Clogher Valley are champions!

Senior Shield final

Clogher Valley.....40

Ballymena....36

CLOGHER Valley retained the Senior Shield on Saturday after a nail-biting victory over the Braid men at the Cran that went down to the proverbial wire.

With eyes on the promotion play-off against Dungannon the following week it was largely a 2nd XV-based side with a few exceptions who took to the field to face the renowned visitors with such a steep history.

Indeed it was the visitors who struck first crossing in the opening minutes for a converted try.

Minutes later David Maxwell gained a strong field position after a series of penalties.

Richard Primrose eventually crashed over with David Maxwell adding the extras.

The Ballymena pack were dominating the early play at first and second phase and soon rumbled over for their second try which went unconverted but nevertheless they had retaken the lead.

The Valley would regain the lead minutes later after a series of tap and go penalties resulted in number eight James Morrison driving over for a well worked try.

Maxwell added the conversion to regain the lead by two points.

Ballymena attempted to come back but a timely interception by Maxwell followed by a 50 metre dash squashed that idea. Good try and again converted by the try scorer.

The Valley played some wonderful fluid rugby attempting to move the Ballymena pack around the park.

After one such move Karl Bothwell finished off an exciting passage of play scoring a great try duly converted again by Maxwell.

Ballymena had another opportunity prior to the break which they took to bring the half time score to 28 to 19 in favour of the home side.

The Valley opened the scoring in the second period with Micheal Bothwell crossing after a searing break by Maxwell who then added the conversion.

Ballymena while probably rattled a little didn’t give up they fought for every inch of the ground.

They were held up over the line before minutes later managing to get over for another converted score reducing the arrears to nine points.

Back came the Valley, after another intricate passage of play Josh Mee cleverly checked the covering defence and then outpaced them to score in the corner. The difficult touch line conversion attempt just fell short.

The last quarter was all about defence. Ballymena threw everything they had at turning the result around.

With 15 minutes to go they grabbed another try which went unconverted.

Thereafter it was all about great determined and very brave defence.

Ballymena were again held up over the line much to their annoyance.

Despite the defensive heroics it had to happen. Seven minutes remaining on the clock and they crossed again with again no conversion.

From the restart the Valley got deep into the Ballymena half and managed to hold it there for the remaining minutes and hold out for a second successive Shield win.

This Saturday it is back to Stevenson Park for the semi-final of the promotion play-off.

Dungannon were second in the league while the Valley were third thus second place gets home advantage.

The players want as many as possible to make the short trip to help cheer them on as they strive for promotion again.