Accies earn bragging rights in hastily arranged derby clash

DUNGANNON……….12

OMAGH ACCIES……26

SATURDAY’S hastily arranged friendly between Dungannon and Omagh Accies at Stevenson Park turned into a bit of a nightmare for the home side, who not only suffered a 26-12 defeat but also a string of injuries they can ill afford.

The clash between the All-Ireland League neighbours was meant to be a part of a day of fun and celebratation with the Vodafone Lions Legacy Tour in situ at Stevenson Park with former internationals and ex-British and Irish Lions, Mike Tindall and James Haskell on site with Tyrone Howe, Stephen Ferris and TV  presenter Alex Payne.

And while Saturday most certainly had a carnival atmosphere for the most part, the hour and a half of the derby match didn’t quite reach the heights the Dungannon players, coaches and faithful would have hoped against an Omagh side that was somewhat thrown together at the 11th hour.

With both sides having their All-Ireland League clashes cancelled on Friday as their respective opponents, Ballina and Clonmel reported Covid cases, Dungannon contacted Omagh that night to see if they could field a team in order to ensure the visiting stars and large crowd had a game to enjoy in the middle of a busy day at Stevenson Park.

After several hours on his phone, talking to his players, Accies coach Glenn Kyle was able to brig a squad of 17 to Dungannon for the game and they certainly rose to the occasion with Ryan Mitchell, Scott Elliott, Ryan Armstrong and Taine Lagan all scoring eye-catching tries for the visitors, three of which were converted by Kyle Beattie.

“Omagh were supposed to be coming down here, in my head, with 16 players to be canon-foddder,” joked Dungannon head coach, Andrew Hughes.

“It was pretty much the same as the match in the Ulster League against them. It took a similar style where we were going through phases then turn over the ball and they’d run the length of the pitch and score.

“It happened four times and don’t get me wrong the scores that they got were well taken scores but they were literally from knock-ons or by us doing something silly.

“Both teams were going at it in about third gear and it turned into a wee bit of a mess for us.

“What should have been one of those days when we had a decent enough win – not being harsh on Omagh – but the first five our ten minutes we should have scored a couple of tries.

“But we didn’t and they scored without having to do a whole lot.”

Dungannon huffed and puffed throughout, making excursions into the Omagh half fairly regularly but time and again they were either halted by a solid defence or coughed up possession a little too eagerly and the Accies scythed through the home rearguard on four occasions to seal the victory.

After the Accies went ahead, Mark Faloon responded for the hosts to level matters at 5-5. Unfortunately for the Stevenson Park side, their visitors then ran in three more impressive tries, while all they could muster was a push over effort from Stephen Todd before they introduced a special guest player for the final 10 minutes – former World Cup winner, Tindall.

“I certainly never thought when I started coaching Omagh I’d come up against Mike Tindall as a player!,” Kyle exclaimed. “But it was very, very enjoyable and they are good sports.

“It was a really good day, I really enjoyed it, I really enjoyed meeting those guys and talking to them. It was a great day for rugby and the Dungannon club, fair play for them for arranging it.

“We went down with 17 players, but it was one of those off the cuff things to pull Dungannon out and to be fair, I couldn’t fault the boys.

“There was a risk going up there with such a small squad but as a rugby man, the club was struggling at 9.30pm on Friday night to get their game for the people who were there, the MIke Tindall’s and that, so we pulled them out and we went up there and gave them a good game.

“I’m very, very pleased leaving Dungannon because to win against a team from the league above us, mid table and doing well in the league above us can only do our confidence the world of good.”