Armagh approached this game with a degree of uncertainty for after their resounding home defeat by Portadown the previous week the team were resolute that a special performance was required. The memories of last year’s final in Athlone were still fresh in the minds of the team. To have come back in the second half only to gift the win to City of Derry in injury time was particularly galling. In a nutshell, this game just had to be won & with a special performance.
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The game kicked off in near perfect conditions. After almost twenty-four hours of heavy rain, the Palace Grounds had survived, indeed the pitch looked to be in great shape. There was the slightest of a breeze favouring Armagh but shirt sleeves were the order of the day! Almost immediately after the kick-off the Tralee front row were penalized for ‘boring’ in the first scrum of the game. Five minutes later the Armagh No. 6 was penalized for entering a ruck from the side. The kick was taken by Tralee’s out-half, Mullins, who sent the ball between the posts to put the visitors 3-0 up. Within two minutes when out-half, Gowing put a beautifully judged kick through the Tralee backs, which was collected by Colin Atkinson to score, a beautiful try just left of the Tralee posts. Armagh captain stepped up for the conversion and must have been mindful of the seventeen missed points last week. Once the ball sailed through the posts it was obvious to all the home supporters that complex had now been forgotten! The score was now 7-3. Two minutes later saw Armagh’s number 11, Irwin, set off down the left wing only to stray into touch inside the Tralee in-goal area. From the resultant drop-out the Armagh backs attacked again and Scrum-half Matthew Wright scored under the Tralee posts. Yet again, Steenson converted to bring the score to 14-3 with only thirteen minutes on the clock. Almost immediately, Armagh launched another attack with both centres combining a ‘scissors movement’ beautifully. However, the Tralee defence held firm and Armagh were penalized for diving into a ruck. The intense pressure on the Tralee team showed when the resultant kick failed to reach touch. Armagh were penalized yet again for failing to release the player after a tackle. This time the kick was successful to bring the score to 14-6. Armagh kept up the pressure by sending winger, Irwin, off on another run up the left wing, He kicked ahead and rounded the Tralee defender only to stray into touch as he gathered the ball five metres short of the line.
By this stage the Armagh backs looked very dangerous but up-front the lighter, more mobile Armagh forwards were also beginning to dominate.
Three minutes later the Armagh out-half, Gowing broke through the 10-12 channel and was about to pass to his centre Atkinson when he was blown up for ‘crossing’. Gowing was penalized two minutes later for straying offside. The kick for goal went wide. The visitors now seemed reluctant to make use of their backs and after twenty five minutes they had only managed one visit to Armagh’s ‘22’. Armagh continued to pressurise the visitors and when they were awarded a penalty five metres short of the Tralee line, they were able to push the defenders off the ball. The try was awarded to lock forward, Phil Hill. This time the conversion went wide to put the score to 19-6.
Armagh were forced to substitute Andy Hughes on for centre, Atkinson, who suffered a nasty gash when he collided with an elbow. Just before the break the Armagh centre, Mattie Hughes. Sidestepped his opponent at full pace and scored a fine try under the posts which Steenson had no trouble converting to bring the score to 26-6.
Just before the break, the Tralee pack formed a rolling maul. Armagh were penalized for pulling the maul down. Tralee’s kick was successful to bring the half-time score to 26-9.
The second half started with the Tralee forwards being penalized and Steenson putting another three points on the scoreboard. From the restart Armagh’s out-half, Gowing, intercepted and scored but the conversion went wide bringing the score to 34-9. Ironically, two minutes later the Tralee full-back intercepted and scored under the home posts. The conversion brought the score to 34-16.
From this point the game took on a new complexion, in that, the Tralee team mustered new confidence and suddenly looked dangerous. The Tralee scrum-half was sin-binned for repeatedly straying off-side. Armagh’s centre, Maguire made another fine break but a knock-on foiled a certain try! Armagh were penalized for a high tackle and as the Tralee scrum-half returned to the field without Armagh scoring in his absence it was beginning to show that the Tralee side were not yet finished!
Atkinson had returned to the field after some running repairs and although Armagh had made several substitutions they appeared to be tiring this degenerated to crisis when left winger, Irwin, was forced to leave the field with an elbow injury. By this stage Armagh had used all their five substitutes and were reduced to fourteen men with some very rampant Munster men the situation was critical. The situation only got worse when the right winger Johnny Allen, was yellow carded and Armagh were reduced to thirteen men! Tralee capitalised on the situation when their centre scored at the posts and the conversion brought the final score to 34-23. In the end, probably a fair reflection on the day’s game.
Armagh travel away to Connacht for the next round when they pay Sligo in four week’s time. This is a particularly important fixture for in 1997 it was a defeat at Sligo that put paid to Armagh’s venture into All-Ireland senior rugby. It will be a game that the Armagh club will want to win.
