A neck injury sustained by Clogher’s Philip Holme saw this game called to a halt after 71 minutes with Valley leading 25-10 against Dromore at Barban Hill.

Clogher Joint Coach Davy Black says that it will now be up to the Ulster Branch to decide if they are awarded the victory.

“We were leading 25-10 when the game was abandoned due to an injury to Philip Holme and it will now be up to the Branch as to whether they award us the points or replay the game. Philip was taken away in an ambulance but thankfully he is now at home although he is still very sore,” he said.

Next up for Valley is a Towns Cup quarter-final clash against Armagh II at The Cran and Black states that they will need to improve if they are to stay on course to retain the cup.

“The boys put in a good shift on Saturday and they played well but we’ll need to up it for Armagh, we will need to be sharper and quicker. We are the holders though and we will be looking to defend it with everything we have. Armagh have beaten Bangor and Omagh so we know we will have our hands full but we have home advantage and that’s a big thing,” he added.

Valley were quickly off the blocks against Dromore and moved the ball dynamically. Powerful running from Armstrong created space for Breen to bring play into the Dromore 22. A further break from Stott was supported by Treanor who threatened the Dromore line. The Valley pressure told and the referee awarded a penalty to Valley which Holme goaled to give the visitors a 3-0 lead after six minutes.

A failure to clear a Dromore kick a few minutes later was to prove costly for Valley when an infringement led to the referee awarding a penalty to the home team. Dromore’s scrum half Steenson kicked the penalty to leave it 3-3 after seven minutes.

Thereafter Valley continued to use their scrum and lineout as a launchpad for a fast, dynamic offloading game. Much of the good work was undone by a combination of indiscipline at the breakdown by the Valley and dogged defence by the Dromore back row and the tenacious Steenson. Valley persevered with their fluid game and reaped the reward on 29 minutes when Armstrong, who was impressive throughout, put in a delicate grubber kick which Trenier latched onto to score. The difficult conversion was missed to leave Valley 8-3 in front.

Dromore again responded positively with their out half Cobb making a fine break down the middle of the pitch. A good kick from Dromore brought play right into the Valley 22. Following a penalty award, quick thinking from Dromore saw the ball moved to their Hooker Mulholland, who brushed off defenders to score on 37 minutes. Steenson kicked the conversion to see Dromore leading 10-8, which is how it remained at half time.

A penalty to Dromore on 45 minutes saw Steenson’s effort hit the post and Valley reacted well with Bennett running the ball back and Donaldson then producing a 40 metre break. With the Dromore defence stretched, as play approached the home side’s 22, a penalty ensued. Holme kicked well into the wind to put Valley 11-10 back in front on 48 minutes. Thereafter Valley started to exert its dominance at the scrum with virtually all scrums ending up at the feet of their No.8. Following a warning to both captains, a further penalty infringement on 54 minutes saw the Dromore blindside flanker yellow-carded.

A great take by Sharkey at the lineout saw the ball moved wide, with Primrose making decisive yards, and when the ball came back Holme’s drop goal effort went wide. Things went from bad to worse for Dromore when another player was yellow carded on 58 minutes. Valley took full advantage when a power scrum saw Wilson and Best combine to bring play deep into the Dromore 22. The ball eventually found Sharkey who touched down for Valley’s second try on 60 minutes. Holme goaled the tricky conversion to leave Valley leading 18-10.

At this stage Valley looked good value to pull away from 13-man Dromore. And so it proved when Valley again won the ball at the scrum on the Dromore put-in and took the game to the home side. Good hands across the backline saw the ball find its way to Stott who injected telling pace to create the space for winger Breen to score Valley’s third try. Holme again continued his excellent kicking into the wind adding the conversion to see Valley leading 25-10 on 65 minutes.

To their credit Dromore sought to reduce the lead with a series of promising counter-attacks that brought play into the Valley 22. This came to nothing however when, after a serious injury to a Valley player, the Munster-based referee decided to bring the game to a close around the 70 minute mark.

Next week Valley are at home in the quarter final of the Towns Cup to Armagh II and a big crowd is expected.