18th April 2008

To say that Armagh played with passion in the Junior Cup Final at Ravenhill would be an understatement. The team achieved a unique record when they gained their third major trophy on Friday night. The Junior Cup now joins The Towns Cup and The Past players Cup in the silver cabinet at The Palace Grounds.

If the Towns Cup final against Portadown was a run-away affair this latest game was a very different affair. Whereas the earlier final was a triumph for Armagh’s attacking force the Clogher game was a tribute to Armagh’s defence. Reduced as they were to fourteen men after only 4 minutes of play when lock forward, Jamie Cornet, was red-carded for stamping.

Indeed, there was a ten minute period when Armagh were reduced to 13 men! It must have been very disheartening for Clogher that they failed to capitalise and put points on the board when Joe Clarke was yellow-carded. But the game was so closely fought that Armagh failed to score in the first half when Clogher’s Andy Breen and player-coach Glen Kyle were both carded.

A biting, strong breeze favoured Armagh in the first half. The advantage seemed to disappear, however, when Cornett was sent off. Although this single event seemed to galvanise the Armagh team. Indeed the remaining 7 man scrum handled their opposition so well it leaves on to wonder what would have been the case if Armagh had played the game with a full 8 man scrum.

To add to Armagh’s worries, Johnny Steenson hit two penalties wide from much the same position.

Both he and Chris Black were using the wind to good effect in gaining position. Black made a good break down to the left corner and Steenson put a penalty into the corner.

From the resultant line-out Armagh adopted their usual catch and drive to send Ali Birch over for his first touch-down of the night. Steenson put in a great conversion to put Armagh 07-0 ahead.

In a rare attack Clogher got a penalty but the wind proved too strong and they put all subsequent penalties down to the corners. The Clogher pack were working well and it took a break-away by James Morton to lift the siege. Both Stuart Lester and Johnny Allen made good breaks but the half-time score stayed at 07-0.

Against the wind in the second half and a man down Armagh needed a help. It came after only two minutes when Ali Birch scored a fantastic try. It came from a run down the left wing by Phil McAllister who offloaded to Birch. He went in at the posts and Steenson converted to bring the score to 14-0.

Clogher were doing well, now, both in scrum and line-outs. It took a good clearance kick by Ralf Mercer to relieve a period of sustained pressure and get them out of their own half. But their problems were compounded when flanker, Joe Clarke, was yellow carded and had to spend ten anxious minutes on the touch-line.

The resultant penalty saw Clogher take the scrum option going for a push-over try. Brian Bassett replaced Davy Martin. Clogher managed to get the push-over but the failed to convert bringing the score to 14-05 with 18 minutes to go. Allen and Black combined well to bring Armagh back into attacking mode.

They sent Brian Bassett in for another try but the conversion went wide. The score went up to 19-05 and the Ravenhill score-board clock clicking down was all that was left for the large Armagh support. Brian McConnell came in place of McAllister as Birch moved on to the wing. A kick and chase let the Clogher sub, John McFarland in for a fine try which was converted to narrow the score to 19-12. This made the last two minutes of play a very tense period. Scrum-half Mercer was replaced by Andrew Winder.

A vital penalty near their own line relieved the pressure and seconds later the referee blew the final whistle much to the relief of the Armagh team and supporters.

It was truly a fine Cup Final, played with true passion. It also illustrated the fine standard of rugby played in the Qualifying League. The latter part of the season saw Portadown, win the league. They progressed through the play-offs with a clean sheet. They convincingly beat the best from Connacht, Munster and Leinster only to come a cropper in the semi-final of this tournament.

"Clogher were just too strong on the day" said Clogher President, Jim Finlay. Only resolute passion held this strength at bay with fourteen men and even thirteen men on the pitch on Friday evening.

Wednesday evening sees the team head north to play the only remaining league fixture against Coleraine. This fixture was originally scheduled to be played on 13th October but for various reasons it has been pushed to one side.

As it stands we are in third position but if we win the game with a bonus point we can displace Clogher and take over the second league spot behind Portadown. Needless to say the team will come out on Wednesday for their last game of the season with all guns blazing.

Team: B. Patterson, J. Johnston, M. Hopps, D. Martin, J. Cornett, A. Birch, J. Clarke, J. Morton, (Capt.), R. Mercer, C. Black, P. McAllister, J. Allen. A. Redpath, S, Lester, J. Steenson. Subs: R. Morton, B. Bassett, B. McConnell, A. Winder, S. Sheppard.