Sat 14th Dec, 2:00pm. Skibbereen 9 – 20 Clogher Valley RFC
Valley reach the All Ireland Junior Cup Final with victory at Skibbereen.
by Bob Beatty
Valley wrote another chapter in their short but impressive history when they emerged as 20-9 winners at Skibbereen to reach their first ever All Ireland Junior cup final.
The weather as the game started was awful with driving wind and rain. Luckily the rain eased for the game and although the pitch was in good condition the wind meant that flowing rugby was not going to be possible and that this was going to be a forward battle.
Though Valley dropped the kick off they quickly redeemed themselves when they took the first scrum against the head and launched an attack though the forwards. However they made little ground. Skibbereen ‘s first attack led to a penalty as Valley infringed. Strangely Skibbereen decided to run the ball but Valley easily defended and then dropped the ball in clearing. From the scrum Valley were penalised in front of the posts which was converted for a 3-0 Skibbereen lead.
Valley returned to the attack but were making too many mistakes and although they continued to dominate the scrums and lineouts were unable to make the pressure tell. Skibbereen ‘s clearance kicks were huge and invariable Valley had to make hard yards all over again. However the execution was poor and Skibbereen defended easily. One simple kick from Skibbereen was dealt with badly by Valley and they conceded another penalty in front to of the posts after 15 minutes. Skibbereen led 6-0
Valley then put an impressive series of rolling mauls together, one which went for 30 metres, but could not break the stubborn Skibbereen defence. Valley supporters were getting nervous as a repeat of Ballyclare game seemed to be on the cards. Then on the stroke of half time a Holme kick put Valley into the Skibbereen 22. From the lineout, won again by Sharkey, Valley committed 10 players and drove over the line for a try with winger Andy Breen the one to emerge with the ball. In the conditions the conversion kick from the touchline was virtually impossible but Holme made it and Valley deservedly led 7-6.
Valley on the restart turned over Skibbereen and a series of drives saw them advance to the 22 where a fine grubber kick behind the defence by Best saw Armstrong win the race for the touchdown and another Valley try to lead 12-6.
From the restart Valley again dropped the ball and then infringed and Skibbereen had another simple penalty to narrow the gap to 3 points.
This invigorated Skibbereen and they put together their best period in the game. Their handling in the conditions was excellent and they were stretching Valley across the pitch using both forwards and backs. Twice they made significant inroads to the Valley 22 but the Valley scramble defence managed to stop them short. The game became a midfield battle with wave after wave of Skibbereen attacks being driven back by the Valley aggressive defensive pattern where McKenna, Donaldson and Treanor excelled.
This aggressive defence pushed Skibbereen back into their own half and Valley won a penalty which was again superbly kicked by Holme to lead 15-9 going into the last fifteen minutes. The tide had turned and Valley now kept Skibbereen penned back in their own half. Valley won a series of scrums and drove Skibbereen back each time. Skibbereen were penalised twice for pulling down the scrum but rather than take the kicks Valley decided to keep the pressure on through scrums. As the full time whistle approached a Valley scrum drove 10 metres to the Skibbereen line and when it turned into a rolling maul the backs joined in and drove across the line for another Valley try, claimed by Breen again, and a 20-9 winning margin. The full time whistle saw the large number of Valley travelling support join the team on the pitch and even a downpour did not dampen the celebrations.
Even the Skibbereen supporters agreed that Valley were the better team on the day. This graciousness in defeat was also matched by their welcome and the hospitality they showed to the Valley team and supporters throughout the day.
Valley will play Enniscorthy in the final on 1st February, a team who beat them in the semi-finals last year.
