Clogher Valley 13 Ballyclare 11

Clogher Valley made history at Ravenhill with a stirring late comeback to win the All-Ireland Junior Cup for the first time in their history.

10 points in injury time turned heartbreak into joy for the Valley with a heroic never-say-die performance that landed the title following a titanic battle.

For the final 20 minutes of this game Clogher pressed for the score they needed to get back into this game, trailing 11-3 at the break but Ballyclare held firm until the final minutes.

Then good pressure on the line saw Valley plunder a converted try with Neil Henderson touching down at the posts to reduce the gap to 11-10 with only injury time remaining.

The kick off was returned and Valley forced a penalty on Ballyclare’s 10m line and captain Paul Armstrong held his nerve to kick the score that won the title for Clogher Valley and cue some major celebrations.

Heartbreaking for Ballyclare but some way to win a final for the Valley.

It was all in sharp contrast to a quiet start to the game.

Indeed, there was little between the teams for much of the first half but Ballyclare were more clinical and any time spent in the Clogher 22 earned a score.

The opening quarter saw periods of pressure for both teams but no score, Clogher wasting a good chance when they kicked a penalty to the corner but put it out of play on the full.

A couple of errant passes then gave Ballyclare some good field position and it was from one of these that the opening score of the game came when Ballyclare pressure won a penalty in front of the post which full back Mark Johnston converted to make it 3-0 on 18 minutes.

Clogher Valley hit right back with a good break from Ewan Haire earning good field position and while Callum Smyton seemed to have touched down a kick through, the whistle had sounded and play was pulled back for a penalty which Paul Armstrong converted to make it 3-3.

Ballyclare were then in the ascendancy, forcing Valley to concede a few penalties and Jackson missed one and then converted the next to make it 6-3 with ten minutes to the break.

A strong run from Ballyclare’s Ross Johnston put Ballyclare in more good field position and Scott Martin failed to catch a crossfield kick but play was brought back for a penalty. Ballyclare kicked to the corner, pushed for the line from the lineout and again kicked the ball across the field and Martin made no mstake this time, beating Haire to the ball and toughing down for the first try of the game.

Jackson missed the conversion as Ballyclare led 11-3 with five minutes to the break.

Strong running from Callum Smyton got Clogher into the Ballyclare 22 and camped on the opposition’s line but a knock on ended the push and the half with Ballyclare leading 11-3.

Ballyclare started the second half in the ascendancy and only for some strong Valley defence would have increased their lead as Jack Black was held up over the line and a Ballyclare five metre scrum was repelled.

It took Clogher Valley 15 minutes to get into good field position when David Stinson made a great break but a penalty allowed Ballyclare to clear their lines and get back into Valley territory.

Valley did exert plenty of pressure and did get deep into the Ballyclare 22 but were held up at the line and could not win the ball from a lineout eight metres from the line. Haire almost put Armstrong through but a tap tackle stopped a certain try.

Time was ticking away but having already lost one of these finals by a single point they weren’t going to do it again.

The Valley camped on the Ballyclare line and kept the ball through a number of phases before Henderson touched down and Armstrong converted to make it 11-10.

Then came the penalty as the Valley suppporters held their breath, Armstrong’s kick just had enough to clear the bar as the crowd went into raptures.

Still Ballyclare had some possession but good defence did not giveaway any scoring chances and the final whistle sounded to make history for Clogher Valley and what a way to do it!

 

 

Clogher Valley team

Ewan Haire, Stuart Brown,  Paul Armstrong (C) (15 Shirt),  Reece Smyton,  Regan Wilkinson, David Maxwell, Matthew Bothwell, Michael Treanor, Kyle Cobane, Neil Henderson, Eugene McKenna, David Sharkey, David Stinson, Aaron Dunwoody, Callum Smyton

Subs

Adam Boles (13 Shirt) Joel Busby (16 Shirt) Rodney Bennett (17 Shirt) Jamie Allen (18 Shirt) Richard Primrose (19 Shirt) Neil Trotter Aaron Crawford Ryan Wilson

 

Ballyclare team

Mark Jackson Owen Kirk Joel McBride (C) Matthew McCullough Scott Martin Matthew McDowell James Creighton Dean Jones Matthew Coulter Jack Black Josh Young Grant Bartley Ross Johnston Aaron Playfair Jack Gamble

Subs

Adam Barron Richard Lutton Harry Mawhinney Ryan Tweed Matthew Robson Angus Robson Ross Patterson Matthew Fitzgerald