Armagh will learn from late woe, insists Parker
WHEN it comes to Ulster sides in the top two divisions, only City of Armagh have been making any notable strides towards the right part of the Division 1B table.
Banbridge are propping things up in 10th after losing their first three matches and Malone raised themselves to seventh after beating Mark McDowell’s squad in their Ulster derby clash from the previous round of games.
It’s hardly much better up in 1A where Ballynahinch are without a win and sit bottom with just one point having been secured from their last game, which was a narrow home defeat to UCD.
Armagh also know what it is like to lose out with little to spare as they tasted defeat for the first time when Old Belvedere kicked a last-gasp penalty to win 28-26 at the Palace Grounds.
Even though Armagh took two points from the affair — a try bonus and losing point — Willie Faloon’s squad were extremely disappointed not to have closed it out and intend to be more clinical when they go to Navan who are in ninth and have yet to taste victory from their three games.
Assistant coach Chris Parker said: “With 90 seconds to go and you have a scrum, and it’s your ball, you expect to be able to see the game out.
“There were a few honest words at training the following week, and hopefully if we’re in that position again we’ ll see a different outcome.
“We have two straight games on the road in this block of three and we know we have to pick up a win in at least one of them, so it would be good to do it in the first game (at Navan), and that will give us more confidence to then go to Shannon.”
Elsewhere, Banbridge host Shannon (kick-off 4pm) while Malone are at Naas.
Up in 1A, Hinch are at Garryowen, who are two places and points above them.
Marcus Rea, Zack McCall, Tom Stewart, Jack Regan, Conor Rankin and Hayden Hyde have all been released from Ulster.
1A: Garryowen v Ballynahinch
1B: Banbridge v Shannon, Naas v Malone, Navan v City of Armagh