Ormond just one game away from joining the elite

RUGBY: Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A Promotion Playoff Final Preview

By James Hayden

NENAGH ORMOND v UCC

New Ormond Park

Saturday, 26th April

Kick-off @ 2.30pm

Nenagh Ormond player/head coach Derek Corcoran was remaining grounded as they gear up for the AIL Division 1A Promotion Play-off final against UCC next Saturday in Lisatunny.

Speaking in the wake of his side’s victory over Blackrock College in the semi-final last Saturday, Corcoran paid tribute to his teammates following a memorable victory over formidable Dublin opposition.

Agreeing that it has been a dream year for Nenagh Ormond, Corcoran, who has also doubled up as a vastly experienced replacement out-half, is looking forward to giving it one last effort in a bid to propel Nenagh into the top tier of club rugby for the first time.

“It’s one more game together now, so, I'm looking forward to giving it a final one last call,” Corcoran said.

Agreeing that Nenagh face a huge challenge next Saturday, Corcoran stated that it will be a historic day for the club if they can manage to overcome the challenge of a UCC side they have already accounted for twice in the regular AIL season.

“Look, it's amazing to be in the final but we just got to ground ourselves now this week,” he continued.

“We have got to prepare, and we've got to get ready. They are a quality team and although we beat them twice this year, both games we could have easily lost so there is nothing between the sides. Hopefully, we can just put a good week down and back ourselves next weekend.”

Nenagh Ormond will face off against a UCC side bristling with talent and bolstered by no less than four Munster Academy players, Ben O’Connor (full-back), Sean Edogbo (back row), Michael Foy (lock) and Gene O'Leary Kareem (centre), although that is dependent on whether they are required by Munster in their URC game against Cardiff on Friday night.

Nenagh faced UCC in two high-scoring games either side of the Christmas break, firstly overcoming the Lee-siders 35-24 in a pulsating fixture at the Mardyke before a thrilling 38-34 victory in New Ormond Park in the return fixture.

Next Saturday’s hugely anticipated decider is sure to bring a huge crowd once more to Lisatunny to witness what could be one of the most historic days in Nenagh Ormond’s illustrious 141-year history.

Regarding the victory over Blackrock, the Nenagh player/head coach agreed that the opening half proved a very tactical half of rugby but added that Mikey Doran’s try just before the break was a crucial score for the home side.

“We don't really do well in them type of games, so I was delighted to be going in 17-15 at the break,” he added.

“We struggled just a bit with their tactics in the opening half and probably struggled to get hold of the ball and get into phases, which is what we wanted to do. “I knew though that there'll be a stage of the game where we would get through this and we actually came into it in the second half. Mikey Doran’s try before the break was an important try. We identified, we wanted to get in around the edges of their breakdown, and particularly in their 22, we felt that's where the space and the lads backed that it paid off.”

Regarding the second half and Nenagh’s confidence to kick to the corner instead of putting two scores between the sides in the closing stages Corcoran said the decision just underpins the belief in the Nenagh side.

“It actually shows the belief and the mantra in the team,” he pointed.

“We just wanted to go out on our sword, whether it's this week or next week. We wanted to leave it all out there and we were very confident to back ourselves and look, while neither of them came off it just shows the belief that is in this side.”