10th March 2007

Armagh rugby fought their way towards the retention of the Ulster Junior Cup when they travelled to Dungannon last Saturday and beat the Tyrone team's second fifteen 17-24. In the unusual configuration of this cup tournament each team in a four-team pool plays the other three in a home and away format.

Since Armagh have defeated the other three sides twice the pool is, in effect, over and the other matches are of no consequence. Armagh 's scores in the five games played amount to 219 for and 46 against, and it is nice to record a hat-trick, (taking into account last year's cup final), against Dungannon!

The way has now been cleared for a very sensible fixture change next Saturday, 17th March. The Powerade Town's Cup semi-final, in which Armagh received their usual away draw, is now scheduled to be played against Clogher. This game sees the Armagh supporters head west, on St. Patricks day, towards Fivemiletown as opposed to east to Bangor.

This has the further advantage of clearing Saturday 24th March for the visit to Armagh of Monivea, the Connacht junior champions, in the vital play-offs for promotion to senior status.

There is the added advantage that Armagh will not be called upon to play a mid-week match and should, therefore be able to field a full strength side.

It remains to be seen whether a neat solution can be found for the clash on 31st March between the trip to Naas and the Junior Cup quarter-finals.

Armagh brought in Con Oliver for Brian McConnell in the second row and Gareth Hooks at flanker in place of an injured James McCall.

There was a strong wind advantage favouring Armagh in the first half. They only took the advantage when Stephen Auld crossed the line for Armagh 's first try between the posts. The Steenson conversion put Armagh 0-07 ahead. Dungannon then put on a spell of pressure, especially through their backs, but missed a penalty. Johnny Steenson showed them the way with one of his long range penalties to leave Armagh 0-10 ahead.

Dungannon then hit back with a try from a line-out and the conversion closed the gap to 07-10.

Johnny Allen then scored a beautiful try when he burst through from the Armagh 22 to keep the scoring in the Allen family – his brother Ethan having scored the previous Dungannon try. Steenson obliged with the conversion to leave the half-time score at 07-17.

Early into the second half Dungannon closed the gap when a chip down the wing led to a try. which was unconverted, to bring the score to 17-12.

The Armagh scrum was beginning to make good ground by now and the visiting side were attacking very well into the stiff wind.

Johnny Allen saved things for Armagh when he followed up his kick ahead to pass to Eddie Orr who then, in turn, passed to Gareth Hooks.

This put Armagh in a strong position in the Dungannon 22 when Steenson burst through from the centre to score at the posts. He went on to convert the try bringing the score to more comfortable 24-12. The Armagh subs then came on Eoghan Curran for Johnny Allen and Scott Taggart for Connor O'Neill.

Dungannon then hit back with a last minute try, again from Ethan Allen, to bring the final core to 17-24. This was a very creditable performance by Armagh against an experienced side, which had just won the second XV league, and sought to attack at every opportunity.

The Armagh defence was, therefore, under more pressure than usual and performed very well. Both the scrums and line-outs worked well and improved as the game went on, without exerting the dominance they have recently shown against weaker sides. So it was a useful run-out for Armagh.

The return of Connor O'Neill improves the front row, which can hold its own against all opposition. The line-out is so strong that Armagh can afford to take Eddie Orr out and still win the throw from the opposition. The backs are all in good attacking form and the tries just keep pouring in!