Clogher Valley will go into the new rugby season with a youthful squad, as they look to build on last season’s fourth-place finish.

The 2019/20 season was their first back in Qualifying One after a brief one-year stay in the lower division, and they showed their relegation was long forgotten as they once again mounted a challenge at the top of the table.

Coach Stephen Bothwell reckons they can at least match that top-four season place this time around. He said: “We got fourth last year, and we definitely want to be in a similar or better position this year.

“The pressure is off a bit because there is no promotion or relegation. We can maybe be a wee bit more pushy in our selection and go for it, rather than playing safe.

“We can be more focused on attacking, and I think that suits the way we want to play.

“It will probably be as tough to get as it was last year, because we will be blooding a lot of youth players this season to get them up to speed for next year and a good push at the league.”

Clogher have been able to hold on to all their first team squad, and Bothwell is looking forward to balancing that experience with an influx of young players.

“I feel privileged to get coaching them,” he said. “Twelve of last year’s Under-18s have returned to the senior club, and we have six boys from three different grammar schools, so that is 18 boys and a lot of really good players in that.

“Selection is going to be very competitive.”

The team has already shown positive signs of gelling together in their pre-season contests.

They lost narrowly to Dungannon before comprehensively defeating Monaghan last weekend, and Bothwell is confident they can carry that form into their first competitive fixture.

“We had our first hit out against Dungannon two weeks ago and I thought we played really well,” he said.

“We probably played the better rugby, but we weren’t as clinical as them. It was two tries each and they got their conversation and won 14-12, but it was really good.

“Last week, our firsts played Monaghan, who won section three at a canter but didn’t go up because there was no promotion or relegation. We won 48-0, which was another good result.”

Grosvenor provide Clogher’s first opponents of the season, and although they tasted both victory and defeat against them last season, Bothwell is hoping this time around they will have the upper hand.

He said: “They are a wee bit like ourselves – they are a good-weather team and they will be looking to play rugby.

“Last year we beat them comfortably at home in the league, but they actually beat us in the cup. We know they can play rugby, but I would be hoping that we go down there and come back with the win.”

Opening Four Fixtures

Saturday September 26

Grosvenor v Clogher Valley

Saturday October 3

Enniskillen v Clogher Valley

Saturday October 10

Clogher Valley v CIYMS

Saturday October 17

Clogher Valley v Ballyclare