Nenagh snatch victory with late try against UCC

RUGBY: Energia All Ireland League Division 1B Round 10

Nenagh Ormond 38

UCC 34

Report: Shane Brophy at New Ormond Park

Photos: Bridget Delaney

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Charlie O’Doherty (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries: O’Keeffe, D Murphy (2), O’Doherty, Doran Cons: O’Doherty (5); Pen: O’Doherty (1)

UCC: Tries: O’Leary Kareem, Condon, Hyland, McAuliffe, Ryan Cons: O’Leary Kareem (3) Pen: O’Leary Kareem (1)

Nenagh Ormond left it late, very late, to secure victory over UCC in a ten-try round 10 thriller as the All-Ireland League Division 1B resumed in exciting fashion following the Christmas break on Saturday.

The Cherry & Whites only defeat this season was a last gasp home loss to table-toppers Old Belvedere, and it looked as if it was going to happen again as exciting Munster prospect Gene O’Leary Kareem slotted over a penalty in the final minute of regulation time to put the visitors in front for the first time since early in the contest.

There was time for the restart which Nenagh claimed and when returning winger David Gleeson got on the end of a cross-field kick, and was held up just short of the line and the subsequent clean-out saw the ball go out of play, that appeared to be the home sides final chance of rescuing the victory.

However, referee Paul O’Connor said there was time for the defensive lineout to be taken. This is an area Nenagh are proficient in with the O’Flaherty brothers, Kevin & John, superb at reading them and it was John who got up at the front to win the ball from which set in train a sustained attack, creeping slowly infield until Mikey Doran crashed over to the joy of home supporters to secure the win.

It completed a remarkable scoring contribution from the Nenagh front row with Jack O’Keeffe opening the try scoring while prop Dylan Murphy scored twice, both from effective attacking mauls close to the line.

The remaining try and thirteen points from the boot came from Charlie O’Doherty in a man of the match performance. With regular place-kicker Conor McMahon unavailable due to a family bereavement, O’Doherty more than capably filled in, nailing all five conversions as well as one penalty. Playing at full-back, he was also secure under the high ball, while he finished the game at scrum-half after Nicky Irwin limped off towards the end, an excellent overall contribution.

Just like their pre-Christmas battle in Cork, these sides provided another cracking encounter, scoring five tries each as they both enjoyed the all-weather surface on what was a fine day for running rugby with the snowy hills providing a picturesque backdrop.

Overall, this was a hugely impressive win for Nenagh Ormond considering they were missing some key players. As well as being without McMahon, they are also without centre Willie Coffey who is likely to miss up to the three months following a head injury sustained in the win over Naas last month.

Experienced tight-head prop Colm Skehan is also set for a two month spell on the sidelines with a foot injury and he was certainly missed as UCC had the upper hand in the scrum, forcing numerous penalties and free-kicks which will have frustrated the Nenagh coaches. Back row Rob Buckley was also missing which forced a rejig in the pack with Jake O’Kelly starting on the flank with Craig Hannon getting a start and played well.

Despite the key personnel losses, the Nenagh management will have been happy with their bench impact with Sean Frawley powerful in the carry while Munster ‘A’ player Fionn O’Meara and the returning Joe Coffey added youthful energy, while there was a welcome return for winger David Gleeson who missed the first half of the season after a period abroad.

The Game

Nenagh Ormond were caught cold in the early moments, conceding try after just ninety seconds with Gene O’Leary Kareem finding a gaping hole in the midfield to run in from the 10-metre line, converting himself.

Certainly, both attacks had the upper hand with Nenagh getting off the mark through an O’Doherty penalty on six minutes before they scored their first try four minutes later when an Angus Blackmore break provided the platform which ended with Jack O’Keeffe bursting over for an O’Doherty converted score.

Nenagh’s second try following on fourteen minutes as a lineout close to the line led to a maul which Dylan Murphy touched down for the first of his two tries, again converted by O’Doherty. It was a carbon copy on 28 minutes for try number three and leading 24-7, it looked to be plain sailing for the home side.

However, UCC proved to be as potent when they got the ball and a rare foray into the Nenagh half saw Sean Condon finish superbly in the corner for an unconverted try.

The students were right back in the contest on 37 minutes with their third try, the impressive Peter Hyland crashing over from close range, again unconverted as the sides changed ends with Nenagh’s lead down to 24-17.

Nenagh missed a couple of golden opportunities to extend the lead and secure the try-bonus in the third quarter, but poor options saw them lose possession with the line in sight, and they were made to pay on 58 minutes when UCC secured their try-bonus with replacement prop Luke McAuliffe barrelling over from a five-metre tap, converted by O’Leary Kareem to bring the sides level.

Nenagh’s response was impressive, winning a penalty at the restart, Kevin O’Flaherty and Dylan Murphy got close before the ball was moved wide with Charlie O’Doherty running over in the left corner, converting superbly for a 31-24 lead.

However, back came UCC with lock Conor Ryan finding another gaping hole in the Nenagh midfield to run in for a converted score to tie the game up once more on 64 minutes.

The remaining period thereafter was tense with both teams looking to dominate field position to claim the likely winning score with Nenagh dominating but they didn’t turn it into points and when, in a rare attack, Angus Blackmore was penalised at the breakdown in the 80th minute, UCC looked like they has snatched victory when O’Leary Kareem slotted over from 30 metres until Nenagh’s late late show.

TEAMS – Nenagh Ormond: Charlie O’Doherty (9); Conor O’Shaughnessy (7), Angus Blackmore (6), Patrick Scully (7), Josh Rowland (7); Ben Pope (7), Nicky Irwin (7); Mikey Doran (7), Dylan Murphy (8), Jack O’Keeffe (7), Craig Hannon (6), Kevin O’Flaherty (Capt 7), Jake O’Kelly (7), Evan Murphy (7), John O’Flaherty (7).

Reps: Sean Frawley (7) for O’Keeffe (37); Joe Coffey (7) for Hannon (48); David Gleeson (7) for O’Shaughnessy (48); Jack O’Keeffe for Doran (59); Fionn O’Meara (7) for E Murphy (59); Craig Hannon for O’Kelly (68 inj); Derek Corcoran (6) for Irwin (74); Mikey Doran for O’Keeffe (80+5)

UCC: David Cogan (7); Neville O’Leary (6), Gene O’Leary Kareem (8), Rory O’Shaughnessy (7), Sean Condon (7); Harry Murphy (8), Jack Casey (6); Michael Cogan (7), Adam Wrona (6), Danny McCarthy (7), Sam O’Sullivan (Capt 7), Conor Ryan (6), Michael Foy (7), Kamil Nowak (7), Peter Hyland (8).

Reps: Andrew O’Mahony (7) for Casey (48); Luke McAuliffe (7) for Wrona (53); Sean Dunne (6) for Cogan (59); Evan Clarke (6) for O’Leary (66); Darragh O’Connell (6) for McCarthy (69); Michael Cogan for Dunne (76); Darragh O’Connell for McCarthy (76)

Referee: Paul O’Connor