Omagh 1 18 vs 19 Enniskillen
The Accies first ever match saw them go down by two points while their first home match in their sixtieth anniversary season saw them lose by an even
Qualifying League Two
Like sixty years ago, Omagh were in the lead until the last minutes of the match and like sixty years ago, Enniskillen summed up just enough to edge home and claim the spoils, pride and bragging rights then, four points and the first derby win if the season, now.
“We are disappointed to lose after taking the lead on the half hour”, admitted Omagh captain, Mervyn Edgar. “We tried to play too much rugby in our own half in the second period, and didn’t use the slope and make Enniskillen turn and play from deep”.
With eight first team players out due to injury, and the loss of a couple of important members of the pack during the close season, Phil Marshall’s side had a very unfamiliar look about it resulting in a low key opening quarter in which a combination of nerves and early season rustiness led to a tepid start for what is normally a whole hearted, tempestuous affair.
Omagh looked to take runners off out half, Jamie Lagan with Mark Smyth in particular hungry for work against a hard hitting defence. Andrew Ferguson’s yellow card for pulling down the maul seemed harsh at the time and was compounded upon when the visitors went over for the resulting scrum with the No.8 diving over. The conversion was missed.
A shoulder injury suffered by Alistair Ferguson saw him battle on bravely but eventually he succumbed but manfully played on swapping positions with wing, Scott Elliott.
The home side went on the offensive straight after but tuned the ball over. Enniskillen had men over out wide and went to move it along the backs only for Ashley McIlwaine to come off his wing and intercept. The Newtownstewart men had enough gas to sprint home and dive over for the score which was converted by David Ward.
The rangy fullback slotted over a penalty to extend the lead to 10-5 though a loss of concentration as the half ended allowed Enniskillen to peg three points back courtesy of a penalty from their out half.
Half time 10-8.
The first incident of the second period saw the visiting lock sent to the sin bin before Omagh put on a spurt, put a few good passages of play together and extend their lead. Lineout possession was secured with Jonny Giboney linking well with Adam Pollock on the far side of the pitch. The ball was zipped out wide with Lagan hitting Ward on the miss pass. He cut through the hole and set it up and with quick ball presented, Elliott dived over to touch down for a well worked try. The conversion was missed.
Unable to push on and put the game away, Omagh conceded a penalty which was duly converted minutes later. This brought the game into the last 30 minutes and with it more noise from a sizeable crowd while the intensity on the pitch slipped up the gears.
Enniskillen looked the more competent and composed as they recycled well and asked questions of the home defence, though it was the Accies who were on the score sheet next courtesy of a fine Ward penalty from 35metres out.
Typical of the match, the Mullaghmeen men responded and with another penalty conceded, the Skins out half held his nerve to slot over and close the score to 18-14.
Kevin Donaghy was sent to the sin bin, further stretching Omagh and it was no surprise when Enniskillen went over from close in for their second try, though the relatively easy penalty was missed.
The home side regrouped with 5 minutes left on the clock and were awarded a penalty from the same position from which Ward connected a few minutes earlier. The large crowd held its collective breaths and the fullback swung the trusty left peg. He made better strike than the one minute earlier but watched as his strike went agonisingly inches wide.
The visitors kept their heads and played the game out to secure the points by the narrowest of margins in a low key derby.
Omagh will hope to have some of their walking wounded available next week though it is more likely that they will see numbers back over the next two to three weeks. “We have to remain positive, take each game as it comes and remain competitive”, mused Edgar.
Team: David Ward, Ashley McIlwaine, Alan Heaney, Ryan Mitchell, Scott Elliott, Jamie Lagan, Alistair Ferguson, Kevin Donaghey, Adam Pollock, Mark Smyth, Jonny Giboney, John Sproule, Andrew Ferguson, Richard Smyth, Mervyn Edgar (c)
Omagh U17 21 vs 12 Enniskillen
