Armagh Thirds travelled to Banbridge on Saturday knowing that they were facing a tough challenge in this Crawford Cup quarter final. The Armagh boys had beaten the same team two weeks earlier at home in the league but home advantage was going to play into the hands of Banbridge Thirds. The Armagh side saw a number of changes with Peter Lambe coming in as hooker, Con Oliver Gareth Megaw and Sam Shepherd returning and Andrew Winder returning at 11 from a longterm arm injury.
In front of a good crowd of Armagh supporters the first half was played between the 22’s with neither side gaining any real advantage. The turning point came on thirty minutes when Andrew Morton was shown a straight red card by referee Steven Robb for allegedly punching an opposing player, something he strenuously denied. Banbridge went 3-0 up from the resulting penalty. Playing with only fourteen men Armagh struggled to find any cohesion and when the next scrum was called Winder came off so that Andrew Fletcher could take Morton’s place in the front row. Armagh did manage to make progress towards the Banbridge line and when a clearing kick was charged down by Joe Clarke’s face Gareth Megaw was on hand to touch the ball down in the left corner on the stroke of half time. Although the conversion was missed Armagh went to the break with a 5-3 lead.
As the second half started Armagh were not really on their game and tended to kick the ball away rather than taking it into contact. This conceded possession to Banbridge and, with only 14 men put the Armagh defence under unnecessary pressure. It was poor defensive tactics that led to the first try for Banbridge when their winger evaded the defence and dotted the ball down just right of the posts. Although the conversion was missed Banbridge took a three point lead ten minutes into the half.
Armagh were not going to lie down and five minutes later a brilliant individual run by winger Adam Magowan from just inside the Banbridge half while evading several defensive tackles gave Armagh their second try. This time the conversion by Andrew Knipe, who was captaining the side in the absence of Connor Simms, was successfully executed for a 12-8 lead. Joe Clarke had to go off with a hand injury which later transpired to be a broken thumb, now in plaster. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Armagh clung on but never really looked like scoring and with a man down eventually secumbed to the Banbridge attack conceding a try five minutes from the end. Although the conversion was again missed Banbridge ran out deserved 16-12 winners and move on to the semifinals while Armagh will have to concentrate their efforts on the league.

Armagh:- A Morton, P Lambe, J Fletcher, J Gilpin, C Oliver, G Megaw, M Allen, J Clarke, T Girvan, M Steenson, A Winder, A Knipe (Capt), D Reynolds, A Magowan, A Brady. Subs:- A Fletcher, B Finn, S Shepherd

Scorers:- Tries, G Megaw, A Magowan. Conversions, A Knipe (1)