Energia All-Ireland Men's Junior Cup Final | Clogher Valley v Enniskillen

Clogher Valley will defend their All-Ireland Junior Cup as they face Enniskillen at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 28th January (5:30 ko).

It marks the second consecutive year that the showpiece has been decided by two teams from Ulster, after last year's meeting between Clogher Valley and Ballyclare.

Provincial rivals also met back in 2010, when City of Derry narrowly beat City of Armagh at Dubarry Park.

### Route to the Final

In Round 1 the strength of Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship Division 1 was seen as all four competing clubs progressed to the quarter-finals.

Holders Clogher Valley beat Creggs 33-8 at the Cran with Michael Bothwell, David Maxwell (2), David Stinson and Michael Treanor getting the tries, and Maxwell slotting 3 conversions.

Enniskillen travelled to Energia Park to face Bective Rangers, and ran in 8 tries in a thumping 52-5 victory. Niall Keenan scored an early brace, before Sam Balfour and Harry Ingram extended the lead before the break.

Second half tries from Jack Rutledge, a second from Balfour, Neil Rutledge and Michael Rooney secured an emphatic win, with Eddie Keys hitting 6 conversions.

The Quarter-Finals saw Clogher Valley travel to provincial rivals Cooke, where they recorded a 22-19 win at Shaw's Bridge despite trailing at half-time. Taine Haire ran in for two tries, with David Maxwell bagging a try, two conversions and a penalty to book their place in the next round.

Enniskillen again found themselves on the road, this time heading to Tipperary to face Kilfeacle & District. Similar to Clogher, they found themselves behind at the break, but rallied to secure the win.

Niall Keenan scored another couple of tries, with Gavin Warrington also touching down. The boot of Eddie Keys did the rest, nailing two conversions and two penalties in a 25-20 victory.

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Enniskillen hooker Niall Keenan helped himself to two more tries during their quarter-final win over Kilfeacle & District ©Carmel Fox McKervey

The Semi-Finals saw Clogher make the trip down to County Limerick to face Newcastle West.

David Maxwell hit two penalties before a penalty try put Valley 13-0 clear at the break, with an early second half score from Matthew Bothwell extending the lead.

The weather quickly turned as a storm blew in, and Newcastle rallied with the wind behind them. They scored three tries, one of which was converted, to make it 18-17 to Valley, and the visitors held on for the win.

This time, Enniskillen were at home, and they made the advantage count and managed the tricky conditions to beat Monkstown 24-8 and secure their place in the Energia All-Ireland Men’s Junior Cup final for the first time.

Michael Rooney scored twice in the first half with Eddie Keys slotting one conversion to give them a 12-8 lead. It was the steady and reliable boot of Keys which kept the scoreboard rolling in the second period, as he knocked over 4 penalties in a disciplined Enniskillen showing.

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David Stinson breaks through the Newcastle defence and makes 30 meters up the pitch. ©Stephen Hetherington

Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup Final, Kingspan Stadium, Sat 28 Jan, 5:30pm

Clogher Valley

15-9: Taine Haire; Michael Bothwell; Paul Armstrong (C); Corneel Michem; Ewan Haire; David Maxwell; Matthew Bothwell

1-8: Michael Treanor; Kyle Cobane; Neil Henderson; Eugene McKenna; Matthew Wilson; David Stinson; Tommy Coulter; Callum Smyton

Replacements: Richard Primrose; Aaron Crawford; Luke Allen; David Sharkey; Aaron Dunwoody; Reece Smyton; Neil Trotter, Philip Wilson

Enniskillen

15-9: George Foster; Sam Balfour; James Ferguson; Daire Hill; Mark O'Shea; Eddie Keys; Matthew Dane

1-8: Gavin Warrington; Matthew Beatty; Matthew Graham; Neil Rutledge; David Buchanan; James Carleton (C); Jack Rutledge; Michael Rooney

Replacements: Peter Read; Gary Thornton; Niall Keenan; Henry Keys; Jordan Hylton; James Balfour; Oisin Timoney; Paul McConkey