Conor Magee drawing comfort from 'very fun' Queen’s return after lost season

Magee came off the bench against Shannon recently and played the full 80 minutes against Cashel on Saturday, getting the students’ first try in a 36-29 defeat.

“I signed last season expecting a big season in Division1B stepping up from Banbridge and then I did my shoulder, I was coming back from that then the week we’re away to Instonians I twisted my ankle before that," he said. “It was just a real long one, like I was expecting to be like a two, three-week injury but it ended up being surgery in February and that was me out for the rest of the season. It was seriously frustrating, I wanted to make a big impact last year, first year of (Ulster) academy and all, I wanted a big step on...but it's the way things go and it just took a lot of time to myself, getting smarter around the game.

“Last week was very fun, five points in Shannon, but this week's very disappointing, it was my first time playing at the Dub, it’s a great pitch and playing surface and I actually loved it but it was a tough game against Cashel...just mauls against grown men, we've just got to step up at games like that and it is not going to get any easier at Ballymena next.”

Queen’s were leading Cashel 26-22 going into the last five minutes.

“Yellow and red cards and we are men down and a couple of decisions went against us, we left that one out there," said Magee. “At the start of the season we're talking about promotion in this league, we've just got to start building early. Smart decision at the end there to take the penalty (for two match points) but you want to be walking away from a game like that with five points, but it is what it is.”

Magee was surprised to go into blindside flanker.

“I haven't played six much, I haven't actually ran it much, I was looking to ‘Briggsy’ (Tom Brigg) to get a bit of guidance but it was good to get a full 80 under the belt,” he said. “That's my first 80 in a while, usually in the front row...I'm used to just getting a 60 and huffing off, but back row was fun, getting a bit of wind in my sails.”

Queen’s travel to Eaton Park for the Ulster derby clash with Ballymena, the latter having won both so far.

“There'll definitely be people watching, just with the names in that Ballymena teamsheet, the scrum will be a big challenge with ‘Clarky’ (Alexander Clarke) a former Queen’s man, Andy Warwick and then Angus Graham, academy lad we trained with,” said Magee. “They've got a strong, strong pack and they have a lot of ex-Ulster and age-grade players...there'll be a lot of names, a lot of familiar faces, it'll be a fun one.”

Ballymena had a 31-28 bonus point win at UL Bohs and Dungannon also have two wins from two after a 31-25 victory at Wanderers. Ballynahinch are bottom of Division 1A after a 56-10 defeat at Old Belvedere. City of Armagh and Instonians both lost in Division 1B.

Four of the six Ulster clubs in Division 2B North have a maximum 10 points after two games. Clogher Valley had a 38-17 win at Navan plus hooker Sam Green’s try hat-trick helped Malone to a 36-7 win at Sligo. Ballyclare scored five tries in a 25-12 away win at Rainey. Eddie Keys scored 16 points for Enniskillen in their 31-18 win at Malahide as Banbridge lost at home to Skerries.