Armagh target Senior Cup treble

The former Ulster flanker led Royal School Armagh to a dramatic 29-22 win over RBAI in the Schools’ Cup semi final on Tuesday after rallying from 17 points down.

Tonight Armagh are looking to lift the Senior for a third consecutive year.

“We’re in the middle of the All Ireland campaign and we have just played the top three teams in our league and we haven’t really thought about the Senior Cup,” admitted Faloon. “This week we’ll really focus on it and the boys are well aware it will be three in a row, I know ‘Hinch have done it and a few other big clubs, but for an Armagh team that was playing junior rugby a few years ago this would be massive for us.

“To do it against ‘Hinch would be massive but we know it is a tough task ahead of us. They are a league above us and playing good rugby I know they haven’t been getting the results but they are still a good side.”

There are plenty of sub plots to the game, Faloon lifted the cup for ‘Hinch in 2009 while Brian McLaughlin was at Armagh before moving to Ballymacarn.

“I won it with ‘Hinch and I was captain, with Brian (McLaughlin) coaching at ‘Hinch he’ll know a lot of the Armagh players very well,” he said.

Armagh go into the decider after a morale boosting 18-0 win over Shannon in the All Ireland league last weekend.

“They had a massive win the week before against Naas, I watched the video and was like I don’t know where we’re going to stop these guys, beat them or break them down,” said Faloon. “We went in with a plan the boys stuck to the task, they were very good, very disciplined and it is a really good confidence builder for us going into the final.”

Faloon is hoping have been there the previous two years they will be no fear of playing at the home of Ulster rugby for his Armagh team.

He said: “A lot of them have played here with the school and the club over the last few years so they will not be going in with any fear,

“They know the situation and they know what is ahead of them and it is up to them how much they want it.”

Armagh got thought the Shannon game without picking up any new injuries but winger Tim McNiece faces a fitness test.

‘Hinch won a hat-trick of Senior Cup titles between 2015-2017 but will be missing scrum half Rhys O’Donnell for the clash with Armagh.

Hooker Zac McCall and Ulster backrow Marcus Rea have been released to play.

Lock Jack Reegan is also set to start for Hinch.

Lock Bradley Luney and full Back Conor Rankin both face late fitness tests.

Hinch will be looking to lift the cup as a morale boost as they to stave of regelation from AIL Division 1A.