Energia AIL Division 1B Round 5
NENAGH ORMOND 18 MU BARNHALL 16
(H-T Nenagh Ormond 15 MU Barnhall 3)
Saturday 31 st October, New Ormond Park
Nenagh left it late to secure a valuable home victory over MU Barnhall in round 5 of
AIL Division 1B.
A cagey opening quarter ended with the sides level at 3 points apiece through
successful penalties from Barnhall out-half Hannon and his Nenagh counterpart
Darragh Gleeson, who was making his AIL debut for the home side.
Nenagh began to assert control in the second quarter and scored their first try on 25
minutes from a line-out maul, the touch down coming from flanker Oly Ayling.
They followed up with a second through Robbie Tynan 8 minutes later and looked
comfortable as they went into half time 15-3 ahead.
Hannon was successful with another penalty early in the second half, which gave
encouragement to the Kildare men as they went about hauling themselves back into
the game. They got further encouragement 3 minutes later as Nenagh were reduced
to 14 men as Willie Coffey saw yellow. The visitors took full advantage as full-back
Norval got over in the corner, with the successful conversion cutting the deficit to just
2 points.
As Barnhall continued to apply the pressure, Nenagh were fortunate to escape on a
couple of occasions but eventually they did concede as Hannon converted a 75th
minute penalty to give his side a slender 1 point lead.
With the clock ticking into the red, the home side staged one last attack in an effort to
salvage the game. They were rewarded with a penalty 30 metres out which everyone
knew would be the last play. With Gleeson now off the field, up stepped replacement
kicker Conor McMahon, who held his nerve under pressure to slot the kick and
secure the victory for his side.
Nenagh remain is 6th place but only 4 points behind leaders Blackrock in this ultra-
competitive division. They next face UCC in a round 6 tie which was originally
scheduled for The Mardyke but has been switched to New Ormond Park next
Saturday (November 7th ).
Nenagh Ormond: Matthew Brice; Sam Cusack, Willie Coffey, Patrick Scully, Fionn
Higgins; Darragh Gleeson, Aaron Moloney; Richie Whelan, Taylor Coles, Matthew
Burke; Kevin Seymour, Kevin O’Flaherty; Oly Ayling, Robbie Tynan, John
O’Flaherty (capt). Replacements: Liam Walsh, Ignacio Failla, John Brislane, Conor
McMahon, Rob Buckley.
MU Barnhall: Daniel Norval; Dylan Bruton, Shane Mallon, Nick Doggett, Alex
Crowley; Jack Hannon, Luke Fogarty; Sean Hopkins, Finn Brien, Darragh Bellanova;
Finn Leach, Ciaran Enright; Stephen Callinan, Shane Davitt, Daniel Murphy (capt).
Replacements: Geoff Brooks, Cathal Duff, Conor Turley, Harry Peavoy, Finn Leach,
Daniel Murphy.
NENAGH ORMOND 18 MU BARNHALL 16
(H-T Nenagh Ormond 15 MU Barnhall 3)
Saturday 31 st October, New Ormond Park
Nenagh left it late to secure a valuable home victory over MU Barnhall in round 5 of
AIL Division 1B.
A cagey opening quarter ended with the sides level at 3 points apiece through
successful penalties from Barnhall out-half Hannon and his Nenagh counterpart
Darragh Gleeson, who was making his AIL debut for the home side.
Nenagh began to assert control in the second quarter and scored their first try on 25
minutes from a line-out maul, the touch down coming from flanker Oly Ayling.
They followed up with a second through Robbie Tynan 8 minutes later and looked
comfortable as they went into half time 15-3 ahead.
Hannon was successful with another penalty early in the second half, which gave
encouragement to the Kildare men as they went about hauling themselves back into
the game. They got further encouragement 3 minutes later as Nenagh were reduced
to 14 men as Willie Coffey saw yellow. The visitors took full advantage as full-back
Norval got over in the corner, with the successful conversion cutting the deficit to just
2 points.
As Barnhall continued to apply the pressure, Nenagh were fortunate to escape on a
couple of occasions but eventually they did concede as Hannon converted a 75th
minute penalty to give his side a slender 1 point lead.
With the clock ticking into the red, the home side staged one last attack in an effort to
salvage the game. They were rewarded with a penalty 30 metres out which everyone
knew would be the last play. With Gleeson now off the field, up stepped replacement
kicker Conor McMahon, who held his nerve under pressure to slot the kick and
secure the victory for his side.
Nenagh remain is 6th place but only 4 points behind leaders Blackrock in this ultra-
competitive division. They next face UCC in a round 6 tie which was originally
scheduled for The Mardyke but has been switched to New Ormond Park next
Saturday (November 7th ).
Nenagh Ormond: Matthew Brice; Sam Cusack, Willie Coffey, Patrick Scully, Fionn
Higgins; Darragh Gleeson, Aaron Moloney; Richie Whelan, Taylor Coles, Matthew
Burke; Kevin Seymour, Kevin O’Flaherty; Oly Ayling, Robbie Tynan, John
O’Flaherty (capt). Replacements: Liam Walsh, Ignacio Failla, John Brislane, Conor
McMahon, Rob Buckley.
MU Barnhall: Daniel Norval; Dylan Bruton, Shane Mallon, Nick Doggett, Alex
Crowley; Jack Hannon, Luke Fogarty; Sean Hopkins, Finn Brien, Darragh Bellanova;
Finn Leach, Ciaran Enright; Stephen Callinan, Shane Davitt, Daniel Murphy (capt).
Replacements: Geoff Brooks, Cathal Duff, Conor Turley, Harry Peavoy, Finn Leach,
Daniel Murphy.
