Energia AIL
Saturday 26th September 2026
Try Scorers: D O’Neill (1), C Smyth (1), J McCartney (1), J McMurray (1)
Conversions: S McLean (3)
Penalty: S McLean (1)
Rainey 1st XV kicked off their Energia All-Ireland League campaign on Saturday with a trip to County Fermanagh to face Enniskillen 1st XV, who gained senior status this season.
The home side started brightly and opened the scoring after a penalty gave them an opportunity to kick to the corner. From the resulting lineout, Enniskillen set up a powerful catch-and-drive maul which Rainey were unable to defend, allowing the home side to cross for the opening try. The conversion was successful to put Enniskillen 7–0 ahead.
The home side then doubled their advantage when a Rainey kick was charged down, with Enniskillen gathering possession before spreading the ball wide and eventually scoring in the corner. The conversion was added to make it 14–0.
Rainey needed a response and got exactly that from a well-worked set-piece. A penalty was kicked to the corner and, from the resulting maul, hooker Dan O’Neill peeled away from the back with five metres to go and powered over the line. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score 14–5.
The visitors continued to build pressure and were rewarded for a sustained period of possession. After a number of phases, Calum Smyth finally found a way through the Enniskillen defence to score their second try of the afternoon, with out-half Scott McLean adding the extras to reduce the deficit to just two points at 14–12.
Enniskillen responded with a try of their own. Their number 10 made a break through the middle of the Rainey defence and, although the initial attack was halted inside the visitors’ 22, quick ball allowed Enniskillen to move the ball wide where they crossed for their third try. The conversion was successful, making it 21–12.
Rainey continued to compete and got points on the board through a penalty from in front of the posts, with McLean making no mistake to bring the score to 21–15.
The home side would have the final say of the half, however, scoring another try after making ground down the blind side before using quick ball from phase play to cross the line. The successful conversion left Enniskillen 28–15 ahead at the interval.
The second half saw a completely different Rainey side emerge as the visitors raised the intensity and began to attack with far greater purpose. Having the wind at their backs also proved to be an advantage.
Despite Rainey’s improved performance, it was Enniskillen who struck first after the restart. A break from one of their backs saw him step inside several Rainey defenders before centre Damien McMurray eventually brought him to ground. Quick ball was produced and Enniskillen’s number 10 took possession before putting a perfectly weighted grubber kick in behind the Rainey defence. The home winger won the race to the ball and dotted down in the corner. The conversion was missed, leaving the score 33–15.
Rainey, however, refused to let their heads drop and dominated much of the final quarter.
The visitors’ pressure eventually told when a series of carries off the base of a scrum created space. Winger Jim McCartney came infield looking to get involved and, when the ball was presented to him, he powered through the defensive line to score Rainey’s third try of the afternoon. McLean added the conversion to make it 33–22.
Rainey continued to press for another score and, deep into injury time, they finally got their reward.
Winning their own lineout just five metres from the Enniskillen line, Rainey played the ball off the top before going through three phases. The ball was eventually fed to veteran Jody McMurray, who was operating at lock on the day, and he carried strongly over the line to score Rainey’s fourth and final try.
McLean once again converted to leave the final score Enniskillen 33–29 Rainey.
While Rainey will undoubtedly feel there were opportunities missed throughout the contest, their late fightback proved important as they came away with two valuable league bonus points, providing something for Rainey to build on as the campaign continues.
