Gribbenrollsbacktheyearsandfindshiskickingboot PORTADOWN 15 DUNDALK 12

Portadown secured a place in the All Ireland Junior Cup semi-finals for the first time with this deserved, if narrow, home win over strong Leinster challengers, Dundalk.

The Mid Ulster Blues looked relativelycomfortablewitha12-3 lead at the break aher scoring two first half tries.

But their ill discipline almost caught up with them in the second half as the visitors clawed theirwaybackto12-12bythehour.

Evergreen scrumhalf Barry Gribbennailedapenalty11minutesfromtheendandthenasuperb and disciplined defensive display for the closing minutes got Portadown over the line.

It was an entertaining game throughout with Portadown having a slight edge up front where No 8, James Carlton stood out – although the front five will take a lot of the credit for the advantage at the scrum.

Youngfullback,RyanCalvert and centre, Ollie Montels were thestandoutfiguresinthebackline, with Gribben marshalling thingswell–showingliflesigns that he is heading towards his 40th birthday.

Dundalk No 8, Eneliko Fa’atau and centre, Isaia Petelo, impressed for Dundalk, but while the Leinster side at one stage looked like they might travel North and get a second away win having defeated Donaghadee in the first round, just came up short at the end.

However, it was the Portadown defence which will have pleased coach Richard Hedley most – Dundalk never really looked like scoring a try all afternoon and they relied heavily on the excellent kicking boot of fullback Utan Murphy.

He had the first scoring chance of the half on 16 minutes, put his kick wide on the leh sailed wide.

Calvert then fielded an attempted clearance on 23 minutes, made a lovely break down the left flank. He kicked ahead andalthoughDundalkscrumhalf, Thomas Campbell fielded, Portadown put him under pressure.

Anafemptedclearancewas half charged down and it was Calvert who reacted quickest to get the touchdown. Gribben missed with the conversion.

Murphy landed a penalty on 34 minutes, but Portadown responded strongly and after a turnover and carry from Peter Lamb, Dundalk were left scrambling and Wayne Kelly linked with Gribben, the overlapappearedandMontelsmade no mistake.

Gribben’s conversion kick was not his best efforts, but the bullet of a kick hit the leh post and crossed on the right side to give his side a 12-3 advantage at the break.

The scrumhalf had no luck with a penalty on 48 minutes, the ball falling off the tee just as he struck it and three minutes later aher Dundalk had broken out, Portadown came in from the side and Murphy stroked the40mpenaltyover.Twominutes later he did it again and suddenly Dundalk were within a sniff at 12-9.

Portadown lost outhalf David Whifen to the sin-bin on 56 minutesandwithintwominutesofthat Murphy had levelled the scores at 12-12 with another penalty.

It was a worrying time for Portadown but the 14-men responded to the challenge well and improved their discipline toensurethevisitorsdidnotget a foothold on the game as they had threatened to do.

Gribben’s 69th minute penalty put Portadown’s noses in front again – and although it was mostly Dundalk in the last 10 minutes, the home side defended stoutly and maintained their discipline to earn what was overall a deserved win.

It not only secured a place in the semi-finals of the Junior Cup, but they retained the Tom Rainey Cup.