Derry are crowned Ulster champs again

CITY of Derry will again represent Ulster in the All Ireland Round Robin Qualifing Championship after they were crowned Ulster champions on Monday night.

The men from the North West again turned over Armagh when it mattered with a 17-7 win at Shaw's Bridge in the Kukri Qualifying League Section One play-off.

The sides finished level on 83 points each in one of the closest contested seasons ever in the junior ranks.

And with points difference not taken into consideration, it required a play-off to decide who would go forward to battle against the other Provincial Champions for elevation to senior rugby and a place in All Ireland League Three next season.

Going into the game, both sides had won their corresponding home fixtures during the league campaign.

But City of Derry, who won the league last year, but failed to gain promotion to the top flight, once again got the better of their closest rivals when it counted.

Last year, Derry won the two league encounters and dumped Armagh out of both the Powerade Towns' and Millar, McCall, Wylie Junior League Cup.

This season, Armagh had one hand on the All Ireland Junior Cup in the Athlone staged final - but City of Derry snatched it from their grasp with an injury time try.

There was not as much drama last night, City of Derry scoring two goals in the first half for a 14-0 interval lead.

A packed Shaw's Bridge in Belfast was again treated to a never say die effort from both teams, with some great rugby over the 80 minutes.

Josh Lewis opened the scoring for Derry with a try after Richard McCarter, who converted, had put him into space.

Adam Gowing missed a kickable penalty to reduce the arrears.

Both sides lost a player each to the sin-bin for 10 minutes in the closing stages of the half.

Derry scored a crucial try right on the interval mark, a quick tap penalty from Semple saw him offload and put simon Logue through.

McCarter again converted to doulbe the lead to 14 points.

City of Derry could have put the game beyond reach five minutes into the second half when they went through 10 phases and were close to the Armagh line.

However, the Orchard County side dug in deep and turned possession over.

Ten minutes later, on 65 minutes, McCarter kicked a penalty to make it 17-0.

As expected, Armagh kept the pressure on and Johnny Allen offered them some hope of a revival with a try which was converted by Gowing.

But City of Derry were not allowing the opportunity to go and took the deserved victory.

City of Derry: Henderson, Lewis, Funston, Campbell, Logue, McCarter, Semple, Shields, McCauley, Duffy, Brady, McKillop, Gemmell, Simms, Corr. Replacements: Mitchell, Cooper.