Ormond won’t fear challenge of Division 1B - Fogarty
NENAGH Ormond’s form this season really has been blistering. From the start, they seized the initiative and roared into their Division 2A campaign. At times it seemed probable that they might go the whole season unbeaten. In the end that didn’t work out. There were slip ups, but only very minor ones. The manner in which they responded to those set-backs said it all.
For coach Dan Fogarty, finding the words to articulate what this success means to Nenagh Ormond was a struggle last Saturday afternoon. The depth of emotion was written across his face, and the same can be said of the various players and supporters that milled around the clubhouse in the aftermath.
Fogarty is an integral element of this Ormond coaching team, a consistent presence on the sideline and in the dressing room, a man with a deep rugby intellect and a passionate commitment to his players. But even he couldn’t express the sheer joy that shone on Lisatunny last Saturday evening.
“It’s very hard to put into words what this victory actually means,” he began.
“Like Willie (Coffey) said in his speech, up there in the stand in front of all our families and friends, it’s about that “one club” approach. And that’s been our motto for some time now, one club, from underage right up to senior. And for this particular group of players, I think they’ve got what they deserved today, with all the work they’ve put in - which has just been phenomenal from day one.”
It is important to note that it hasn’t always been plain sailing for this Nenagh Ormond outfit. Just two years ago they found themselves embroiled in a crucial relegation play-off, facing the prospect of demotion to 2B. How things have turned around in the two seasons since.
Fogarty maintains that the belief was there, inherent amongst the players and the coaching team, even back then. Nenagh genuinely believed they could bounce back and do better. They thought it might take time and patience, but ultimately they only required two seasons. From relegation stragglers to Division 2A champions. A monumental turnaround in fortunes, but one that was richly deserved.
“Basically, if you look back to 24 months ago, we were in a relegation final, a dogfight to stay in Division 2A. In the end, we stayed up, and we actually knew at that point that we had the potential,” Fogarty recalls.
“The squad depth and the player talent, to do something special like this. Obviously, it was going to take a bit of time, and it was going to require hard work, but we got a new coaching team in, established a new set-up, new ideas, and put the focus on the players, on improving them as individuals and as a collective.”
Right now, it feels like the possibilities are limitless. Nenagh Ormond will enter Division 1B next October with a spring in their step and a genuine desire to hold their own against some of the most seasoned sides in the country.
“We’re now in Division 1B next year and that means we’re the twentieth best club in the country,” Fogarty explained.
“Nenagh is a small rural town. We’re not in a traditional rugby heartland but we’ve punched above our weight and worked hard and this year it has come to fruition.
“And now the world is our oyster. Hopefully we can step it up another gear next year and take it to a new level as well, but for now we’ll just enjoy the celebrations.”