Munster U-18 Conference 3
Nenagh Ormond 38 Thurles 7
Nenagh Ormond achieved successive wins over Tipperary rivals with a facile victory over Thurles in round 5 of Munster Conference 3 at Lisatunny last Sunday.
With Thurles fielding an under-strength side due to injury and absence, Nenagh were simply too strong and had the game under control by half time with a brace of tries from both Eamon Hough and Conor McMahon. The latter scored after only 3 minutes when he intercepted a loose Thurles pass to race through and score under the sticks. Two minutes later, the centre added a further 3 points with the left boot from a well taken penalty just inside the 10-meter line.
Shortly after, Nenagh broke strongly out of defense and Eamon Hough’s powerful run from inside his own half saw him beat off several challenges to round the defense and touch down under the posts. From the restart, Nenagh gathered and once again fed the ball to winger Hough who replicated his previous effort to score a second try and give his side a 24-0 lead with only 15 minutes played.
With the visitors’ back-line at sixes and sevens, it was not long before McMahon once again pounced on another wayward Thurles pass to race through for his second try and with the score standing at 31-0 at the half-time break, the game was effectively already over.
To their credit, Thurles rallied in the second half, making fewer mistakes and managing to get a decent share of the possession. After threatening on several occasions, they eventually broke through for a well deserved try midway through the half. The final score of the game however fell to Conor McMahon who scored his 3rd try breaking through the Thurles midfield and outstripping the defence to touch down once again under the posts.
Nenagh play their final match in this conference next Sunday (2nd December) when they travel away to Clanwilliam. With their qualification into the Munster Cup now very much in their own hands, Nenagh will be seeking to continue their improved form by signing off their campaign with a victory.
