Play-off hopes ended but optimism for the future is high for City of Armagh

Armagh host leaders Old Wesley who are a point ahead of Trinity in the automatic promotion race going into the final afternoon.

When asked to sum-up that loss to Trinity, Parker said: “Disappointed with the result but quite happy with the performance.

"I thought our performance level was pretty good, a couple of big moments got away from us.

“Probably in the first half when we were playing into the strong wind and we had 22 entries and just weren't ruthless enough...that came back to bite us a wee bit in the second half.

“They got two tries and we had a yellow card. I thought the boys put everything into it they could, we just got beaten by a better side on the day.

“We can certainly hold our heads high around the performance and take a lot of confidence going into this weekend.

“For long periods of that game we were with one of the top teams in the league and we just need to go and do the same again this week.”

Armagh left themselves with too much to do in the final weeks of the season to make the top four but Parker believes the squad will be in a strong position to mount a promotion challenge next year.

“I think even going into the Trinity game we sort of knew that Garryowen are one of the form teams in the league,” he added.

“Their run-in may have suited them a bit better, they probably were always going to be favourites for that fourth spot.

“There's a lot of positives out of this year. We've blooded a lot of boys at a level they wouldn't have played at before, we can take a lot from it and build. It starts this Saturday making sure that we finish the season strongly, especially at home.

“We played Instonians and we had four school leavers on the starting team. There's not many sides outside the university teams who would be putting out four school leavers on their starting team.

“I think we always back young people and back those guys coming out of school...they're very good players for a reason.

“We certainly have seen such growth and development in Noah (Bell) and Owen (O’Kane) this year but also in the likes of Thomas Dougan and Danny Guy who have left school and come here.

“Their performances have improved remarkably as the season's gone on. It's a template we want to stick with moving forward of trying to blood young players and back young players in Division 1B who are capable of being there.”

Instonians are guaranteed to be in the play-offs but need to win at Naas to secure third place. Queen’s finish at home to Highfield.

In 2A, Dungannon need a bonus-point win at home to Greystones to ensure making the play-offs, Ballymena host Old Crescent and Banbridge face Corinthians.

In 2B, Clogher Valley are in the play-offs but could secure home advantage if they beat Rainey and UL Bohs slip up against Navan. Malone are two points behind Sligo in the race for fourth place, the Gibson Park side are at Enniscorthy while Sligo host bottom-of-the-table Skerries.

In 2C, Belfast Harlequins need a point away at fourth place Dolphin to guarantee avoiding automatic relegation, Ballyclare finish at home to Clonmel.