2023 Final loss spurred Ormond to greater heights - Corcoran

The agonising 2023 Munster Senior Challenge Cup final defeat for Nenagh Ormond at the hands of Young Munster has proven to be a sliding doors moment for the North Tipperary club.

By Shane Brophy

While it could have been seen as the beginning of the end for this group of players, it has proven to the end of the beginning as they have taken their game to greater heights since then and return to the final as a more dominant force.

“It has helped,” admitted player/head coach Derek Corcoran of the experience of that night proving to be a positive.

“We have gotten a bit of conference in our game and got a bit of our identity of how we want to play the game from that day. We move the ball well and we went out with an attitude of wanting to be brave with the ball, take opportunities and not leave anything behind us.

“That carried on to our game going forward and having that bravery during games to put the ball into the spaces when you see something just to go for it and not second think it.

“We say it to the lads all the time, if you see it go for it, trust your instinct and back your skillset. That’s the way we coach the game as coaches, we want to let's play instinctively and to play free with the ball and enjoy their rugby.”

When Corcoran agreed to come home three years ago and take on a player/coaching role under a revamped plan set about by the late Keith Hayes and Director of Rugby John Long to revive stalling fortunes in the club, to say it has exceeded expectations would be an understatement.

“We have built a good culture here,” Corcoran says.

“The lads have brought a good culture to the team, we have great buy-in from all the local players, and we have added a bit of quality from outside of Nenagh as well.

“We have a very tight squad and have developed our underage. We have gotten our under 20’s up and running over the last three years through Rob Buckley and we are starting to see players coming through that in the form of John Brislane, Joe Coffey, Brian O’Rourke, Evan Fitzpatrick, Fionn O’Meara, Robbie Tynan, Ivan Struzia etc…

“That is the key for us to bring players through our underage structure up to our senior team and having that growth organically as club, along with the talent you have within the senior set-up to your more experienced players.

“So, getting the balance right between having mature players versus people coming from your underage structure, along with dotting in some talent from outside of Nenagh like Angus (Blackmore) coming from Australia as our overseas player and the quality he has brought, and Ben Pope from New Zealand, and getting the blend of all that together, it's probably the key piece which takes time to get in place.”

Nenagh Ormond’s status as a second tier club in the AIL and possibly top tier next year, means they are now seen as a destination for players to come, develop, and play, rather than having to go into Limerick to get to the next level.

“That’s what we need to tap into, you know, the schools players coming out of Roscrea and Rockwell etc….” Corcoran reveals.

“It's just being able to provide an opportunity for players to come to our club and progress with us.

“That is probably the next stage of our development is getting more of our players involved in the Munster setup and showcasing the talent we have here and giving players like that a pathway to professional rugby through Nenagh Ormond.

Corcoran has played a more diminished role as a player this year, such has been the form of Ben Pope at out-half. Picking the panel that will lineout at Thomond Park next Sunday won’t be an easy one with many good players not getting the chance to even tog out.

“We have used thirty-plus players over the year,” Corcoran revealed.

“Lots of players have contributed through the Senior Cup earlier in the year and picking the squad this week will be the hardest part of it, but all the boys know it's one club, one group, so whoever goes out and represents us on the day it will be for everybody.

“We are that tight with each other. We’ll look after lads that aren’t involved and make sure everyone feels a part of it which they all are.”

Corcoran and the Nenagh players are very familiar with final opponents Old Crescent whom they scrapped with in Division 2A of the AIL for much of the last decade, and despite not playing a division above them, will not be taking the Limerick side for granted.

“We won’t underestimate them at all,” Corcoran added.

“Over the last five years we have played them twice a year in the league and has probably gone fifty-fifty in terms of wins.

“They are a really good side. They will be very hungry like ourselves, but the main focus for us is to look after our own performance, and not get ahead of ourselves, just get into our game quickly and get to work and hopefully come out on the right side.”