Ormond pay the penalty in late loss

Nenagh Ormond 7

Old Crescent 9

 

By Enda Treacy in Lisatunny

 

A dramatic last gasp penalty from Old Crescent’s Ronan McKenna broke Nenagh Ormond hearts as they fell to a bitterly disappointing loss in what turned out to be an extremely attritional All Ireland League contest last Friday night.

While not high scoring or free flowing, this game was engrossing throughout, with defenses on top for the majority of the game, but indiscipline on the penalty count eventually proved to be Nenagh’s undoing, as they gave away a litany of unnecessary penalties, particularly in the second half.

This loss will be a sore one for the Ormond players and management but this was easily their best performance of the season from a defensive viewpoint, and they were well positioned going into the second half, having repelled a number of Old Crescent chances and scoring a neat try too, but that discipline defensive solidity completely collapsed in the second half, as they invited pressure from their Limerick opponents throughout.

Old Crescent had the early running of the opening proceedings and were the first to threaten the try line in the fifth minute, with a rolling maul getting them close before they infringed at ruck time to let Nenagh off with an early warning.

Conditions were very blustery with the wind slightly favoring Nenagh and with that at their backs they made good use of it, with Nicky Irwin returning a poor clearance kick from Old Crescent to set up some phase play inside the 22, and after some patient carries from the forwards it was Irwin who put Willie Coffey through a gap in the defensive line for the big centre to run clear to touch down under the posts. Alex Ropeti converted to give his side a 7-0 lead after 16 minutes.