Senior Rugby: With the first team on a down week this past weekend it was the 2nd XV who occupied the prime time billing on Sunday, taking on Shannon RFC in Lisatunny in the North Munster Senior Seconds League. Squad numbers were healthy on Sunday with no Saturday game in the equation but a number of recent injuries in the backline did impact the options for jerseys 9 to 15. This meant a number of forward players had to deputise and ultimately it was the disparity in the backs that settled this one in Shannon’s favour. Credit to all the Nenagh players there was no lack of endeavour on display and in fact they probably held the upper hand in the tight exchanges, winning numerous scrum penalties and making significant gains while in possession on close in carries. At the same time Shannon were very much in the ascendancy once they could spread possession to the wider channels and ultimately they put their power and pace to good use. The final score of 57- 19 in favour of Shannon probably reflects poorly on the contest Nenagh actually made of this but Shannon were very clinical in their attack and were full value for the win. Nonetheless Nenagh can take a lot of positives from the game. Particularly it was heartening to see the quality of the performances from the young guns on show, firstly the two Josephs; Gleeson and Coffey. For their first season of adult rugby both looked well up to the demands of this level as did John Brislane who carried very well from the base of the scrum and looked threatening every time he was in possession. Both Jack O Keefe and Jonathan Hayes got valuable minutes in the legs and will hope to get back into contention for AIL minutes in the upcoming block of games and overall the game was a worthwhile exercise in the context of building squad depth across the senior panel. The seconds have their next fixture against Old Crescent on Sunday next in Lisatunny at 2.30pm.

Before that the Senior team are back in Energia AIL action, making the long trek to Eaton Park in Ballymena to take on Ballymena RFC. This was a most peculiar match up last year. In the previous fixture at Eaton Park a depleted Nenagh side shipped 50 points and a heavy defeat in December 2021 but then turned the tables and matched the 50 point haul by defeating the Braidmen in Lisatunny last January. Whatever happens one has to feel Nenagh are better equipped for the challenge of heading north this time. They will have an anxious wait on a few knocks from the opening three games but hopefully the week’s break will have righted most of those concerns. Kickoff is on Saturday at 2.30pm. Updates will be posted on our social media pages.

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Fixtures(Subject to Change):

Senior: Away vs Ballymena 2.30pm, Saturday

Second XV: Home vs Old Crescent RFC 2.30pm, Sunday (Lisatunny)

Under 18.5 Away vs Ennis RFC 1.00pm, Sunday

Under 16 Away vs Bruff 12.30pm, Sunday