The Armagh under 15’s team finished of a marvellous season by winning the plate competition in Cookstown last Saturday. This was a team that only lost 3 matches all season, Monaghan in the league, against Coleraine in the semi-final playoffs and Banbridge in the cup. In the league semi-final Armagh went down to a strong Coleraine side, but the local lads gained sweet revenge by hammering the same Coleraine side 28 points to 5 on Saturday!
The signs did not look good when after 5 minutes Coleraine scored a try in the corner after Armagh’s defence failed to clear the danger. Armagh, however, bounced back with a converted try of their
own when Evin Crummie surged over the try line after some excellent back play. Cormac Fox converted and then 5 minutes later extended Armagh’s lead with an excellent solo try . Armagh had been awarded
a penalty 40 metres out and Cormac took the decision to run it . He caught the Coleraine defence so flat footed Cormac stormed over under the posts for another converted try!
It was all Armagh at this time and it was no surprise that they extended their lead when Kyle Maguire lurking in the backline show great pace and commitment to waltz over for another converted try. Coleraine were not for giving up and their strong running centre needed 3 or 4 Armagh lads to tackle him.
Half-time saw the score Armagh 21 Coleraine 5.
After a good strong team talk from Armagh coach, Anton Finn, Armagh continued in similar vein in the second half and repelled Coleraine on every occasion. Their defence was solid and it never really looked as if it would be breached. It wasn’t easy as Coleraine through everything at Armagh. The locals lads could have added to their score on a number of occasions but the final pass was surpisingly knocked on. Ten minutes from the end Neil McGuiness calmed all the Armagh supporters’ nerves when he broke through several tackles to score a fine individual try under the posts. Cormac as usual converted to leave the final score Armagh 28 Coleraine 5.
It would be wrong to single out any individual in this team as they all were stars not only in the final but throughout the year. They attended training without fail and even the likes of Sam and Jake Odour new to rugby this year, travelled form Aughnacloy twice a week. We should however spare a thought for Brendan Gribben who missed out on the final through injury.
The rugby club should also like to mention their thanks to the coach Anton and his wife Briege and the parents who regularly turned up to help out. Without their support this team would not have achieved what it did and these lads will have great memories of the 2012/2013 season
