Clogher Valley Captain Paul Armstrong felt his team outclassed Richmond, as they earned promotion to the All Ireland 2C league next season. The Fivemiletown based side cruised past their Limerick opposition, taking the lead after ten minutes and never looking back as they ran up a 31-17 score line without ever feeling like they played at their peak.

“We never took the foot off, and we played in the right areas, but to be honest I didn’t think it was one of our better performances,” admitted Armstrong.

“We had a couple of scores straight after half time and that put the thing to bed. It almost didn’t feel like a really big final because we got away from them. We were expected more of a challenge to be honest, but we will not complain because you don’t often get the chance to get 20 points ahead in a final.

"To be honest, I thought there were better teams in our league than Richmond. They were a big strong physical side, but they had no plan or structure. They had the wind in the first half, and they kicked us around the park a bit, but we defended well and when we got the wind they had no way out and no second option. They kept doing what they had been doing and it wasn’t working.”

The ease of Saturday’s win bodes well for their chances next season, as they step up a level for the first time in the club’s history. While the All Ireland League will provide the team with new and unknown challenges, Armstrong is hoping they will fit seamlessly into their new surroundings, and quickly show that they belong there.

“I still think we would be disappointed if we didn’t push the play offs, to be honest,” he said. “There are a few Ulster Juniors games next and some of us are involved in that, and once we get that over with then we will get back on the wagon.

"We are not really a team that looks too much at recruitment, but we will enjoy the summer off and get the boys back in the gym, and then and start building. It will be interesting to see how Richmond go in two weeks’ time against Middleton, who were second from bottom. That will be an interesting tell to see where we are at, but we played Belfast Harlequins in pre-season, and I played at Dungannon, and I don’t think there is much between us.

"It’s just about keeping bodies on the pitch and keeping the boys injury free, and if we can do that I think teams will have bother enough trying to hold us. A lot of these boys are the right age. They are in around 22 or 23 years of age and that is the age to be to play all Ireland rugby.”

The victory in Dublin caps a memorable season for the club, and Armstrong was quick to praise both the coaching staff and the enthusiastic support, that he felt were key elements of their success in winning in play off final.

“The support, as per usual, was incredible,” he said. “The Murley band was there, and the place was bouncing. Once we got the presentation done we went into the changing rooms and it was bouncing again, and then up the road and back to the Valley Hotel.

"It was a good night, and it was great to see people out who you would never have normally seen before. This last couple of months that has been great to see. The coaches as well have been brilliant. Stevie and his back room men have put in a big shift for this past four or five seasons and it has all paid off now.”