Senior Rugby: The positive vein of form for our Senior team continued on Saturday with a last gasp win over Barnhall. In the end it came down to a kick from James Finn at the death to take the spoils with the teams being deadlocked at 22 points apiece prior to that strike. While Nenagh edged the try count 3-1 you must give credit to Barnhall who stayed in the fight and may just as easily have nicked it with a late burst after finding themselves 22-12 down midway through the second half. They are a team who will have much to say about the destination of the league title this year. The job doesn’t get easier for our boys as next on the agenda is this year’s first Friday Night Lights fixture with local rivals Cashel RFC. History has not been kind to Nenagh in this fixture, certainly since both teams graduated to senior rugby. This year’s team will be hungry to change that complexion though and have shied away from no challenge yet this year. Both sides go in to the tie on the back of home wins against strong sides so all is geared up for a humdinger in Lisatunny Friday night. Kick off is at 8pm. The bar will be open early, the atmosphere will be good and we look forward to seeing a big home support out there to cheer on the lads.
Senior 2nds: The senior seconds had a tough assignment last Sunday having to travel to 1A side Young Munster RFC, also last year’s Munster Junior Cup winners for their second game of the Seconds league. Weather conditions were truly atrocious and Nenagh had a few walking wounded from the previous day’s senior match unable to line out so the odds on an upset shortened considerably. Nonetheless a largely inexperienced Nenagh outfit showed plenty of endeavour and grit to battle for the full 80 mins against the home side. The scoreline was a harsh reflection on the day’s play with the final score 47- 7 in favour of the home side. There were very positive performances on the Nenagh side though and Paudie Bourke, Joe Coffey, Seán Frawley, Ben Armitage as well as the hard tackling Doughan brothers Michael and Brian deserve particular mention for their contributions. This side are training hard and pushing competition in the wider squad and it is all very promising for the year ahead
Under 16: Munster Club U16 Conference 3
Kanturk 22-26 Nenagh Ormond
Nenagh Ormond U16s continued their Munster Club campaign away to Kanturk RFC on Saturday. With a couple of injuries and several County finals taking place, Nenagh had only the bare 15 players available for the game. However, this didn’t deter the lads in the slightest and they were raring to go come kick off time.
Despite a strong start from Kanturk, who spent the opening exchanges in Nenagh territory, it was the visitors who scored first when some excellent passing put Marcus O’Mahony into space out wide. The winger sprinted from inside his own half to the tryline to score and Billy O’Brien added the conversion. Then, at the end of the first quarter when the home side tried to play out of their own 22, some great pressure from the Nenagh defence caused a fumble behind the tryline. Centre Brehon O’Donnell showed quick thinking to react and he touched down for Nenagh’s second try. O’Brien again added the extras. O’Mahony’s lightning pace gave Nenagh a third try and another well taken conversion by O’Brien put Nenagh 21 points ahead.
With 5 minutes left in the first half, Kanturk upped their game and they scored tries either side of the half time break to bring the score back to 12-21. Nenagh responded well and, after some good phases in the Kanturk 22, O’Mahony scored his hat trick try in the corner. However, Kanturk were not finished and they put two more tries on the scoreboard to close the gap to 4 points and set up a tense finale to the game.
Although the Nenagh lads must have been feeling the lack of replacements at this point, the effort from each and every one in the closing minutes was outstanding. In the last play of the game, Kanturk kicked a penalty to touch and were ready to set up a final attack. But Nenagh’s Kedagh Broderick had other plans and his lifters got him up well to allow him to steal the ball and tap it down to Jack Casey. Casey got the ball off the pitch and the final whistle was blown.
This was a hard fought win for our U16s and a performance they can be proud of. After such a great team effort it is impossible to single any one player out but special mention must go to U15 player Diarmuid Gleeson who stepped up and put in a very good performance on the wing.
Nenagh Team: Valters Janitens, Diarmuid Gleeson, Daniel Quinn, Brehon O’Donnell, Marcus O’Mahony, Billy O’Brien, Thomas O’Brien, Jamie Horan, Jack Casey (c), Gonzalo Martinez, Paul Kennedy, Luke Shelly, Cathal Quigley, Nathan Mannion, Kedagh Broderick.
Under 15: Our under 15 side travelled to play Thomond RFC in Liam Fitzgerald Park last Sunday. In a tight affair they unfortunately lost out on a scoreline of 15- 10. Commiserations to the lads but plenty to build on in the fixtures ahead.
Under 13: Nenagh Ormond under 13s hosted Shannon in Tyone last Sunday. Nenagh were slow to start and conceded an early try. As the game went on Nenagh grew into the game and scored three tries in the first half, the first try was a back line move finished brilliantly by Callum Ryan and for the second Shaun Murphy spotting a hole in defence to score under the posts. Our third score was a bit of individual brilliance from Donagh Carmody, collecting the ball in midfield and rounding the defence. Shannon also scored a second try leaving half time score 17-12. Shannon scored two tries and were leading 24-17 with 5 mins to go. Nenagh had the visitors under pressure and Donagh Carmody popped up again with an excellent try. Oisin Hogan kicked the tough conversion in very difficult conditions leaving the score 24-24. A good performance overall with lots to work on. Training continues Wednesday evening
