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Armagh are gutted as Derry grab win right at the death

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Armagh's Timmy Clarke receives the man of the match award from Maurice Crowley of AIB. SG05103

ONCE again City of Derry managed to claw victory out of the jaws of defeat - much to the despair of Armagh Rugby.
For the Palace Grounds side were winning the All Ireland Junior Cup final by 17-12 when the match reached the end of normal time.
But City of Derry made one last attack deep into injury-time and, when Armagh failed to clear their lines and put the ball into touch, an agonising late, late try and conversion gifted the cup to the opposition.
Before awarding the match-winning try, the referee consulted the linesman but Armagh were not to be saved. The touchdown was converted and that was that!
There was some after-match controversy concerning the grounding of the ball!
Some neutral spectators were convinced it was grounded before the try-line but the man who had to be convinced, the referee, was certain it was a proper score.
The Derry pack started the stronger, pushing the Armagh scrum backwards in the early stages but the local lads rallied and were more than holding their own as the match progressed.
Armagh won the line-out exchanges throughout, with James Morton taking many excellent catches as the game went on.
Despite getting plenty of bad ball, the Armagh No 8, Tim Clarke, was able to make plenty of ground with his breaks from the back of the scrums. And his efforts did not go unnoticed as he was named 'Man of the Match'.
Adam Going scored four penalty goals and was in good kicking form, while Matty Irwin ran bravely for his try into the corner after half-time.
There was surprise, however, when he was put clear very close to the end of the match and, while Armagh supporters were jumping up and down expecting a score, Matty was caught from behind by the Derry winger.
His failure to touch-down was not an error by him but great defence by City of Derry.
While the Armagh backs defended well and had some good runs, especially from fielding wayward kicks by the Derry backs, they rarely threatened the opposition line.
There was far too much kicking away of primary possession.
Meanwhile, in reply, City of Derry scored three excellent tries.
The first followed a penalty awarded against Armagh only a few yards from their own try-line.
While some local players were attempting to discuss the matter with the referee, the Derry scrum-half tapped the ball and scored without a hand being laid on him.
The second Derry try resulted from a charge down of an Armagh attempt at a dropped goal. The opposition out-half picked up the ball and ran 70 yards to touch down between the posts, again without a hand being laid on him!
Then came the killer final try which won the match for Derry.
Armagh's failure to take the spoils was not down to any individual error as all the team and replacements stood together and played as well as they could on the day.
Meanwhile, this Saturday, the Firsts are away to Dromore Firsts.
This is a change from the advertised date for the match. Coach, Andy Hughes, is confident his team will be up the challenge and record a second victory over Dromore - and with it the bonus point for scoring four tries!
This will be vitally important as the winners of Qualifying One may be decided by the number of bonus points picked up.
There was better luck for Armagh Seconds at the weekend when they recorded a worthy victory over Dungannon in Junior One.
The team was under extreme pressure for most of the match, especially in the second-half when virtually all of the play took place in the Armagh half.
But the local side's defence was superb and the boot of out-half, Simon Cuttle, won the match with his penalty kicks.
On Saturday the Seconds travel to face Ballyclare Seconds.
Armagh Thirds, unfortunately, had to withdraw from the McCambly Cup competition due to lack of players.
They will travel to Dungannon on Friday evening, with a 7.45pm kick-off, to play the Tyrone side's fourth string.
The Thirds have a narrow early season defeat to overturn.

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