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Cash and Carry!

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Armagh out-half, James McBriar punts forward against Cashel during their All-Ireland Division 2B tie at the Palace Grounds on Saturday. CG0526

Armagh 0. Cashel 32.

ARMAGH were simply outclassed by league leaders Cashel at the Palace Grounds on Saturday.
The Munster visitors bossed the game throughout and also claimed a try-scoring bonus point.
For Armagh, however, it's a case of some hard work on the training paddock as they prepare for a vital match against Rainey on Saturday.
The writing was on the wall as early as the first minute when a poor clearance kick forced Armagh into conceding a penalty.
Centre Pat O'Connor stepped up to slot over three easy points.
Cashel doubled their lead three minutes later when they caught Armagh on the counter attack.
Mark Riddell was sin-binned for a professional foul by referee David Keane and, once again, O'Connor slotted over a simple three points.
Cashel continued to dominate all facets of play and they went over for their first try of the game after 11 minutes.
Again they made the most of some poor first up tackling from Armagh and, after a few phases, second-row Lloyd Foote went in at the corner.
O'Connor had brought his kicking boots with him as he slotted over the conversion from the touchline.
Armagh were lucky to escape without conceding points on 16 minutes when winger Andrew Willis was tackled five metres from his own line after a clever kick in behind the host's defence.
But two minutes later Cashel went over for their second try.
It came from some quick thinking from winger Kevin Quinlan who gathered his own chip over Willis and scored in the corner.
And, with O'Connor once again adding the conversion, the visitors had averaged a point a minute against an Armagh team who were unable to get out of their own half.
On 24 minutes Armagh were awarded a penalty in a kickable position on Cashel's 10-metre line.
But they elected to kick for the corner, went through a few phases, but lost possession at the vital moment.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and perhaps it would have been better for the hosts to kick the penalty to get some points on the board.
The result was all but sealed three minutes from the break when Cashel went through the phases to bring play into Armagh's 22.
And it was hooker David McCormick who broke through a couple of tackles to score in the corner.
This time, however, O'Connor failed to add the conversion.
Armagh's performance in the second half was improved from the first but they never really looked like overhauling a 25-point deficit.
Three minutes after the restart Armagh were attacking Cashel's 22 but a poor kick from scrum-half Harry Doyle drifted straight into touch.
On 50 minutes Armagh were attacking well but they turned the ball over as Cashel broke 40 metres to out the hosts under pressure again.
A good 30-metre break from winger Timothy McNeice brought play into Cashel's 22 two minutes later but once again Armagh were unable to take their chance as Cashel once again won a turnover and cleared the ball to safety.
It was the same story for the hosts on 56 minutes when Tinus Van Wyk won a line-out five metres out but when they ball went out, Armagh lost possession.
Cashel had the bonus point on 64 minutes when they caught Armagh on the break and winger Quinlan went over for his second try of the day.
O'Connor added the extra points but the Munster side were out for more and on 69 minutes they had Armagh under the cosh but a loose pass allowed the hosts to clear the danger.
A day to forget for Armagh but plenty of lessons will have been learnt against a team who should be lifting the Division 2B title come the end of the season.
Armagh: Johnny Steenson, Andrew Willis, Ethan Allen, Richard Reaney, Timothy McNeice, James McBriar, Harry Doyle, Jacques Van Rooyen, James Johnston, Brian McConnell, Phil Hill, James McCall, Peter Elliott, Mark Riddell, James Morton.
Subs: Philip Fletcher, Steven Morton, Matthew Steenson, Matthew Irwin, Tinus Van Wyk.
Cashel: Rory O'Connor, Kevin Quinlan, Brian Silke, Pat O'Connor, Kevin Leamy, Conor Quinlan, Mike Kelly, David McCormick, Stanley Howard, Lloyd Foote, Sean Walsh, Edmund Leamy, John Ed O'Connor, Brendan O'Connor.
Subs: Danny Lambe, Barry Maloney, Albie Devitt, Richard Hickey, Colin Morrisey.

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