ACCIES GET SEASON UNDERWAY WITH NARROW VICTORY
Accies get season underway with narrow victory
OMAGH Academicals Rugby Club firsts got their season underway in the Ulster Senior B League on Saturday with a 12-10 win over Belfast side, CIYMS.
But while the points were welcome, Omagh made hard work of a game they should have have sewn up early, and then could so easily have lost.
Two tries from hooker Jimmy Mulligan, with one conversion by Glenn Warnock, were enough in the end to secure the victory, but there is obviously a lot of work to do before the main All-Ireland League Four season comes along.
Prior to the game, the players of both sides stood for a minute's silence in memory of the Omagh bomb massacre victims., and after the match, the past president of CIYMS, Dermot McKee, presented a cheque to Omagh president, Jack Reid, for the Omagh Memorial Fund.
For the game itself, Omagh fielded several newcomers from Enniskillen and abroad, and started brightly in the opening 20 minutes.
Early pressure from the forwards led to CIYMS infringing, but Warnock could not convert any of the three penalties awarded to the Accies in the first six minutes.
Following some good positional kicking from Omagh's half backs, resulting in a lineout 10 metres from the CI line, Mickey McMuIlan gained possession, found support from his colleagues and they drove to the line.
Mulligan emerged from the pile up with the ball to claim the try and Warnock successfully converted to make it 7-0.
The Belfast side began to use their big forwards to apply pressure near the Omagh line, resulting in their hooker, Mark Chambers, scoring a try, not converted.
Again Omagh pressure took play near the CI line, and after some good play, Mulligan got over for his second touchdown, which Warnock was unable to convert.
However, before the interval, yet another lapse in concentration by Omagh allowed the visitors in for a second unconverted try, which left Omagh with a slim two-point advantage at the turn around.
The second half remained scoreless with both teams striving to score.
The Omagh backline did not operate smoothly, an obvious problem with transferring the ball swiftly along the three-quarters, being the main fall down.
However, the backs were firm in their tackles, while newcomers, Dilworth, Flack and McCarron did not get a chance to stretch their legs and show off their pace, while Breach made ground on occasions and made ball available when stopped.
It is early days yet, improvements will come and when all players are available after holidays the Omagh team will undoubtedly be a more forceful unit.
Omagh: G. Warnock, R. McCarron, D. Flack, M. Breach, J. Dilworth, J. Smyth, M. Neill, A. McCaffrey, J. Mulligan, C. Rainey, M. McMullan, B. Turner, J. Keys, A. Anderson and A. Hamilton. Replacements: D. Jack (M. Neill), J. Kane (C. Rainey) and J. Graham (B. Turner).
Elsewhere on Saturday, the seconds went down 51-18 against Clogher Valley firsts in a friendly.
This Saturday the Accies firsts continue their Ulster League campaign with a home game against Bangor, who were recently beaten 19-3 by CIYMS.
The seconds are at home against Monaghan in a friendly, and will hope to have more of the old hands available.
The thirds and fourths will combine to send a team to the annual Dooley Cup tournament at City of Londonderry Rugby Club.
Members are also reminded that the club dinner will take place on Saturday, September 19.
OMAGH Academicals Rugby Club firsts got their season underway in the Ulster Senior B League on Saturday with a 12-10 win over Belfast side, CIYMS.
But while the points were welcome, Omagh made hard work of a game they should have have sewn up early, and then could so easily have lost.
Two tries from hooker Jimmy Mulligan, with one conversion by Glenn Warnock, were enough in the end to secure the victory, but there is obviously a lot of work to do before the main All-Ireland League Four season comes along.
Prior to the game, the players of both sides stood for a minute's silence in memory of the Omagh bomb massacre victims., and after the match, the past president of CIYMS, Dermot McKee, presented a cheque to Omagh president, Jack Reid, for the Omagh Memorial Fund.
For the game itself, Omagh fielded several newcomers from Enniskillen and abroad, and started brightly in the opening 20 minutes.
Early pressure from the forwards led to CIYMS infringing, but Warnock could not convert any of the three penalties awarded to the Accies in the first six minutes.
Following some good positional kicking from Omagh's half backs, resulting in a lineout 10 metres from the CI line, Mickey McMuIlan gained possession, found support from his colleagues and they drove to the line.
Mulligan emerged from the pile up with the ball to claim the try and Warnock successfully converted to make it 7-0.
The Belfast side began to use their big forwards to apply pressure near the Omagh line, resulting in their hooker, Mark Chambers, scoring a try, not converted.
Again Omagh pressure took play near the CI line, and after some good play, Mulligan got over for his second touchdown, which Warnock was unable to convert.
However, before the interval, yet another lapse in concentration by Omagh allowed the visitors in for a second unconverted try, which left Omagh with a slim two-point advantage at the turn around.
The second half remained scoreless with both teams striving to score.
The Omagh backline did not operate smoothly, an obvious problem with transferring the ball swiftly along the three-quarters, being the main fall down.
However, the backs were firm in their tackles, while newcomers, Dilworth, Flack and McCarron did not get a chance to stretch their legs and show off their pace, while Breach made ground on occasions and made ball available when stopped.
It is early days yet, improvements will come and when all players are available after holidays the Omagh team will undoubtedly be a more forceful unit.
Omagh: G. Warnock, R. McCarron, D. Flack, M. Breach, J. Dilworth, J. Smyth, M. Neill, A. McCaffrey, J. Mulligan, C. Rainey, M. McMullan, B. Turner, J. Keys, A. Anderson and A. Hamilton. Replacements: D. Jack (M. Neill), J. Kane (C. Rainey) and J. Graham (B. Turner).
Elsewhere on Saturday, the seconds went down 51-18 against Clogher Valley firsts in a friendly.
This Saturday the Accies firsts continue their Ulster League campaign with a home game against Bangor, who were recently beaten 19-3 by CIYMS.
The seconds are at home against Monaghan in a friendly, and will hope to have more of the old hands available.
The thirds and fourths will combine to send a team to the annual Dooley Cup tournament at City of Londonderry Rugby Club.
Members are also reminded that the club dinner will take place on Saturday, September 19.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0518
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
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