In recent weeks Bangor had shown real signs of promise, culminating in a superb performance against the league leaders Portadown the previous weekend. While Omagh had also been racking up some high-scoring wins, this fixture should have had all the makings of a closely fought and close encounter. In reality, though, it was anything but.

Considering the atrocious weather during the week, the playing conditions both overhead and underfoot were better than expected and, with Omagh enjoying the slight breeze at their backs in the opening half, the game got underway. From their opening kick-off, Omagh went straight on the attack, pinning Bangor down inside their own twenty two for the first quarter of the game. This persistent pressure, coupled with Bangor’s inability to halt it, resulted in Omagh scoring two converted tries. Bangor managed a brief period of response but suffered from poor handling and lack of imagination when close to the Omagh goal line. Their first half frustration was complete when Omagh scored another straightforward try from a lineout and drive, just as the referee blew for half time.

At 21-0 down, Bangor started the second half with the wind at their backs and hope for a fightback. Unfortunately neither of these factors appeared to have any effect on the game. For a brief moment, Bangor could celebrate a Danny Young try after Rhys Larmour chipped over the Omagh defence but, other than that, the game belonged to Omagh. Three further converted tries eased Omagh into an unassailable 42-5 lead, which they held until the end of the game.

It is undeniable that the better side deservedly won, and by a margin that truly reflected the one-sided nature of the game. Hopefully the Bangor players will realise that they underperformed and were a far way off the level they displayed against Portadown the previous week. Worryingly, in a typical quirk of fixture timetabling, Bangor face Omagh again in their next league fixture, in three weeks’ time, but this time at Upritchard Park. Perhaps the North Down air will reach the parts it obviously missed in Tyrone.