Irish and Ulster players Tommy Bowe and Roger Wilson are coming to Armagh next Friday at 1pm to promote community rugby in the area, and they will be coaching and advising local 12 and 13 year olds how to
get more involved in rugby in their area. The local rugby team have over 300 minis on their books and have very successful teams at under 13s 15s and 17 levels. The game is becoming more and more popular and there are players from
schools such as Markethill High, Newtownhamilton High, Armagh High, Aughnacloy College, Keady High, St Brigids, St Patricks College and the Southern Regional College all playing in their youth teams. However we could do with more young people and this is why Tommy and Roger
are coming to give the locals a boost. So come along and see the 12and 13 year olds in action and meet the stars
ARMAGH LOSE OUT AT SEMI-FINAL STAGE
Armagh under 15 s lost out in their semi-final league play off against a very capable and well drilled Coleraine side at Coleraine on Saturday last.
The side had played 14 matches this season and had only suffered one defeat against Monaghan before Christmas and this ensured them their league section and a quarter
final against Ards. They easily won this 23-0 and then met Coleraine. An early start leaving Armagh at 8 am meant for many players and parents was necessary to arrive in good time
and the team took the field with two of their strong performers Kyle Maguire and Shane Mc Keever injured. Neill McGuiness was also carrying a hamstring injury and meant that he could just go on the substitutes’ bench.
Coleraine kicked off in difficult conditions and almost immediately Sam Odour ran the length of the pitch for one of his trademark tries. Cormac Fox converted and Armagh led 7-0. However the kick off was not well dealt with and
Coleraine after sustained pressure reduced the arrears with an unconverted try. Armagh although they were up against a well drilled and heavier pack fought back and Cormac slotted over a penalty to increase Armagh’s lead.
Their opponents kept the pressure on and after more attacks on the Armagh line squeezed over for a converted try to lead 12-10 at half-time. Armagh coach Anton Finn gave a stern team talk at the break and his young side came out more determined
in the second half. A brilliant piece of opportunism saw Pearce Lennon intercept at 40 metres out and there was no way Loraine could catch the flying winger who dived under the posts for Cormac to put Armagh 17-12 back into the lead.
Gradually the heavier pack of Coleraine wore Armagh resistance down and after several rolling mauls which were well defended, their massive prop drove over the line for a converted try. With the scores finally balanced at 19-17 in Coleraines’ favour,
Armagh again were on the attack but Pat Quigley slipped while making a break, knocked on and from the resultant scrum the Coleraine centre brushed through almost non-existent tackling to score a similar try to Sam’s earlier one. Armagh’s resistance
Crumbled after this and having lost skipper Barry Finn earlier, the Coleraine centre rubbed salt into Armagh’s wounds with another converted try for Coleraine to run out 33-17 winners.
Everyone there witnessed a great game and all the Coleraine coaches and parents acknowledged that this was by far their toughest game of the season. Referee Brian Banks who had an excellent game also congratulated the Armagh players for their
commitment and sporting play. There was no doubt that the better side won but if Armagh are to play them again they will adjust their game accordingly and try and deal with the bigger pack and strong running centres. It was a great achievement for Armagh to do so well,
but there is still the cup and in the next few weeks Anton will be working his players hard to prepare them for a strong finish to the season. The players and team officials would like to thanks all the parents and friends who travelled up to Coleraine to support them.
