22/08/2026
π΅π‘βͺοΈ πππππππ πππππ ππ πππππ
Leinster Warriors v Belfast Eagles Senior Rugby League
ALSAA, Dublin
The scoreboard will forever record this one as 0β0. Everything else suggested considerably more chaos.
In the true spirit of Masters Rugby League, Leinster Warriors and Belfast Bald Eagles shared players, shared plenty of laughs and, occasionally, shared the concept of tackling as the two sides enjoyed a hugely entertaining afternoon at ALSAA.
The Eagles caught Leinster cold right from the start, with Warriors man Rob Mulligan, guesting for Belfast, crossing against his own club to open the unofficial scoring. An early reminder that in Masters Rugby League, loyalties are flexible and borrowed players are under absolutely no obligation to be polite about it.
Leinster answered through some quick thinking from ho**er Tony Conroy. Spotting Craig Best lurking with intent, Conroy sent him through the combined efforts of two defenders to score.
From there the Warriors began to find their rhythm. Denny McCarthy crossed, before debutant Sean Power announced himself with not one but two tries. Mark Kelly and Michael Rogerson also got in on the act as the home side took control of the opening half.
Belfast, however, returned for the second half with considerably renewed vigour β and apparently a collective decision that running directly through Leinsterβs midfield might be worth exploring. π€
They were correct. β
Guesting Glen McAllister, Matty Quinn and Michael Rogerson (at the other end) all found open country from long range as a few ambitious Leinster defensive reads became considerably less ambitious tackles.
Tim OβDonoghue restored some order at the other end before Power completed a hat-trick on his Masters debut, giving him the sort of first appearance that becomes more impressive with every telling.
Then came the afternoonβs defining moment.
Craig Best, already carrying the considerable honour of the previous outingβs Dick of the Day π burst through a crowd of defenders inside his own half and suddenly found nothing between himself and a hat-trick except open grass, the try line and the rapidly diminishing contents of his lungs.
He made it almost all the way. π
Rather than diving early, Best bravely elected to continue running until his body ceased cooperating. McAllister chased him down and, just as Best attempted to ground the ball, dislodged it in the tackle.
ππ»A magnificent break.
π¦ΈββοΈ A heroic chase.
π€¦π» Acatastrophic failure to simply fall over.
Back-to-back Dick of the Day awards confirmed. π
McAllister later crossed again for Belfast, completing an excellent afternoon which earned him the Eaglesβ Man of the Match award. π OβDonoghue grabbed his second for Leinster, while Mark Kellyβs second and a barnstorming effort from Emmet OβDonnell rounded things off with the final unofficial scores of the day.
And with that, everybody shook hands, counted whatever parts of their bodies still worked and retired in the knowledge that the official result remained beautifully untouched:
Leinster Warriors 0β0 Belfast Bald Eagles.
No league tables. No points difference. No arguments over the scoreboard.
Just two Masters sides helping each other put a team on the field, plenty of tries that technically never happened, and another reminder of what Masters Rugby League is supposed to be about.
Older. Possibly wiser. Definitely slower. Still playing.
LEINSTER - M. Kelly, Power, Best, OβDonoghue, D. Kelly, D McCarthy, Dillane, McDonnell (c), Conroy, OβDonnell, Rogerson, Plummer, Bolton.
EAGLES - Reid, Konopatzki, Mellor, Shanahan, Varga, McAllister, Quinn, Neill (c), Robson, Mulligan, Doyle, F. McCarthy, Youngs
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