Munster under 18 Club Cup (group 2)

Saturday 16th February 2019, Glanmire

Old Christians 15 Nenagh Ormond 24

Having set themselves the task of winning their last 3 games to qualify from this group, Nenagh Ormond u18’s achieved their objective in fine style last Saturday, scoring four tries in an excellent away win over Cork rivals Old Christians.

With a place in next Thursday’s quarter final draw for the winners, both teams were keyed up for this game which was re-scheduled having been frozen off two weeks ago. With plenty of local support and a strong breeze at their backs, the home team started very brightly and had Nenagh under pressure from the off.

With a significant size advantage in the pack, Old Christians seemed to have the visitors rattled as they launched a wave of early attacks, which Nenagh did well to defend. Playing against the wind, Nenagh were finding it hard to get a foothold in the game and eventually conceded the first try after 12 minutes when the Christians’ number 8 took advantage of some loose defensive work to force his way over the line.

Although Nenagh tried valiantly to keep the ball in hand and made good ground on several occasions, Christians out half Tim Hegarty utilised the elements well to keep them pinned back inside their own 22 for long spells. Launching another back-row move off a dominant scrum, the home team scored a second try on 18 minutes when their right winger was put clear in the corner to give his side a useful 10-0 lead.

At that stage in the game, it looked as if Nenagh might do well to maintain a ten point deficit to half time however they had other ideas and stunned their hosts in devastating spell before the break to take charge of the game by scoring three excellent tries in quick succession.

First centre Kian O’Kelly exploited a gap on the left to outstrip the defence and touch down in the corner. Four minutes later, O’Kelly once again burst clear in midfield and rounded the Christians’ full back to score his second, this time under the posts. Now playing with great confidence and finding their rhythm in the back line, Nenagh scored their third on the stroke of half-time when winger Eamon Hough finished off a flowing move down the left.

Now facing a 10-17 deficit and playing against the wind, the task for the home side looked daunting however they brought themselves back into the game within 2 minutes of the resumption with a well worked try scored by their winger, cutting in from the left. Unfortunately for them however, the straightforward conversion was once again pulled wide and Nenagh still held a two point lead.

Although the home side continued to battle bravely and certainly put it up to their Tipperary opponents, they spent much of the second half defending inside their own 22. After coming close to breaching the Christians’ line on a few occasions, Nenagh eventually scored their fourth try 22 minutes into the half when scrum-half Peter Rainsford picked from a ruck close to the line and dotted down in the corner. With the home side now chasing a nine point deficit, the task looked beyond reach and so it proved as Nenagh held on comfortably to win the game and reach the Munster Quarter Final stages for the second year running.

Nenagh Ormond: Cathal Delaney, Dylan Murphy, Conor Sullivan, , Eoghan Slevin, Tadhg Maguire, Jack O’Keefe, Cathal Ryan, Peter Rainsford, Daniel Molamphy, Conor McMahon, Eamon Hough, Kian O’Kelly, Eoin Farrell, James Ferris, Ruan O’Hanluain. Reps:, James Meagher, Jack Keays, Sean McAdams, Eoin O’Meara, , Aaron Sharkey, Joe Cooney, Danny O’Connor