little louder than usual on Sunday, as Swords celebrated a fine win over bitter rivals Malahide. A fourth win in a row kept Swords in contention for the league title and had the coveted (and deserved) fourth try come, the bonus point would have put them second.

As it was, tries from John Condron, Richie Cowman and Dave Cahill, who also slotted over two penalties, gave the Greens the win and kept the title dream alive. Swords were dominant all over the park and really should have won by more. The home side started brightly and had points on the board after just 10 minutes with a try from full back Cahill.

Some good work up front gave the backs some room out wide and when Richie Cowman spun the ball out he had Robin Kiely, Shane Mulligan and Jamie Gormly waiting in the wings. Swift hands gave Cahill his chance and he finished smartly in the corner. Cahill missed the conversion, but knocked over a penalty five minutes later to make it 8-0 and at this stage Swords were firmly in control.

Moments later after a set piece move in the backs, centre Dave Flynn found Cahill once more and he crashed through two tackles to ground but was adjudged to have made a double movement and the try was disallowed.

Swords did get their second try shortly afterwards when second row John Condron finished off a well worked forwards move grounding from close in. Cahill was off target once again with the conversion effort. Swords should have had their third try shortly afterwards when Cowman released his backs around half way but a drop pass intended for Kiely prevented a certain score.

Both sides had players sin binned during the opening half which ended with Swords leading 13-0 although Malahide missed two penalties which could have brought them back into contention. The second half continued in much the same fashion with Swords attacking at every opportunity. A penalty from Dave Cahill ten minutes into the half stretched the home side's advantage to 16-0 and moments later they had crossed the Malahide line again.
A left to right movement saw Flynn feeding Cahill and when the ball broke loose, Cowman showed his football skills to keep the ball in play and eventually ground in the corner. Although missing the conversion attempt again the Greens now led 21-0.

The heavens opened and conditions deteriorated rapidly just as Swords lost flanker Jim Julian to the sin bin. Malahide managed a late try after a series of penalties, but it was a mere consolation score. Swords thoroughly deserved their win and with 18 points from their opening five games, promotion is on the horizon. Two crunch ties with Arklow and Athy complete the action for 2007. If Swords grind out the results, you can be sure The Auld Triangle will resonate even louder come the new year.

Swords RFC: D. Cahill, R. Kiely, D. Flynn, J. Gormly, D. Gallagher, R. Cowman, J. Kubran; E. O'Donnell, F. McKevitt, E. O'Griofa, J. Condron, F. Coll, S. Mulligan (c), J. Julian, M. Corbett. Subs: P. Jones, R. Merrigan, M. Bradley, I. Anderson.