Nenagh Ormond claim Munster Senior Cup glory

RUGBY: Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Final

Nenagh Ormond 32

Old Crescent 20

Report: Shane Brophy at Thomond Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Angus Blackmore (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries – Blackmore (2), Pope (2), Rowland. Convs – McMahon (2). Pen – McMahon (1).

Old Crescent: Tries – Hurley, Cosgrove. Convs – McKenna (2). Pens – McKenna (2).

Nenagh Ormond won the Munster Senior Challenge Cup for the first time in their history after a come from behind win over Old Crescent in the final at Thomond Park on Sunday.

In doing so, Nenagh became the first Tipperary winners of the prestigious trophy in its 139 year history to add another chapter to its glorious recent history.

Despite going into the final as hot favourites, they had to do it the hard way as Old Crescent played the underdogs tag perfectly, as winger Dan Hurley touched down for the first try on eleven minutes, converted by Ronan McKenna.

The Limerick side were the better side in the opening half, punishing Nenagh’s sloppiness as McKenna slotted over a penalty on the half hour for a ten point lead.

Nenagh were struggling for momentum and crucially got some before half time with Conor McMahon slotting over a 33rd minute penalty and right on the stroke of half time, centre Angus Blackmore burst over from close range, converted by McMahon for a 10-10 at the break.

Crescent started the second half on the front foot again but from Nenagh’s first attack, Crescent had back row Oisin Toland sin-binned, and from the tap penalty close to the line, Blackmore ran onto a Josh Rowland pass for his second try, converted by McMahon.

Old Crescent were reduced to thirteen men for a period after wing Dan Hurley was sin-binned for a high tackle.

Nenagh failed to take advantage and shortly after Toland returned to the field, Nenagh’s Dylan Murphy was sinbinned for pulling down a maul close to the line on 61 minutes. From this came the turning point of the game as Jamie Duggan’s attempted penalty to the corner was intercepted by Charlie O’Doherty who carried the ball out of danger.

The 65th minute saw Nenagh player/coach Derek Corcoran enter the fray and the veterans class told in the closing period as a loop pass put Ben Pope away in the corner, and then two cross-kicks led to Josh Rowland and Ben Pope dotting down.

Old Crescent managed a consolation try in added time from Aaron Cosgrove but this was Nenagh Ormond’s day.

TEAMS – Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland; David Gleeson, Angus Blackmore, Willie Coffey, Conor McMahon; Ben Pope, Nicky Irwin; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Matt Bourke; Jake O’Kelly, Kevin O’Flaherty (Capt); Joe Coffey, Evan Murphy, John O’Flaherty.

Reps: Fionn O’Meara for O’Kelly (11-20 HIA, 65); John Healy for E Murphy (51); Colm Skehan for Burke (51); Charlie O’Doherty for Irwin (51); Derek Corcoran for W Coffey (63); Rob Buckley for J Coffey (65); Sean Frawley for Doran (67); Nicky Irwin for Pope (79).

Old Crescent: Ronan McKenna; Dan Hurley, Werner Hoffman, Shane Mullally, Jed O’Dwyer; Jamie Duggan, Gavin Fitzgerald; Joe Rickard, Niall Hardiman, Jake Considine; John Toland, Yasin Browne; Oisin Toland, Karl Madden (Capt), John Lyons.

Reps: Aaron Cosgrove for Fitzgerald (44 inj); Sean Monaghan for Madden (61); Cathal Monaghan for Mullally (67); James McKeogh for Browne (69); Jonathan Byrne for Hardiman (73); Dean O’Grady for Lyons (73).

Referee: Paul O’Connor.