Clogher Valley recover from poor start to progress in cup

Clogher Valley’s last involvement in the All Ireland Junior cup ended, several seasons ago, in semi-final defeat at Milltown Road Ashbourne.

Now the ‘young guns’ had a chance to avenge that reversal and create some history of their own.

Although for long periods it didn’t look very promising. Ashbourne brought to the table a big, strong, physical pack; excellent lineout and good rolling maul.

In contrast the Valley had a dominant scrum, great defence and the indomitable spirit that the youth brings to the game.

Eight minutes in Ash’ opened the scoring.

A tapped penalty, rolling maul, try plus conversion. Both sides then saw penalties sail wide in tricky cross wind conditions.

Ash’ would dominate for the first half hour playing a ten man game that the Valley used to revel in.

And 25 minutes in their pack laid the foundations for the second try which on this occasion went unconverted.

The visitors were struggling to sustain any field position. It was error ridden at times, the lineout faltered and the offensive play was not as accurate as it can be.

Coming up to the break Clogher did manage a strong sortie deep into Ash’ territory. Five metre scrum to the visitors.

Ash’ retreated illegally, penalty to the Valley.

Again the visitors opted for the scrum. Ashbourne really struggled at scrum time, several penalties later the referee had seen enough and awarded a penalty try to the Valley.

This changed the whole outlook on the contest, only five points adrift at the break it was definitely ‘game on’.

While most of the travelling support were seeking shelter in the clubhouse they missed the explosive restart.

Callum Smyton caught and made great inroads through the Ashbourne pack, a clever Matthew Bothwell box kick and Paul Amstrong gathered to score out wide.

The skipper, who is amid a great run of form, then added the difficult conversion to give the visitors a two point lead.

Ashbourne soon returned to the offensive with superb defence just holding them out. Phase after phase the Valley had to withstand before Maxwell intercepted and ran some 70 metres for the touchdown.

It went unconverted but Clogher were now seven points to the good.

Again Ash’ worked their way into the red zone. The Valley had to hold out against multiple phases. Sometimes illegally the official thought.

As the penalty count grew the yellow card seemed inevitable. What then happened stunned the visiting contingent.

Two yellow cards in quick successio; first Matthew Bothwell and then Callum Smyton were sent to the bin reducing the visitors to 13 players.

Ashbourne then threw everything they had at the Valley rear-guard.

The defence was again magnificent, epitomised by the Captain Paul Armstrong who made a crunching try saving tackle when a score seemed inevitable.

Of course, it had to happen and the Ash’ rumble would again prove successful getting over for a converted try to even up the contest.

The Ashbourne pack was paying the price for their exertions, their physio was a frequent visitor to the field of play and many of them were now struggling to stay with the pace of the game.

The Valley defensive effort had held out long enough to eat up the sin bin minutes and they would soon return to full strength.

While all thoughts among the large travelling support were turning to extra time, play was continuing a pace on the pitch.

It was now the visitor’s time to turn the screw.

Encamped deep in Ashbourne territory a penalty option was taken to a scrum. Again Ash’ struggled to contain the visiting eight.

Two more penalties were taken to scrums and on the third occasion the ball was swiftly moved to the blind side for Wilkinson to scorch in for his customary try.

It went unconverted but the Valley held the lead again going into the final minutes.

Clogher returned the restart with some interest and were soon pressing the Ashbourne line again.

Ashbourne needed a try and had to run it from deep. Armstrong forced them into a handling error before gathering and flipping the ball to Robbie Mills.

An inventive overhead pass from Mills put David Stinson into space and he galloped in for the final score of an enthralling encounter.

The draw for the next round of the competition took place on Tuesday and Clogher Valley can now look forward to an all Ulster clash against Dromore at The Cran with a semi final spot the prizer for the winner.

This week it is back to the league with the visit of Carrick to the Cran on Saturday.

Kick off 2.30pm.