Clinical Nenagh get back to winning ways

Nenagh Ormond got back to winning ways with a fully deserved four-try bonus-point win over Old Crescent

RUGBY: Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A Round 15

Nenagh Ormond 24

Old Crescent 3

Report: James Hayden in Lisatunny

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Derek Corcoran (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries – McMahon (2), Rowland (2). Convs – McMahon (2).

Old Crescent: Pen - McKenna

The league leaders consolidated their position at the head of the AIL Division 2 table with a convincing win over an Old Crescent side who battled gamely throughout but still ended up playing second fiddle to a more nuanced and well-balanced Nenagh Ormond outfit.

Hot on Nenagh's heels at the head of the league table is a MU Barnhall side who are mounting a late tilt at the title having overcome Malone and lie six points behind Nenagh in second while Cashel slipped to third following a loss to Nenagh's upcoming opponents, Ballymena.

Old Crescent came into this encounter buoyed by an impressive run of form and despite playing into the teeth of a bitterly cold north-easterly wind they took the game to Nenagh in the opening twenty minutes but failed to make their dominance count despite a number of impressive sorties into the Nenagh half.

Yasin Browne and Karl Monaghan carried well on a number of occasions, but Nenagh’s defence held firm before a ninth minute line break by the impressive Derek Corcoran afforded the home side a reprieve from defensive duties in what was the first real incursion into the Limerick side’s half.

Old Crescent posed a constant threat during that opening period and loosehead prop Joe Rickard’s break on sixteen, minutes resulted in a penalty which fly-half Ronan McKenna elected to kick for touch, but such was the ferocity of the gusting breeze his effort served to barely make a couple of metres. McKenna, however, was afforded the opportunity four minutes later to put some points on the board for the Limerick side, arrowing over a close-range penalty after Nenagh were pinged at the ruck.

Although the home side were struggling to gain a foothold, the fact that Old Crescent drew first blood sparked them into life and it wasn’t long before a series of tap and go penalties deep inside the 22 served to erode the visitors resolve. Carries from Joe Coffey and captain Willie Coffey served to soften up the defence before Nicky Irwin spotted numbers on his right and spun the pill quickly to outside centre Conor McMahon who dotted down with ease to register Nenagh’s first try on 24 minutes. McMahon added the conversion and Nenagh were up and running.

Old Crescent did their utmost to respond but a number of good attacking platforms were dismantled by poor handling errors before another impressive Nenagh line break from Derek Corcoran provided the foundations for a deep incursion into the Crescent 22’. Once again, the home side proved clinical in their finishing with John O’Flaherty making the hard yards towards the whitewash before Nicky Irwin found full-back Josh Rowland in space and he crossed over for Nenagh’s second try, much to the delight of the red and white faithful.

With the wind having abated somewhat, Nenagh piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the half and were handed a numerical advantage after Crescent’s centre Cathal Monaghan was sin-binned for a deliberate intervention as Nenagh raided down the touchline. Crescent held out though to reach the interval trailing 12-3 and were hopeful that the fluctuating elements may afford them some solace in the second half.

Nenagh came out all guns blazing though and just six minutes in they were over the Old Crescent line again after Ben Pope put Conor McMahon in for Nenagh’s third try; one that really served to rock the visitors back on their heels.

Despite the missed conversion Nenagh were very much in the ascendancy as Old Crescent sought a way back into the tie and the 55th minute sin-binning of Ben Pope served to offer them some impetus. However, the introduction of Rob Buckley with John Healy switching to hooker served to bolster Nenagh’s carrying options and they coped admirably with the numerical disadvantage.

It was the 57th minute before Crescent mounted an attack of any meaningful proportions but Nenagh’s defence held firm with the introduction of experienced replacement, John Hayes proving hugely influential in the closing quarter. Hayes carried impressively and with the wind having now dropped noticeably Nenagh’s Davy Gleeson raided down the wing only but a last gasp Jack O’Mahony tackle denied him a chance of a run-in.

With nine minutes remaining, Old Crescent were afforded their only real opportunity of the half deep inside the Nenagh 22’. However, Jake O’Kelly snaffled the opposition’s line out and surged clear to lift the siege and although Crescent maintained a foothold in the Nenagh half they were denied time and time again before a lung-busting John Hayes run served to put an end to Crescent’s push for a second score of the game.

Nenagh then embarked on their quest for an all-important bonus point try and were deservedly rewarded for their endeavours when Ben Pope’s cross-field kick was well-gathered by Davy Gleeson who had drifted in slightly off his wing. Gleeson was held in the tackle, but he managed to pop the ball up for the inrushing Josh Rowland and he cut through the Crescent defence like a hot knife through butter to copper-fasten a fully deserved victory for the home side. Conor McMahon added the extra points to ensure Nenagh Ormond maintain a six-point lead at the head of the Division 2A table with a game in hand.

TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland; David Gleeson, Conor McMahon, Willie Coffey, Derek Corcoran; Ben Pope, Nicky Irwin; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Jack O’Keefe; Jake O’Kelly, Joe Coffey; John O’Flaherty, John Healy, Evan Murphy.

Reps: Seán Frawley for Doran (40); Rob Buckley for D Murphy (55); Niall O’Gorman for E Murphy (65); John Hayes for O’Keefe (65); Eoin Gardiner for Irwin (77).

Old Crescent: Jack O’Mahony; Jed O’Dwyer, Cathal Monaghan, Werner Hoffman, Daithi Byrnes; Ronan McKenna, Michael O’Hanrahan; Joe Rickard, Darragh O’Brien, Jack Considine; Yasin Browne, Sean Monaghan; Karl Madden, Posi Obesa, Kevin Doyle.

Reps: Evan Creaven for Rickard (61); Oisin Toland for Madden (61); Eoghan Quinn for O’Brien (68); Jack Lyons for Doyle (68).

Referee: Sam Holt.