Ormond hammer Shannon again to set up Munster Cup rematch with Young Munster

RUGBY: Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Group 1 Round 3

Shannon 5

Nenagh Ormond 45

Report: Mike McMahon in Coonagh

Nenagh Ormond booked their place in the last four of the Munster Senior Challenge Cup with a facile win over Shannon in the final game of group 1 on Friday night.

They finish top of the group on maximum points having previously secured bonus-point wins away to Highfield and at home to Cork Constitution. Shannon finish bottom of the group after three straight defeats.

These two teams had played the previous Saturday in Division 1B of the AIL, a game which was played under lights on the stadium pitch at Thomond Park. Nenagh won that game comfortably 42-15 to continue a run of good form, whilst Shannon have struggled of late and will need to show improvement if they are to avoid a relegation battle.

Both teams made wholesale changes for this repeat fixture, giving game-time to other squad players including a number from their respective under 20 panels.

With Storm Bert brewing, this was a cold and damp night but nevertheless, the teams served up an entertaining game of rugby which was closer than the scoreline might suggest.

Carrying on where they left off last week, Nenagh were very much on top in the early stages, but uncharacteristic handling errors kept them scoreless until the eighteenth minute when prop Mathew Burke broke the deadlock with his first try in the red & white colours.

Shortly after the restart, Nenagh scrum half and man of the match Charlie O’Doherty linked with centre Willie Coffey to carve open the Shannon defence and break up field. Although he was caught just before the line, Coffey managed to offload to the supporting John O’Flaherty who touched down close to the posts. O’Doherty converted to give his side a 12-0 lead.

Shannon had their moments in the second quarter, but Nenagh’s defence held solid, including a couple of vital lineout steals close to their own line.

Gaining the upper-hand at scrum time, Nenagh re-asserted their advantage as half time approached and added another brace of tries from winger Brian O’Rourke and centre Angus Blackmore to leave the score 24-0 at the break, with a bonus point secured which was the minimum they needed from the game to secure a semi-final spot.

The visitors increased their lead twelve minutes into the second period when Willie Coffey scored in the corner as Shannon ran out of numbers after defending a series of attacks.

With the scoreline at 31-0, Nenagh emptied their bench and for a period the home side enjoyed a good share of possession and territory which culminated in their only score of the night mid-way through the half.

With five minutes remaining, Charlie O’Doherty capped off a fine individual performance when he darted through a gap in the Shannon defence to score under the posts.

Willie Coffey completed the scoring with his second try just before the final whistle, which at that stage, couldn’t come soon enough for the home team.

Nenagh Ormond can look forward to a Cup semi-final in the new year, and a repeat of their 2023 final against Young Munster following the draw made on Monday evening.

If they win, there is a possibility of an all-Tipperary final as Clonmel have been drawn to play Old Crescent. Both semi-finals are fixed for the weekend of February 22nd 2025 but before then it is a welcome weekend off before resuming their AIL campaign on Saturday, 7th December at home to Naas.

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

Shannon: Sean Nolan; David Smith, Luke Doyle, Jack O’Donnell, Matthew Te Pou; John O’Sullivan, Conall Gill; Shane Carew, Alex Long, Michael Donnelly; Jack Brady, Christian Storey; Conor Ryan, Adam Kennedy, Scott Gleeson.

Reps: Gus Harrington, Oskars Vitolins, Callum Black, Ciaran Vaughan, Evin Crowe, Kieran-Noel Kennedy, Sam Brown

Nenagh Ormond: Evan Fitzpatrick; Patrick Scully, Willie Coffey, Angus Blackmore, Brian O’Rourke; Derek Corcoran, Charlie O’Doherty; Jack O'Keeffe, Jack Devanny, Matthew Burke; Craig Hannon, Fionn O'Meara; John O'Flaherty, Joseph Coffey, John Brislane.

Reps: Shane Malone, Sean Frawley, Niall O'Gorman, Kevin O'Flaherty, Robbie Tynan, Nicky Irwin, Conor McMahon.

Referee: Mike Reidy