Ormond are buzzing for new campaign

RUGBY: Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Preview

By Thomas Conway

SHANNON v NENAGH ORMOND

Coonagh, Limerick

Saturday 2nd September

Kick-off @ 2.30pm

It feels like an age since Nenagh Ormond contested that riveting promotion play-off against Blackrock College last April. But time moves on and so too does sport. Right now, the country is on the cusp of a potentially historic World Cup for Ireland kick into gear against Tonga on September 9th. Head Coach Andy Farrell and his players have serious ambitions, likewise John Long and his troupe of Nenagh Ormond soldiers.

The disappointment of missing out on promotion to Division 1B of the All-Ireland League still lingers in Lisatunny. 2022/23 was an epic season, made special by a glorious run to a Munster Senior Challenge Cup final and a startlingly impressive league campaign. And yet in the end silverware was nowhere to be seen. That hurt Long and his players.

No athlete, no team wants to fall short at the final hurdle, but Nenagh were pipped at the post on two occasions last season. The question now facing them is simple: can Ormond channel all that hurt and frustration into a renewed push for success in 2023/24 or was last season simply a flash in the pan, a one-off miracle not to be repeated. Long is confident that it is the former. His squad played gutsy rugby last season, delivering a series of valiant all-round performances, particularly in the post-Christmas window. The Director of Rugby wants more of the same in 2023/24 - more guts and guile, more fire and brimstone.

“We want to continue on that upward trajectory,” Long began.

“I mean, it was an unbelievable season last year really, between the Challenge Cup and our performances in the league, so we’re coming into this season with high hopes.

“We want to keep building on the platform we established last year, to keep pushing forward to the next level. And thankfully we’ve kept on nearly all of our players - we haven’t really lost any from last season, so that’s a massive positive. But we’ve added to the squad as well, so we’re very excited about the upcoming season to be honest.”

But if Nenagh Ormond are to achieve their aspirations this season, it will require more than just bravery on the field. They’ll need to be cute - to manage the season carefully and avoid exerting excess strain on players. Their squad is deep, perhaps deeper than it has ever been, but care still needs to be taken. They cannot afford to find themselves depleted and short on bodies midway through the campaign - that’s when things invariably start to unravel.

Injuries are a curse, but they inevitably happen and have to be managed. But the squad is already looking shinier, thanks to a string of eye-catching off-season signings. Nenagh have added a New Zealander Ben Pope to the mix, a man whom they feel is capable of filling the slight void that existed at 10. It was a strategic decision, to recruit the new out-half, but Long, and his fellow coaches felt it was a necessary action.

Long revealed: “We sat down at the end of last season and decided that we needed a number 10, an out-half, so we went off and recruited a Kiwi player, a New Zealander, Ben Pope, who has come in and joined the squad. So, Ben has travelled over to come and play with us for the season, which we’re delighted with.

“But we’ve made a couple of more signings as well - we’ve brought in two new back-three players from Limerick. So, we’ve just added that little bit more depth to the squad, which we felt we needed after last year. But we’ve been back at pre-season since mid-July and things have been going really well. The lads have been working really hard.”

AIR OF OPTIMISM

Long speaks with an air of optimism. He’s feeling confident that his side can hit the heights of last season and go on to achieve even greater things in 2023/24. The goal is promotion. That’s no secret. In the past it might have been a taboo subject, but right now that’s all they’re talking about in the Lisatunny clubhouse.

2022/23 was a rollercoaster and Long believes there are more thrills and twists to come into the new campaign. He senses a newfound self-belief within his players, a confidence that had previously disappeared somewhat over recent seasons.

Psychologically Nenagh Ormond are in a good place. Towards the end of last season, they were playing with a dynamism and a swagger that few thought them capable of producing. But they defied the doubters and pushed on through. It didn’t all go exactly to plan. They weren’t promoted, nor did they win the Challenge Cup. But they established a platform, a critical platform, and this year they will look to build on those foundations.

“Look, we just got better and better as the season went on last year,” Long continued.

“The guys got more belief in themselves, and they just played a fabulous brand of rugby.

“And we’re only going to improve further, we’re only going to get better as this season progresses. There’s a serious buzz in and around the camp, amongst the players - they’ve carried that through into pre-season. But ultimately, the goal is promotion, the goal is to have another top-drawer season like last year.”

Just as Nenagh’s form on the pitch has improved, their playing philosophy has evolved almost in sync. The pack has solidified and looks far sturdier. The backs are flinging the ball wide and flying around the place without a care in the world. The entire equation looks balanced, in a state of happy equilibrium.

But there are reasons for this. AIL rugby is now a sophisticated ball game. To compete and thrive, the coaching structure has to be similarly sophisticated. Data collection, player analytics, and tactical awareness are now fundamental pillars underpinning any successful AIL side. And Nenagh have invested heavily in these elements. Their coaching team is well rounded and highly intelligent. Individuals like Derek Corcoran know what it takes to compete and achieve. The entire coaching ticket is wholly devoted to the players. There’s a camaraderie there, and Long believes the squad is working hand in hand with the coaches in pursuit of a greater goal. Everybody has their sights set on success, and they’re willing to pull out all the stops to achieve it.

“There’s serious talent there within the squad, and the coaching team are just second to none as well,” Long added.

“We always played a good style of rugby in Nenagh, but I think this current group of players and coaches have just built on that and given it an extra bit of an edge. We’ve brought in a few new plays and just built on what was already there, built on the skills the lads have themselves. We’re just playing some really exciting stuff and we’ll hope to continue doing so once the Cup kicks off on September 2nd.”

Beyond the Munster Senior Cup, there’s no telling what awaits Nenagh Ormond this season. The new format for the competition which provides three group games instead of straight knockout makes Nenagh’s challenge of getting back to another final more difficult. Following this Saturday’s away start to Shannon, a trip to Cork Constitution follows in round 2 before a hole game against division 1B side Highfield, whom they beat in last year’s semi-final.

Following that, the AIL season begins on October 7th at home to UL Bohemian, and John Long predicts that the top half of the table will be stacked with more or less the same few teams, all competing against one another for a coveted promotion spot. Tipperary neighbours Cashel will be there or thereabouts, MU Barnhall will probably feature heavily. Likewise with Navan and Ballymena. Nenagh Ormond know how difficult it is to escape this division, but they’ve come a long way over the course of a relatively short period of time.

Several years ago, relegation was a very real threat. Right now, promotion is the only topic of discussion. Whether that conversation continues into the New Year remains to be seen, because the first few games of the Division 2A campaign will be pivotal.

Fine margins generally are, and probably will be the difference in this league. But Nenagh can certainly play ball. They’ll contend for promotion, and they’ll do so with style. But sometimes style isn’t enough. Relentless work ethic is often the defining characteristic of a successful side. Ormond have it in them to win this division, but it will require plenty of guts and guile. Fortunately, they have both. The sky is the limit, and 1B is within reach.