Ormond overwhelmed by powerful Cashel

RUGBY: Energia All Ireland League Division 2A Round 3

Nenagh Ormond 20

Cashel 36

Report: Shane Brophy in Lisatunny

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Brendan Ryan (Cashel)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries: W Coffey (2) Convs: McMahon (2) Pens: McMahon (2)

Cashel: Tries: Moran, B Ryan (2), J Ryan, O’Donnell Convs: R O’Sullivan (4) Pen: R O’Sullivan

Nenagh Ormond’s winning run to start the 2022/2023 was brought to an abrupt end as Cashel produced a dominant second half performance to leave Lisatunny with a bonus-point win in this Tipperary derby in the third round of the All-Ireland League on Friday night.

A huge crowd descended on New Ormond Park to see if Nenagh could make it three wins from three in the league, however, it was Cashel to maintained the Indian sign over their Tipperary rivals as you have to go back to January 2018 for the last time Nenagh got the better of Cashel in the league with six games having been played in the meantime.

This was despite Nenagh going in leading 10-8 at half time after dominating the first half, particularly the first twenty minutes when Cashel struggled to get out of their own half. It took Nenagh just six minutes to get their opening try as a Kevin O’Flaherty break through the middle got in behind the Cashel rear-guard. Nenagh lost possession but the attempted clearance kick was blocked down, and Ormond captain Willie Coffey crossed under the posts for a Conor McMahon converted seven-pointer.

Without missing player/coach Derek Corcoran, Nenagh were still controlling the game well with Cian Ryan’s box kicks particularly effective. One for Cashel’s first forays into the Nenagh half led to a scrum penalty on the 22 and Ryan O'Sullivan made no mistake. The Cashel pack was now beginning to get on top and put a number of phases together. On 28 minutes they edged towards the Nenagh line and Richard Moran was on hand to dive over for a try for an unconverted try.

Back came Nenagh with an excellent 50/22 from James Finn to bring play to the Cashel five metre line. Once again, the visitors had to defend well but eventually gave away a penalty which Conor McMahon converted for a 10-8 half time lead.

If the first half was about Nenagh, the second was all about Cashel who set their stall after being awarded a penalty two minutes in. They turned down the three points and went to the corner and after winning three consecutive penalties, it was third time lucky for Cashel as the lineout maul worked its way to the line, prop Brendan Ryan charged over for a try in the corner which Ryan O'Sullivan converted.

On 57 minutes the Cashel maul went to work again. This time James Ryan was the executioner as he forced his way over. O'Sullivan added the two points to push Cashel 22-10 ahead.

From the restart, Nenagh managed to force a penalty, but surprisingly elected to take the points to generate some momentum. However, from the restart after Conor McMahon’s successful three-pointer, Nenagh conceded a penalty for off-side, and knowing their pack were in the ascendency, Cashel went to the corner and another lineout maul led to Brendan Ryan going over his second try.

With seven minutes remaining, Cashel pushed Nenagh off their own ball in a scrum winning a penalty. Once again, the lineout maul was utilised and prop Cormac O'Donnell got in to crash over for a try. Once again, Ryan O'Sullivan added the points.

Nenagh did not give up and worked extremely hard to score a converted try through Willie Coffey but it was mere consolation as the home side fell to their first defeat of the campaign.

How they respond to the first set-back will say a lot about Nenagh but they’ll be first to admit they were outmuscled in this encounter. Firstly, they struggled to break through a superb Cashel defence despite having sustained periods of pressure.

Secondly, they were outmuscled in the tight exchanged and certainly going into the first mini-break before the season resumes on October 29th, Nenagh have areas to work on in the scrum, and particularly the lineout where they struggled to get clean ball all evening.

Teams - Nenagh Ormond: James Finn (7); Conor McMahon (7), Willie Coffey (7), John Healy (7), Keelan Stephenson (6); Nicky Irwin (6), Cian Ryan (7); Mikey Doran (7), Dylan Murphy (6), John Coffey (6); Kevin O’Flaherty (7), Jake O’Kelly (6); Rob Buckley (6), Evan Murphy (7), John O’Flaherty (6).

Reps: Niall O’Gorman (7) for J Coffey (33); John Hayes (6) for Buckley (51); Peter O’Connor (6) for D Murphy (61); Joe Coffey (6) for E Murphy (61); John Coffey for O’Gorman (65); Riccardo Beltrame (6) for Healy (66); Rob Buckley for K O’Flaherty (73).

Cashel: Freddie Bergarda (6); Richard Kingston (7), Ben Murray (6), Conor Cashman (6), Ryan O’Sullivan (7); John O’Dwyer (7), Michael Hickey (7); Conor O’Donnell (7), Niall Fitzgerald (7), Brendan Ryan (8); Brian O’Connor (7), Fearghail O’Donoghue (8); Richard Moran (8), James Ryan (7), Mikey Wilson (8).

Reps: Dylan Foley (6) for O’Connor (47); Josh Evans (6) for O’Donnell (47); Ciaran Ryan (6) for Moran (56); Brendan Crosse (6) for O’Donoghue (67); Conor O’Donnell for B Ryan (73); Paudie Leamy for Fitzgerald (73).

Referee: Paudie Sheehan