Pic: Mark Bell
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ULSTER CUP FINAL – UNDER 14’S
Ballymena RFC 31 Virginia RFC 22
Ballymena Edge Out Virginia in Tight and Nervy Final
Ballymena were first on the scoreboard as they got in for a try after seven minutes. Virginia were forced to soak up wave after wave of Ballymena attacks in the first fifteen minutes with relentless pressure from a strong back line, eventually conceding two further try’s to leave them 19-0 adrift. Declan Burns came on as a as they tried to steady the ship, and Darren Kavanagh drew in several tacklers before getting an offload away for Glen McCabe to capitalise as he hit the line at speed to crash over and reduce the half time deficit to 19-5.
Virginia needed a strong start to the second half and Ben Curran was introduced. They started to take charge and eventually Malachy Walker scored in the corner by Malachy Walker to reduce the gap to nine points. In parts of the second half they looked to be in control but just couldn’t seem to keep the momentum and Ballymena got over for another two try’s giving them a 31-10 lead. Virginia again rang the changes with Diarmuid Donnellan introduced, and again increased their share possession. Kieran Duffy had some great go, well supported by Mathew Byers who touched down, with Malachys conversion cutting the gap to 14 points. Tadgh Barry came on and Eoin Bogan was very unlucky not to score another try after he lost the ball forward when crossing the line. Virginia continued to press with powerful runs from their forwards. This resulted in Virginia scoring a well worked try by Nathan Tobin making it a nervy last few minutes for Ballymena. Time however ran out and Ballymena were to lift the cup after a 31-22 win, the early 19 point blitz proving too much to claw back.
Squad: Darren Kavanagh, Gordon Lochaden, Eoin Bogan, Matthew Byers, Conan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Sheridan, Glen McCabe, Kieran Duffy, Oscar Erikson, Jack Carroll, Killian Smith, Nathan Tobin, Malachy Walker, Tyrone Tynan, Aidan Kiernan, Declan Burns, Rian Stafford, Tadgh Barry, Harry Leddy, Louis Fidgeon, Diarmuid Donnellan, Ben Curren
U16s ULSTER CUP FINAL
Clogher Valley RFC 21 Virginia RFC 17
Double Dreams Thwarted in Ravenhill
League Champions Virginia went in search of the double last weekend but were second best on the day after a titanic struggle in the Kingspan Stadium.
Clogher Valley started well but it looked like the Virginia defence was holding firm, before the defence was beaten in the corner for Clogher to take the lead. For much of the rest of the first half Virginia dominated territory and possession, but an excellent defence kept them at bay. Eventually though the Clogher lines broke under relentless pressure Jamie Osbourne crashed over to level the scores. The two sides have been involved in some close encounters over the last few seasons, and a determined Clogher reasserted themselves towards the end of the half, taking a penalty opportunity to give themselves an 8-5 lead at the break.
The second half started as the first ended with Clogher pressing, and another penalty giving them a six point lead. Virginia however came again, with more pressure again being met by excellent drift defence. The Cavan team changed tack and began to crash the corners, with James Farrelly and Cai Walkers powerful runs sucking in the Clogher defence, and allowing Niall Carolan the space for a searing run to touch down. Michael McKeon-Boyle nailed the conversion and Virginia led for the first time, holding a narrow 12-11 advantage. Credit however to Clogher, as rather than fold they upped their game again, and Virginia found themselves pressed back in their own half. Two quick trys in the corner suddenly had Virginia nine points behind with just minutes left. Virginia pressure, and another great run from Adam Charters closed the gap to just four. They refused the conversion to make sure the game would restart, but after gaining possession and pushing forward, a mystifying penalty gave Clogher possession, and a kick to touch ended the game, Clogher lifting the Cup after a 21-17 win.
The season ended disappointingly as Cup Runners Up, but the U16s can look back on a successful campaign after winning both the Ulster South and overall Ulster League titles, appearing in an All-Ireland semi-final, and partaking in a successful tour to France.
Squad: Jamie Osborne, Killian Collins, John Smyth, Callum Finane, James Farrelly, Adrian Lynch, Cai Walker, Michael McKeon-Boyle, Adam Sherriff, Adam Charters, Robert Lochaden, Niall Carolan, Conor Nulty, Paddy Gordon, David Gibney, Thomas Sheridan, Ryan McGuigan, Callum Caswell, Mark Gibney, Jason Henderson, Jake White-Duffy, Jack Vaughan
