Latest history makers bonded for life - Long

By Shane Brophy

There is a perfect symmetry to Nenagh Ormond’s latest glorious chapter in their history.

Twenty years ago, the club rose to the senior ranks for the first time and five years before hand, they ended a 52 year wait for a fourth Munster Junior Cup.

Next Saturday at the AIL game with Old Wesley at New Ormond Park, the club will host a reunion of the 2000 Junior Cup winning team when they defeated fellow Tipperary side Kilfeacle in the final at Thomond Park, largely remembered as the clubs greatest day, until last Sunday.

“Being a senior club in the AIL is great and there have been good years, people still go back and talk about 2000 when we won the Junior Cup and that is the year that is still mentioned all the time above any other year,” said Nenagh Ormond President and Director of Rugby John Long.

“Now it is 2025 and it is a Senior Cup win and I hope there was a kid up in the stand today that will go onto captain the club and be part of the club in 25 years’ time and remember being in Thomond Park when Nenagh won the Senior Cup.

“It was brilliant to have an occasion to bring all these people together. We have been getting messages all week from people so to bring the club to an occasion and bring them altogether.

“Next Saturday, at home to Old Wesley in the AIL, we are having a 25 year reunion for that 2000 Junior Cup team and the Under 18 All-Ireland Cup winning team of that year so it is great to be part something now that will demand a reunion in 25 years’ time.”

Nenagh Ormond were the hottest of favourites going into Sunday’s final against Old Crescent who threatened to win the Munster Senior Challenge Cup for the first time in their history themselves.

However, the Tipperary side finally found their composure in the second half to record a comfortable victory.

“We were here two years ago and narrowly missed out on winning it, so we really wanted it this year more than anything,” Long added.

“I am massively proud the team, everyone in the club, it is a huge day for the club and such an honour to win such a prestigious competition and trophy and looking at the names on it in the dressing room there now, it is really big for the club.”

“It is hard to control the big occasion and mentally prepare for it until you are out there on a pitch like Thomond Park and in front of that crowd and occasion, and it takes time to settle and unfortunately it took us a bit of time to settle but once we got going and the lads started playing ball and doing what they are good at we got the upper hand.”

Derek Corcoran has been involved in all of Nenagh’s big successes over the last two decades, from a player in the team that rose to senior level in 2005, to player/coach in their AIL Division 2B League success in 2014 before returning in 2022 in a similar role which has led to promotion from Division 2A, and now a first Munster Senior Cup.

“He is unbelievable,” Long said of Corcoran’s impact.

“He is an impossible man to replace, on the field and off it. In 25 years’ time when there is a reunion of this team he’ll probably still be playing.

“He is an unbelievable man, an unbelievable character, unbelievable leader, unbelievable coach, unbelievable player. It’s just phenomenal what he can do.”