Rainey Endowed travelled to Omagh Academy and came away with a place in the third round of the Schools Cup beating the hosts by 7 – 14 in a gritty match on Wednesday afternoon.
The visiting side started the game strongly keeping Omagh pinned in their own half. Under intense pressure Omagh eventually coughed up a kick-able penalty and Rainey scrum half Marty Connolly stepped up to give the guests a 0 – 3 lead.
Rainey continued to apply pressure and looked to be well in control in the opening quarter but a resolute defence from the home side, with full back Lee Warnock particularly impressive, prevented the visitors from adding further to their score.
Omagh eventually got a foothold in the Rainey half and after a series of driving runs from the forwards the ball was worked right finding Omagh captain Gary Sherrard in space. Sherrard cleverly drew the defence and sent Warnock free with the classy full back rounding the last defender to cross the line and make his way to score under the posts. Out half Ashley McIlwaine converted giving the home side a 7 – 3 lead.
Omagh enjoyed more possession for the remainder of the half but Rainey hit back just before the break with a second penalty from Connolly to take the half time score to 7 – 6.
Academy had a chance to go restore their four point lead early in the second half but McIlwaine pushed his penalty attempt wide and Rainey re-grouped and worked their way back up field. A series of moves saw centre Damon McMurray break the defensive line and his pass to left wing Fintan Quinn saw the speedy winger score in the corner for an unconverted try putting Rainey back in front with the score reading 7 – 11.
Omagh came back strongly and pounded the Rainey line for a good ten minutes, coming close on several occasions, but the visitors managed to hold firm and relieved the pressure with a third penalty from Connolly. With no further scores the game ended 7 – 14 with the visitors celebrating at the final whistle.
Omagh Academy: Darren Clarke, Ricky Hemphill, James Kelso, Jony Sproule, Benji Knox, Adam Longwell, Harry Gibson, Gary Sherrard, Michael Gibson, Ashley McIlwaine, Adrian Henry, Dean Barr, Ryan Mitchell, Matthew Deazley, Lee Warnock, Glen Foster, Andy Wilson, Jamie Brown, Greg Deazley, Andy Allen, Neil MacLaine, Gordy Graham.
Rainey Endowed: James Kelso, Owen Devlin, Jack McAlmont, Mark McErlane, Damien Devlin, Michael Dawson, Johnny Lees, Luke Steele, Marty Connolly, Aaron Murphy, Fintan Quinn, Philip Caulfield, Damon McMurray, Mathew Stewart, Jamie Burrows, Stephen McCauley, Chris Lynch, Thomas Booth, Oisin Quinn, Stephen Nelson, Stephen Fullerton, Ryan Brown.
