(Picture shows our hard working U15 side who didn't let the rain and mud affect their effort in training last week)
Senior: Nenagh returned to home comforts on Saturday last for the visit of Navan in round three of the Energia AIL. Both sides came in to this one unbeaten and most observers would have anticipated that a close match was in the offing. What transpired however was quite the opposite.
Nenagh were on the attack right from the off and an early penalty was sent top the corner where Nenagh hoped to open the scoring through their driving maul. Navan were alive to the threat however and smothered the ball to win a turnover and the siege was temporarily lifted. A high tackle shortly afterwards in sight of the Nenagh posts allowed Navan to open their account with a well struck penalty and so far the script appeared to be following the prediction of parity.
From the restart though Nenagh were back on the attack. A penalty was conceded by Navan under pressure but Conor McMahon was unable to convert and so a 22 dropout ensued. From here Nenagh built pressure again and this time a chink was found in the Meath men’s cover and Ben Pope was through to open Nenagh’s account for the day. The wind was not cooperating for Conor McMahon in these early stages though and the conversion was wide.
Almost immediately Nenagh were in business once more though. Navcan attempted an attack off a lineout around the middle third and Ben Pope was once more the man in the right place, reading the play superbly to pick off an intercept and streak away to score. This time the kick was good from McMahon and at 12-3 Nenagh were full value for their lead.
Navan were really struggling for territory despite having the breeze in their favour but Nenagh’s discipline once more deserted them to concede a cheap penalty in the middle of the park. Needing a score the Navan kicker did not disappoint and brought the score to 12-6 from all of 40 metres out.
Amazingly though that was to be the end of Navan’s scoring for the day.From the next period of Nenagh pressure Navan were caught in possession in their own 22. A jackal turnover from John Healy gave Conor McMahon an easy shot at three points and Nenagh pushed the lead out to 15-6. Shortly afterwards Navan’s struggles in possession again played the key part. An attempted clearance kick by Navan was blocked by Dylan Murphy whose brother Evan was quickest to react, hacking the ball into the danger zone where Ben Pope was amazingly on hand to wrap up a hatrick for himself before the half time whistle. Unfortunately for Navan it just seemed to be one of those days where every mistake was punished ruthlessly.
In spite all of this Navan started the 2nd half the brighter of the two sides. They put together what was perhaps their most significant period of attack play in the game. Unfortunately though once more their own systems let them down. A lineout in a promising position was called back for obstruction. Nenagh took the opportunity gleefully to clear their lines and shortly after fashioned an excellent break for Willie Coffey. He was able to offload out of contact to the supporting Conor McMahon who looked to be away on;ly to be tripped by a despairing Navan defender. Always sharp to a break, Josh Rowland was on hand to keep the continuity alive and it was he who finished the move under the posts to secure the bonus point and extinguish any remaining Navan hopes with a half hour still to play.
It was all Nenagh thereafter with the bench being cleared and a strong showing in particular from John Hayes after his introduction. U20 player Evan Fitzpatrick got to make his AIL debut, playing the closing twenty minutes on the wing. There was time for Conor McMahon, Josh Rowland and John Hayes to add tries for a very polished 46-6 scoreline in the end. This rounded off an excellent opening block of three games for Nenagh ahead of a break week next weekend. A second team fixture and a Donal Walsh Trophy game for the U20.5 side will mean the extended panel and anyone in need of minutes will see game time in the week ahead but for now all involved with the Nenagh Ormond Senior team will be quietly confident of their prospects for the remainder of the season. The next game for the senior side will be away to Old Crescent in Takumi Park on Saturday November 4th. Complacency should not be an issue given the reversal suffered at that venue late last season. All travelling support will as always be much appreciated.
Team: (1-20) Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Colm Skehan, Kevin O Gorman, Kevin O Flaherty, Rob Buckley, John Healy, Evan Murphy, Charlie O Doherty, Ben Pope, Conor McMahon, Patrick Scully, Willie Coffey ©, Nicky Irwin, Josh Rowland, Seán Frawley, Jack O Keefe, Jake O Kelly, John Hayes, Evan Fitzpatrick
Second XV: The senior seconds got their Munster Senior League campaign off and running on Sunday last with a well fought 17-17 draw away to UL Bohemians. A good mix of youth and experience lined out with valuable minutes gained by returning senior players as well as many U20.5 players who will face the same opposition on Tuesday evening. The team are in action again on Saturday afternoon with a trip to play Bruff at 13.30 in Kilballyowen Park.
U 20.5: The U20.5 side continue their Donal Walsh Trophy campaign with a home tie against UL Bohemians at home on Tuesday night. This will be a good chance for Nenagh to go after their first win of the season and hopefully a good home support will turn out on the night to encourage them in their efforts. Kickoff is at 7.30pm in Lisatunny.
U15: Nenagh Ormond played Newcastle West in the Pan Munster Under 16 Conference on a lovely sunny morning in UL on Sunday last. Nenagh had the perfect start with a penalty spread wide and scored on the right wing by our pacy winger Liam Flynn. However this try was not converted. Approximately 5 mins later Nenagh won a penalty and opted for a scrum. An excellent passage of play followed resulting in a good try being scored by Hugo Healy and converted by Charlie Talbot.
However Newcastle West fought back, winning a lineout inside Nenagh’s 22 and going in low to score a try. This was converted. Nenagh scored a third try through Oscar Griffin and converted by Charlie Talbot and Nenagh went in at half time 19-7 ahead.
Nenagh’s set piece held up well in the second half when a Nenagh scrum was well contested and an excellent ball delivered through the hands of scrum half Sam Gallahue worked its way through the hands where an overlap brought full back Oscar Griffin in to the line on a run from the Newcastle West 22 to score a brilliant try under the posts. The points were added through the boot of Charlie Talbot.
NCW scored a further two tries, one from a scrum penalty and another through the hands; neither were converted. The game finished up Nenagh 33- NCW 17. The lads put in a great performance throughout the pitch. We hope to arrange a challenge match on Sunday next.
Split the Bucket: Well done to recent winner Noel O’ Meara. Our Split the Bucket fundraiser continues to hand out a minimum of €500 in prize money each and every week. Enter for as little as €2 per week at nenaghormondrfc.com/products or access the link on any of our social media pages.
Your Club Your Country Draw: The Your Club Your Country Draw is a nationwide fundraiser run by the IRFU where all money for tickets sold within a particular club goes directly to that club. It is the main fundraiser for our club’s juvenile section for the past number of years. Tickets are available for 10 euros through our club website. There are fantastic prizes on offer with the top prize of a Summer Tour to South Africa to follow Ireland’s test series there. Log on to nenaghormondrfc.com/products to find the purchasing link. All support would be greatly appreciated as it goes directly to the running of our juvenile club.
Other Results:
U13: Nenagh (29)- Old Crescent (15)
U16: Nenagh (22)- Kilfeacle (17)
Fixtures:
Seconds: Nenagh vs Bruff RFC. Saturday @ 1.30pm. (Bruff)
U20.5: Nenagh vs UL Bohs. Tuesday @ 7.30pm (Lisatunny)- Donal Walsh Trophy
U18.5: Nenagh vs Kilrush. Saturday @ 2.30pm (Kilrush)- North Munster League
U16: Nenagh vs Old Crescent. Sunday @ 12.00pm (Lisatunny)- North Munster League
U15: Nenagh vs Ennis RFC. Sunday @ 10.30am (Ennis- Lees Rd.)
U14: Nenagh vs Ballinasloe RFC. Sunday @ 11.30am (Nenagh College)
U13: Nenagh vs Young Munster RFC. Sunday @ 12.00pm (Nenagh College)
