First AIL Match ends in Disappointment

Saturday 7^th October 2023

Enniscorthy 1XV - 28

Omagh Accies 1XV - 18

Omagh Accies 1^st XV returned to the All Ireland League on Saturday with the long trip to Enniscorthy. As they departed on Friday night they knew they would have to put in an improved performance from previous weeks in order to return home with anything.

Omagh started brightly and went into the lead through a sweetly struck Scott Elliott penalty but the hosts replied with a converted try to seize the lead which the would not surrender for the remainder of the game.

Enniscorthy’s pressure on Omagh’s line became too much for the visitors and they scored another converted try before Neville Magee was sent to the sin bin after a strange decision by the referee. Omagh battled hard despite the numerical disadvantage they had but the hosts scored another converted try to go into the break leading by 21 points to 6 after another Eliott penalty for the Accies.

After a chat at half time Omagh went about correcting their first half mistakes and had a number of chances to reduce the deficit which they could not convert. This was punished by the clinical Enniscorthy who scored again to push the lead out to 28-6.

Omagh, to their credit, kept trying to play rugby and were rewarded with two tries from captain Mitchell and prop David Braden. A few more opportunities came Omagh’s way but they failed to capitalise on the pressure they had created and the final whistle blew to send Omagh home with nothing to show for their valiant efforts.

A strong showing in the scrum was overshadowed by a disfunctioning lineout which thwarted any momentum Omagh created but if Omagh had converted a few more opportunities on the day they may have headed home in higher spirits and with some points in the bag. Congratulations must go to Enniscorthy who came down from a season in Division 2B to start their league season in clinical fashion.

Omagh licked their wounds and headed straight up the road to see Ireland produce a fine performance in securing their quarter final spot against the All Blacks this Saturday – here’s hoping for an improved performance from Omagh as they host Ballina at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields and more of the same from Ireland!

OARFC 1XV (1-20)

1. Braden, P. Ewing, S. Creane, Ja. Sproule, R. Sproule, A. Clements, S. Wilson, N. Magee, E. Murnaghan, S. Elliott, R. Mitchell (c) J. Kyle, Sc. Ballantine, J. Wood, B. Henry, M. H-Brown, G. Sherrard, J. Duff, A. Porter & A. Johnston.