Limavady book spotin cup-final

Clogher Valley...10

By John Cartwright

IT'S a time honoured cliche that football is a funny old game, but occasionally rugby can throw up scenarios that have even the most seasoned of rugby men, players and supporters alike, struggling to find words to describe just what exactly is going on.

Limavady are proving that indeed rugby is a funny old game, and the Roesiders are having a funny old season.

Rooted to the bottom of the Junior Qualifying One table three months ago, and facing what at the time was a very real prospect of relegation, Limavady are now safe in the league, and after what may have been their best performance under coach Glen Kyle, the men in black dumped Clogher Valley out of the Millar McCall and Wylie Junior Cup last Saturday to claim a final berth and an appearance at Ravenhill for the first time in a decade.

Not only did the result ensure a trip to Ravenhill on Friday, but the game was a league and cup double header, meaning that LImavady picked up vital league points which could see them in contention for an All-Ireland Cup spot.

If neighbours City of Derry beat Portadown in the All-Ireland League Playoff in Armagh, and Limavady win their last game of the season against Dromore they are there. Not bad considering at Christmas some supporters at the club were denouncing the current campaign as the worst in recent history.

Saturday’s semi-final against Clogher Valley was easily Limavady's finest display of the season.

They started brightly and moved through the gears with perfect timing to leave their opponents wondering just what had hit them. In particular, they simply couldn't contain Limavady's in form out-half John Semple, who put in an almost majestic display.

The home side were leading 8-0 with just 10 minutes on the clock. Semple opened the scoring after five minutes when his beautifully struck drop kick sailed between the sticks.

Semple was also involved in the build up to the first try of the match scored by Peter Wilson. Good phase play by Limavady's forwards allowed the ball to be quickly recycled out to the left wing where Wilson finished out wide. Semple failed to take the extra points as his conversion faded wide of the posts, but Limavady were just getting started.

Semple was on fire with the boot and notched two more crisp drop goals to open a 14 point gap mid way through the first half.

Clogher may have had notions of a comeback when forward Ali Breen muscled his way over the line just before the half-time break. Scrum-half Aaron Best added the conversion, but his kick was not the last point scoring strike of opening 40 minutes, that man Semple again slotting home a penalty to leave the half-time score standing at 17-7.

The game was over as a contest 15 minutes into the second half when Semple touched down after being put clear by substitute Steven Kilburn. Semple added the conversion before kicking a final penalty, bringing his personal tally in the game to 22 points, and Limavady's final total to 27.

Best kicked a penalty for the visitors but it was too little, too late.

After a disastrous start to the season, this result has finally given the Roeside faithful something to cheer about, however Armagh at Ravenhill may be a bridge to far for a Limavady side looking to turn a nightmare season into a fairy tale. The Orchard County side has already handily defeated Limavady twice in the league this season, but this time around they may just be lining up against a young and hungry Limavady team that may finally be beginning to realise the potential that has been talked about at the John Hunter Grounds for a couple of seasons now.

Limavady will have to reproduce their form from Saturday and then some in Belfast if they are to have any chance against one of the best teams in qualifying league rugby, but you know what they say, rugby's a funny old game, now on to Ravenhill.