In what should have been a day of celebration turned into a real damp squib for City of Armagh. Firstly, there was a real celebration of Ladies’ day when the club was packed with women who have contributed so much to the club. Then there was Shea O’Brien making his comeback after 25 weeks out through injury and Michael Burnett playing his first AIL game. That’s where the joy ended and a thoroughly poor first half display, riddled by mistakes in losing lineouts, giving away needless penalties, four knock-ons at least and a poor kicking game left Armagh 19-3 down at halftime to a team already at the bottom of the league table.
Armagh actually took an early lead on 12 minutes through a Rocky Olsen penalty, but thereafter they were always playing catch up to a fired up Garryowen team who played the difficult wet conditions very well. Armagh couldn’t really get a foothold in the game and went behind after first phase play from a scrum on the 10 metre line. Garryowen moved the ball left and winger, Boland went in for a converted try by outhalf Hicks. The home team went further behind when Boland converted 4 more penalties in the space of 15 minutes Some of the penalties were soft, with the forwards not retreating and being offside and Paul Mullen reacting to a knock-on and being offside, even though the referee said it was accidental. Admittedly the wind and wet conditions were terrible but the team, not having played for 3 weeks showed signs of rustiness. In the first half there were five knock-ons which gifted Garryowen territory, whereas the visitors fielded the ball on every occasion. They also put two men into the rucks and their defence squeezed the Armagh attack considerably, giving Armagh no room. There however would be an argument that referee, Andrew Cole never looked over his shoulder and that the Garryowen defence was offside on many an occasion when creeping up at the rucks. The Armagh three quarters still had a chance to score in the left hand corner on the stroke of halftime when Burnett put Sam Cunningham through a tight gap but the cover defence got across and the ball was knocked on in the tackle.
Half time City of Armagh 3 Garryowen 19
Unfortunately, the wind seemed to die down in the second half, but surely Armagh could play a bit better. The next score was vital and Garryowen took advantage of three quick penalties in succession to put the game beyond Armagh’s reach. A tap penalty after a high tackle resulted in number 8, Cian Hurley scoring at the posts for Dylan Hicks to convert. To come back from 26 -3 down is nigh impossible, but coach Parker utilised all his substitutes and Armagh reduced the arrears to 9 points through a penalty try and conversion and a really good try from Dylan Poyntz converted by Josh Watterson. It was however too little too late and at this level one cannot give a team a 23 point margin and expect to win. As usual, the team played with courage in the second half but the first 50 minutes of the game they were out-thought and outplayed by a team used to this level. They still have their future in their own hands with a difficult away fixture against St Mary’s and a final home match against Ballynahinch.
