Clogher Valley have kept on winning, even though the league season finished with them crowned as All Ireland League 2C Champions. This time it was the Bank of Ireland Senior Shield where they travelled to one of the most established rugby clubs in Ireland, Ballymena and overcome them in their own back garden 31 – 22.

This remarkable season has continued for the Club with fantastic results all across the range of teams. The 1st XV winning the All Ireland 2C League in their first year, the Women’s Senior team winning their league and coming runners up in the Suzanne Fleming Cup, the youth boys and girls in several semi-finals. Along with the expansions around the club facilities has given this young club a ‘buzz’ like no other year.

The 1st XV travelled to Ballymena in the Final of the Bank of Ireland Senior Shield. Ballymena who played this season in two leagues above the Valley were expected to win with ease, but no-one had sent the script to Coach Stephen Bothwell and his bunch of young players. Eaton Park, Ballymena, can be an intimating ground, and the Valley have never played their 1st XV before in any competition. Ballymena who have produced the legionary British & Irish Lions player Willie John McBride and Irish players like David Humphreys and Chris Henry would normally be a level well above that of Clogher Valley.

The game was only a few minutes old when the visitors struck first, with a try from Aaron Dunwoody and a great conversion from David Maxwell. This kick fired Ballymena into action and they replied with their own unconverted try on the 12 minute point. However, from the restart, the Valley caught them sleeping, the Valley recycled the ball several times gaining ground each time and then David Maxwell came through a gap like a steam train to score the visitors 2nd try, which he duly converted to give the Valley a 14 – 5 lead.

The experience of the Ballymena team started to show, they controlled the tempo of the game and had most of the possession. The Valley dug in deep and hassled them where it was possible. Paul Armstrong got his hands on the ball and hacked through, David Maxwell stepped his way through the Ballymena defence, gathered the ball and touched down for his 2nd try to lead 19 - 5. The hosts went back to controlling the game and starved the Valley of any decent ball time. The pressure eventually told and hosts crossed the line for their 2nd try, 19 – 10. As the game entered the last few minutes of the first half, the ball went loose, Regan Wilkinson was on it like a flash, then dancing around the Ballymena defence he made vital ground, before off-loading to Ewan Haire to score in the corner. David Maxwell converted from the touchline and the Valley led 26 – 10 at the interval.

The 2nd period was then a tough encounter for the Valley, contending with the strong wind in their face along with the physicality of this much bigger and more experienced side. It wasn’t long before the hosts were back on the score sheet with a converted try under the posts. Ballymena now expected the flood gates to open, and they would emerge victors, but the Valley are not a team who roll over at the first sign of difficulty. Their defence has been the main element of their game, they are organised and extremely determined. For the next 15 minutes it became a ‘battle of wills’ in the midfield and it was the visitors who were to be next on the score sheet with a fantastic worked team try and Regan Wilkinson finishing off in the corner. Ballymena were to score again to bring the tally to 31 – 22 and despite what appeared to be ‘an age’ with 7 minutes of injury time, the Valley held on to win their first Senior Shield in the Club’s history.

Summarising the season, Club Captain Paul Armstrong, praised the supporters along with the squad. “We have a great squad, with a lot of players fighting for their places in the teams”, said the skipper, “The supporters have been brilliant all season, they really have been the legionary 16th player” . Supporting his comments, the Team Manager Richard Haire said, “This is a great wee club, no matter where the game is across the whole of Ireland, far or near, the Valley supporters will outnumber the home side”.

Reflecting on the performances over the season, Club Coach, Stephen Bothwell said “We have had some great games, with one or two I would prefer to forget, but our defence has been fantastic and this is what we have built our success on. That however takes effort and I would like to thank all of the players, the assistant coaches and the whole club for the support and hard work throughout the season”. “We have now a good squad who can compete at Senior level” said the coach, “We move into a league where we will be competing against the likes of Dungannon RFC, something we would not have thought possible, but this is the squad that can compete with teams like that and I am looking forward to next season”.

Whilst the playing season may have ended, improvements around the club continue over the summer and camps for new players, such as ‘Give rugby a Go for girls’ take place. Mark Henderson, finishing his tenure as Club President after 2 years, said “Whilst the performance on the pitch is important, what makes this club enjoyable and so successful is the people working hard behind the scenes”. “It is the people who keep the grounds in fantastic shape, that produce the food for 90 people before games and then the teams after the match, it is 100+ volunteers throughout the club that keep the shop open, car parking, fixtures, lights working, club finance going, coaches, sponsors and then the parents and supporters”. “I would like to thank them all”.