Munster Junior Cup Round 3

(H-T Carrick-on-Suir 03 Nenagh Ormond 21)

Carrick-on-Suir

Referee: Brendan O’Connor

Man of the Match: Rob Buckley

Report by Enda Murphy

Scorers: Carrick-on-Suir: Tries: James Daly; Cons: Fionn Barry; Pens: Fionn Barry.
Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Penalty Tries x 2, Jack Devanny, Brian O’Rourke, Robbie Tynan; Cons: PT x 2, James Finn x 1, Darragh Gleeson x 2.

Nenagh Ormond 2nd XV travelled to Carrick-on-Suir on Sunday last for their first outing this year in the Munster Junior Cup.  Being a Division 1 AIL team meant Nenagh received a bye in the first two rounds.  The weather on the day was ideal with little to no breeze.  Nenagh started the first half with the advantage of the slight slope in the field and used this well immediately with a good downfield kick chased by winger Kieran Kennedy.  He managed to grubber the ball further downfield and just as it looked like he would win the race to touch down, the Carrick full back pushed him over leaving the referee no alternative to award a penalty try.

Seven minutes later and the advantage was doubled when a strong maul close to the Carrick tryline was finished by hooker Jack Devanny.  James Finn added the extras for a 14-0 lead.  Carrick finally got something on the board three minutes later when a penalty for a high tackle was converted by their scrumhalf Fionn Barry.  Shortly after Nenagh again used the slope well to gain territory.  This time the Carrick full back got to the ball first but was forced to carry it over the tryline and touch down giving Nenagh a 5-metre scrum.  The Nenagh pack had been dominant up to now and this was no different with them forcing the Carrick scrum to collapse and the referee again gave the penalty try for a 21-3 lead.  It looked like the game would quickly move away from Carrick at this stage, but Nenagh were a little over complicated in the way they were trying to play, and Carrick dug their heals in defending well winning a number of turnover penalties at the breakdown to ease the pressure on themselves.  When the halftime whistle arrived, the score remained 21-3 and Carrick felt very much like they had a chance for an upset.

For a significant portion of the second half Carrick dominated territory with the aid of the slope but could not get through a resolute Nenagh defence.  They came close halfway through the half, but a pass went to ground 5 metres out but just as Darragh Gleeson looked to hack the ball upfield, Nenagh were called back for a deliberate knock-on and a yellow card for Darragh.  Carrick tapped and drove for the line, but some excellent defence held them up over the line and allowed the pressure to be relieved.  When Nenagh did get up the field some wayward passing and handling cost them dearly allowing Carrick to kick their way out of trouble.  However, on one of these excursions upfield, Nenagh eventually got their handling right resulting in Brian O’Rourke going over the line untouched.  Darragh Gleeson who had rejoined the game kicked a good conversion to stretch the lead to 28-3 and give Nenagh some breathing room.

Carrick refused to give up and with the game entering the final five minutes, they were eventually rewarded when wing James Daly sniped over from the back of a ruck 5 metres out.  Fionn Barry added the conversion to make it 28-10.  Nenagh pushed back up field and had the final say when Robbie Tynan went over from the back of a close in ruck after some good carries by John Brislane.  Darragh Gleeson again added the extras, and the referee blew the final whistle for a hard fought 35-10 victory.

Nenagh will have a lot to work on before they travel to Killarney next weekend for round four, Killarney having overcome Ballincollig 25-19 to reach this point.  The victors in this match will then have a home quarterfinal to look forward to.

Carrick-on-Suir: 15. Noel Moriarty, 14. Ronan O’Connell, 13. Jack Boylan, 12. William Kennedy, 11. James Daly, 10. Brandon Wheeler, 9. Fionn Barry, 1. Luke Falconer, 2. Matthew Toole, 3. Tyrone Forester, 4. Darragh Anthony, 5. Oscar Geoghegan, 6. Tom Reid, 7. Matthew Herbst, 8. Kieran Kinsella.

Replacements: 16. Sean Mullarkey, 17. John O’Dwyer, 18. Sean Heffernan, 19. Odhran Barry, 20. Cian Walsh, 21. Ben Moriarty, 22. Jack O’Loughlin.

NENAGH ORMOND: 15. Sam Cusack, 14. Kieran Kennedy, 13 Brian O’Rourke, 12. Brehon O’Donnell, 11. Matthew Hodgins, 10. James Finn, 9. Tom Crofts, 1. Richie Whelan, 2. Jack Devanny, 3. Niall O’Gorman, 4. Kevin O’Gorman, 5. Jake O’Kelly (c), 6. Rob Buckley, 7. James Meagher, 8. Robbie Tynan.

Replacements: 16. Mateo Sentous, 17. Ivan Struzia, 18. Ryan Gratton, 19. John Brislane, 20. Keelan Dunne, 21. Darragh Gleeson, 22. Davy Corcoran.