04th January 2008

Armagh made their exit from the AIB All-Ireland Junior Cup when they lost 17-27 to Navan at The Palace grounds last Saturday.

With a home draw for once and the team showing good form recently Armagh were looking forward to this cup match. It was, indeed, a big disappointment to see the Meath team victorious. Armagh did manage to score three tries but the opposition scored four! Armagh conceded a try early on and never managed to regain the lead.

They were never closer than 8 points, even though they put in some attacking play in the closing minutes. Navan were undoubtedly the better side and their progress in the cup will be watched with interest in Armagh.

Ironically, the draw for the next round gave Saturday’s winners a home draw with Clogher Valley, which Armagh would have accepted with interest. For the rest of the season Armagh have to be focused on other cups and improving their league position.

The Palace Grounds were in perfect condition in spite of all the snow and over 53mm of rain since Christmas. There was a slight diagonal breeze.

Navan had brought their Mini Rugby squad, their under 14 team, their under 16 team. Dundalk had brought their under 18 team so there a lot of rugby going on before the big game. Needless to say all this rugby brought a lot of support with it.

This support added greatly to the occasion and the Palace Grounds were really buzzing at the 2-00pm kick-off.

The only change for the home team was the replacement of the injured Stuart Lester by Mark Laverty.

Armagh's Peter Elliott started with a drop goal attempt but a penalty was to follow. This also was wide as was Navan’s first penalty attempt. A penalty down the touch-line gave Armagh good possession but Elliott took a fierce tackle and Navan regained possession to kick a penalty.

They soon added to their score when they went across for their first try after a good run down the left wing by a back-row forward. There may have been a doubt over the touch-down but the score stood and with no conversion Navan took an 0-08 lead.

The Armagh line-out and drive was going very well and they set up good position on the Navan line. Johnny Steenson dived for the line but was held up and good Navan held the Armagh attack out. So it was the visitors who scored the next try from a run down the opposite wing to their first score. The conversion came off the post but Navan held a 0-13 half-time score.

After the break they kept the pressure up with another try from the wing and this was converted to put them 0-20 ahead. All looked to be lost for the home team.

Replacements were made with James Johnston coming on for Stephen Morton and Ally Birch coming on for Joe Clarke.

The Navan No. 7 was yellow carded for coming into the side of a ruck. Armagh were awarded the penalty and chose the scrum option.

They were awarded another penalty from the same spot and after a tap and go Armagh finally achieved a try in the right corner when replacement James Johnston dived over. The conversion went wide as did a Navan penalty.

The next try was also from an Armagh replacement, Ally Birch, and this time Steenson sent the conversion over to close the gap to 12-20.

More replacements followed with Eoghan Curran at scrum-half for Andy Winder and Adam Gowing for Chris Black making a new half-back partnership.

In an Armagh attack the ball was lost and Navan kicked down to the posts to get a very lucky try, which was converted to put them 27-12 ahead. The home side kept up strong pressure and Steenson went in for a good try in the corner. The conversion came off a post but Armagh were, by now, attacking strongly on all fronts attempting to close the 10 point gap. However, the Meath men defended well in the dying minutes of the game to celebrate the 17-27 victory.

The Armagh forwards made a good job of the line-outs and scrums and might normally have expected to gain more tries than they did. The backs found the defence very alert and they did not penetrate as much as usual.

Next Saturday sees another cup match. The Powerade Towns’ Cup. The visitors to the Palace Grounds are Banbridge and they will be represented by their second fifteen. This should be easier opposition than last Saturday but the regular support is still vitally necessary.