Clogher Valley afforded several new players the opportunity to sample first team action, at the Cran on Saturday, as they welcomed Armagh Seconds for a Conference League outing.
The sight of several regulars standing on the side line may have given the indication that Valley were not taking this game seriously, but it only served to illustrate the current injury crisis blighting the club. Phillip Moore, David Dunlop, Ally Breen, Wayne Lyons and Rodney Bennett were among those nursing knocks, but the younger players drafted in more than stepped up to the mark, which must be pleasing for coaches david black and Glen Kyle.
U-19 captain Paul Armstrong was immense at full back, while Eugene McKenna excelled in the back row alongside the influential David Sharkey. Mattie Robinson claimed the man of the match accolade with strong contributions coming from returning skipper BJ Wilson, Phillip Greaves and the industrious James Bates, as the Fivemiletown men coasted to a warranted success.
Valley started the game in promising mode with Paul Galbraith knocking over a 6th minute penalty for a 3-0 lead. Armagh were struggling to make an impact and, while the signs were there that Valley were in control, poor execution kept the game in the balance. Several promising phases went unrewarded with stray passes, knock ons and a lack of a clinical cutting edge in attack frustrating the home support.
Prop Ronan McAleer made a surging drive, but as the supporting Sharkey was about to charge for the line referee Billy Walker halted proceedings, claiming the final pass went forward. A second Galbraith penalty pushed Clogher 6-0 ahead prior to the break, but it was scant reward for their dominance in a half that Armagh rarely threatened.
Valley continued to enjoy the upper hand in all exchanges on the restart with another strong drive from McAleer carving out the opening try. McAleer offloaded to Johnston Stafford, who drove through the tackles to score and with Galbraith obliging from the tee the hosts enjoyed a 13-0 cushion. Unfortunately McAleer shipped a knee injury and, was forced out of the action – another injury concern for the coaching staff ahead of this weeks league clash with Ballymoney.
Armagh also lost a player through injury which led to uncontested scrums. Valley though remained the more threatening team with a Galbraith break allowing Valley to go through the phases for an excellent try. Bates switched the line of attack left with Sharkey feeding Donaldson and with teenager Armstrong making yards the ball was worked back into the path of the supporting Sharkey to score. Galbraith tagged on the extras.
Valley produced another impressive try on 65 minutes when prop Stafford applied the finish for his second try of the afternoon. Armstrong took a pass from Willie Stafford, but despite being tackled managed to recycle the ball to Mattie Robison with Galbraith supporting to send Stafford on his way. Galbraith slotted over the conversion for a 27-0 lead.
Armagh had no answer to the power and pace of the Valley back line with Best initiating the move that saw Greaves and Donaldson linking well with Armstrong, who was stopped short of the line. The youngster doing well to release Aaron Best to power over. Greaves then concluded the try scoring action following good work from Andy Breen, who found himself playing in the centre owing to Valley’s injury list.
A pleasing performance in light of the injuries with Valley securing the anticipated victory, but with McAleer’s injury compounding selection problems for Black and Kyle, they are set for another major assignment this weekend, when Ballymoney visit the Cran for a Qualifying League One fixture.
