Clogher Valley 1st XV 47 Newcastle West 1st XV 9

Clogher Valley blasted their way into the All Ireland Junior Cup final with a comprehensive 47-9 win over Newcastle West at the Cran on Saturday.

An in-form Clogher led 14-3 at half time before running in a further five tries in the second half as they set up an all Ulster decider against Ballyclare, who defeated Connemara in the other semi-final.

Clogher coach Stephen Bothwell was delighted with how his side played: “The boys played really well, I’m delighted with the performance.

“Definitely it wasn’t as easy as the scoreboard reflects. The first 20 minutes was very much we were under the pump but our defence was superb.”

And it was his side’s defence throughout the game which impressed Bothwell most:

“At the end of the first half it could have been 14-10 going in but again our defence and discipline in defence was very, very good.

“They were massive men and we have a very young side and they are lightish and our tackle height was very low and we were able to get them down quick and make them work really work hard to get to the ball and rucks.

“They didn’t make any big line breaks at all on us. We were comfortable playing in the middle of the pitch and comfortable defending them. They were looking for field position and if they could get us near the line they might eek out a score by taking an inch at a time but our defence was superb.”

The final will be Clogher’s second ever appearance in the decider and the feel good factor around progressing in the competition was evident on Saturday and he hopes his players and go ahead and finish the job.

“Somebody was said there was as big a crowd as was ever seen at the Cran and it was a great buzz fantastic. Obviously with the whole Covid situation it was brilliant people had a reason to go out and meet people.

“I think the boys were in it in 2014 so it will be nice to go one better this time.”

Familiar rivals Ballyclare await Clogher in the final, with both teams having played each other twice already, Bothwell knows there will be little between the sides:

“We know it wont be easy. There have only been one score games and it could go either way.”

On Saturday, Newcastle West started well and pressurised the home side, using their big pack to carry the ball around the fringes of the break down.

However. with their first visit to the Newcastle 22 in the 23rd minute, Valley registered their opening try of the day as Mathew Bothwell chipped over the top and Paul Armstrong was the quickest to react and sprinted through to score under the posts. Armstrong added the extra points.

Five minutes later Newcastle clawed three points back with a well struck penalty but Clogher were to go on and extend their advantage as they notched their second try with Armstrong and Bothwell again linking up.

It was Armstrong who on this occasion was the supplier with a well-timed offload and Bothwell sprinted through to score under the posts. Armstrong added the conversion to make it 14-3.

Despite this two try lead, Newcastle threw everything including the kitchen sink at the Valley, but the home sides defence was strong and absorbed the pressure as they remained 14-3 ahead at the interval.

Newcastle were fastest out of the blocks in the second half and were rewarded with a penalty to bring them back to 14-6.

But, as the clock was approaching the end of the third quarter Armstrong intercepted a pass and sprinted the 60 metres to score, which he duly converted. With a 21-6 lead there was daylight between the two sides.

Newcastle added another penalty but that was the end of their scoring for the day as Clogher Valley pushed on.

On the 67th minute, Regan Wilkinson cut in from the right wing to score, then five minutes later David Sharkey took the ball at speed and burst through to add another five points, which Armstrong added the extras to make it 33-9.

The last 10 minutes lasted an age for the Munster side. The Valley swapped players around, but given the depth of talent in the squad it just added fresh legs to the party and did not disrupt the flow of the game.

The home side spread the ball from one side of the pitch to another, leaving the Newcastle side’s defence in disarray. Ewan Haire side stepped his way through the defence and sprinted 40 metres to score, Armstrong adding the conversion.

It was down to the Valley skipper to finish off the Munster side with a well worked try from the back line and Armstrong went over to score. His conversion brought the game to a close.