Clogher Valley Head Coach Stephen Bothwell was delighted to get the job done on Saturday as they secured All Ireland League rugby with victory over Richmond in Dublin in the Play Off Final.

Indeed, Bothwell feels it may have been hard to lift the players for another go at it if they had not won.

“It is huge, just to keep the momentum going,” he said. “We were thinking that if we didn’t make it, it would be very tough to get up for next season as everybody’s eyes were set that hard on it.”

And he believes that the timing is right for the club to take the step up.

“I’m delighted we got over the line and it is really timely as it is a young team and they are getting more mature and stronger and more capable of that bit more physical rugby,” he added.

That physicality could well prove to be crucial next year too.

“It will be bigger packs, not necessarily better skills but just more physical and big set piece. It mightn’t be the most pleasant at times but it is a good challenge and it is nice to play other teams now and see how we go against them.

“I always feel though that teams that don’t play against us regularly struggle with the way we play, we play at speed, and hopefully that will be the case next year. The key will be whether we can create the quick ball against heavier packs. If we can we’ll be grand.”

It will be new ground for Clogher but they will take hope from how Instonians did in the league this year after securing promotion last year.

“Instonians went through that league and never dropped a point and we pushed them really hard the year before so that will give us confidence.

“Hopefully with the youthfulness in our side, we will continue improving all the time. We just have to keep working hard at training,” he said.

And Bothwell is also delighted for the club’s 2nd XV who will also move up after winning their league.

“They could only go up if we did so I’m pleased for them. They have a huge challenge, they are into senior seconds league which is a hell of a jump for them but I have no doubt that they will do well.”

Between then and now though there is still a lot of work to do both on and off the pitch.

“The work is only beginning. There is huge preparation on the committee side with more money involved and travel arrangements but I’ll leave that to them and I’ll concentrate on trying to get a team on the pitch,” said Bothwell.