Honest approach has led to turnaround - Coffey

By Shane Brophy

The last couple of seasons haven’t been an enjoyable experience for Nenagh Ormond.

On the field, the last three full seasons have seen the senior team battling at the wrong end of the table, and but for the abrupt end to the 2020 season brought about by Covid, the trapdoor might have opened underneath them when second from bottom of division 2A at the time.

Team captain Willie Coffey hasn’t seen too many good days since bursting onto the scene but in the coming weeks he has the opportunity to win not one, but two cup competitions, while also being involved in a promotion push in the league.

“It’s unbelievable,” admitted the Ormond skipper.

“Even from the first couple of matches, there has been a complete buy-in from everyone.

“The results since Christmas, we haven’t lost and the momentum at the moment is unreal and the team has never been as close in a long time.

So, what has made the difference this year?

“The new management came in and put the plans in place from day one on what they wanted things to be,” he revealed.

“We (the players) were fairly honest about where we were for the last few years.

“It is a big year for the club as well, trying to keep the memory of Keith (Hayes) alive which was a big thing for us since the start of the year, to do him proud as well.

“In training, compared to last year we only had fifteen to twenty lads at training, this year we have thirty, joined with the seconds so there is a big buy in from everyone.”

More numbers in training has led to more options when it comes to selection, but the squad has also has had better luck in terms of injury which has led to stronger teams going out on a weekly basis and has led to a better understanding between the players.

“Having a bit of consistency in terms of selection really does help,” Coffey explains “in terms of running through the plays and knowing where we need to be on the pitch which helps us have more control in a match.

Coffey has been one of those consistent presences in the outside centre position, helped by having the chizzled presence of John Healy on his inside in what is another new position for Healy having played at prop, hooker and flanker for the club previously.

“He brings something different, his physicality from having played in the forwards does help,” Coffey said of the former captain.

“His leadership skills are amazing, it is not just myself in the leadership group, Kevin O’Flaherty the vice-captain has been taking a lot of the pressure off me so there are lots of leaders in the team.”

For many of the players, this will be the first time they will have played at Thomond Park, but not for Coffey who has featured there on a number of occasions with Munster underage teams in the past.

While the league is the priority, this run in the Munster Senior Cup has proven to be a positive distraction and while it has added extra games in an already busy campaign, nothing beats that winning feeling according to Willie Coffey.

“When you are winning, it is like a wave and you just want to stay going,” he added.

“The lads (coaches) are good to manage training and our load in gym sessions. Everything is down to a T, even managing injuries, they aren’t rushing players back. As a squad we are fit and ready to go and our fitness has been the best it has been for years and that helps.”