AIL Division 1A Round 3

(H-T Nenagh Ormond 10 Cork Con 15)

Belfield Bowl

Referee Robbie Jenkinson

Report by Mike McMahon

A clinical performance by Cork Constitution saw them gain a hard-fought win on the road against newly promoted Nenagh Ormond in round 3 of AIL Division 1A.

Despite taking an early lead through a Jack Kelleher try, Jonny Holland’s charges were pushed all the way by a gallant Nenagh team who threw everything at their opponents in a highly entertaining contest which could have gone either way. As it was, the home team will be extremely disappointed that they did not garner something from the game and remain pointless as the league heads into its first break.

There was something of a sense of occasion at New Ormond Park for this first ever AIL clash between these two Munster rivals and also a bit of an edge to a lively encounter in which both sides gave no quarter. Referee Robbie Jenkinson intervened with 4 yellow cards, two for each side and generally kept the lid on a game which threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions.

In an interesting sub-plot to the game itself, Munster prop Roman Salanoa came on as a substitute early in the second half for Nenagh. Returning from a long-term injury, this was his first game in over 2 years and many of his Munster team-mates came to the game to show their support.

Nenagh’s new recruit would surely have been impressed by some of the play from his new team in the first half as they went toe to toe with their more fancied opposition. Responding to the early setback, the home team put together some excellent passages of attacking play, highlighted by a superb 17th minute try finished off by debutant teenage winger Sam Cusack. 

Constitution managed to keep their noses in front as the half wore on and added to their lead just after the half hour with a try from hooker Danny Sheahan to leave the score at 15-10 and the game finely balanced at half-time.

Pressing home their advantage early in the second period, the Cork men ruthlessly exploited a yellow card advantage with a well-worked try in the corner from winger Sean Condon. Nenagh were reduced to 13 shortly afterwards with what looked to be a harsh sin binning for scrum half Nicky Irwin. Once again, Cork Con took full return from the opportunity, mauling over for their fourth try – a second for hooker Sheahan.

Although now trailing by 15 points, Nenagh had plenty of possession and were on the attack for much of the remainder of the game, moving the ball well and coming close to breaking through on a number of occasions. With 10 minutes remaining, they did manage to get a try back through Angus Blackmore but were not able to add to their tally as a resolute Con defence held firm. Conor McMahon had two late penalty chances to salvage a deserved losing bonus point for his team but both missed narrowly.

Constitution move into second place following this win, with Nenagh remaining rooted at the foot of the table. This was a much better showing from the red and whites however and one on which they can hopefully build as they adjust to the highly competitive world of the AIL’s top flight.

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Sam Cusack, Angus Blackmore; Con: Conor McMahon x 2; Pen: Conor McMahon
Cork Con: Tries: Jack Kelleher, Danny Sheahan x 2, Sean Condon: Cons: Dylan Hicks; Pens: Dylan Hicks

NENAGH ORMOND: 15. Matt Brice, 14. Conor McMahon, 13 Angus Blackmore, 12. Willie Coffey, 11. Sam Cusack, 10. Oscar Davey, 9. Nicky Irwin, 1. Mikey Doran, 2. Dylan Murphy, 3. Darragh McSweeney, 4. Kevin Seymour, 5. Kevin O’Flaherty (c), 6. Rob Buckley, 7. John Healy, 8. Evan Murphy.
Replacements: 16. Robbie Tynan, 17. Niall O’Gorman, 18. Roman Salanoa, 19. Joe Coffey, 20. Luke Kerr, 21. Derek Corcoran.

Cork Con: 15. George Coomber, 14. Sean Condon, 13. Eoghan Smyth, 12. Rob Hedderman, 11. Joe O’Leary, 10. Dylan Hicks, 9. Adam Maher, 1. Mark Donnelly, 2. Danny Sheahan, 3. Luke Masters, 4. Mark Skelly, 5. Cian Barry, 6. Dave Hyland (c), 7. Jacob Sheahan, 8. Jack Kelleher.
Replacements: 16. Billy Scannell, 17. David Good, 18. Julian Royer, 19. Aiden Brien, 20. Louis Kahn, 21. Matthew Bowen.