Ormond rally to overcome Blackrock to reach AIL Playoff final

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

Nenagh Ormond 25

Blackrock College 17

Report: James Hayden at New Ormond Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Conor McMahon (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS - Nenagh Ormond: Tries – McMahon, Doran, W Coffey. Convs – McMahon (2). Pens – McMahon (2)

Blackrock College: Tries – McCarthy, Dwan. Convs – O’Shaughnessy (2). Pen – O’Shaughnessy

Nenagh Ormond overcame a strong Blackrock College challenge to secure a shot at promotion to Division 1A of the All-Ireland League following an enthralling semi-final at a misty New Ormond Park on Saturday afternoon.

Blackrock came to Nenagh hell bent on revenge after losing 21-17 last month and many anticipated yet another belter of an encounter between the evenly matched sides.

Last September, the sides also played out a cracker in Stradbrook with Nenagh emerging victorious by just two points. ‘Rock were in no mood to lose once more to the men in red and white, and fielded a beefed up side with no less than three changes from the starting fifteen from their recent league encounter.

The hosts once again fielded a strong side with young prop Ivan Struzia drafted into the replacements following his recent debut while Blackrock welcomed back Ireland Under-19 out-half Conor O’Shaughnessy from injury. O’Shaughnessy, who kicked 21 points in that round 2 meeting joined Jack Ringrose at half-back for James Blaney’s side, with Ireland Under 20 prop Paddy Moore also starting at loosehead.

Nenagh Ormond were determined to put down an early marker and after soaking up some Blackrock pressure, the home side seized the initiative thanks to a beautifully flighted Conor McMahon penalty after Blackrock were pinged for hands in the ruck after five minutes.

Blackrock dominated territorially in the opening half and an early statement of intent saw the Dublin side turn down successive kickable penalties in favour of going to the corner. Nenagh’s maul defence was superb though and they held ‘Rock at bay on more than one occasion.

Pressure was building though and after Nenagh’s fly-half Ben Pope knocked-on, it provided ‘Rock with a decent scrum platform. Jack Ringrose dispatched quickly from the base and a neat spin pass from Conor O’Shaughnessy put Dan McCarthy through for the opening try after eleven minutes. O’Shaughnessy added the extras to fire his side into an early 7-3 advantage.

Nenagh almost responded in kind after lock Jake O’Kelly blocked down an attempted kick and but his kick on unfortunately went out on the full when the better option would have been to find Conor McMahon on his shoulder.

It proved a let-off for Blackrock who were stretched for cover, and they responded to the Nenagh threat with yet another foray into the 22. A 19th minute penalty saw the Dublin side elect for the corner once more but again Nenagh’s maul defence held firm.

Nenagh were struggling for territory but a 26th minute penalty saw the home side elect to go for a scrum in front of the posts. The scrum was stable all game and it provided a perfect platform for a sublime 27th minute Conor McMahon try after Ben Pope put a cross-field kick on a sixpence to allow the winger to gather in stride and dot down in the corner. McMahon almost converted from a very acute angle with the ball bouncing off the crossbar, but the home side were now back in front with a slender 8-7 advantage.

Blackrock retorted with a booming 32nd minute Conor O’Shaughnessy penalty from half-way after Nenagh were penalised for sealing off at the ruck.

The visitors were now entering a purple patch which saw them heap pressure upon the Nenagh defence before a tap & go penalty provided the opportunity for outside centre, Matthew Dwan to cross over for his side’s second try. O’Shaughnessy added the conversion and suddenly ‘Rock were 17-8 clear with just minutes to the interval.

Nenagh’s response was immediate and crucially they hit ‘Rock with a sucker-punch just before the break. Ben Pope provided the platform with a sublime touch-finder in time added on before they were awarded a penalty which they elected to kick to touch once more to bring them to within five metres.

Nenagh executed the line-out to perfection and a first phase move involving Nicky Irwin and Willie Coffey saw Davy Gleeson drive for the line but come up short. Irwin recycled again and this time there was no stopping prop Mikey Doran and he crashed over for a try with Conor McMahon adding the extras to see Nenagh trail by just two at the break, 15-17.

Nenagh emerged from their interval huddle determined to put an end to ‘Rock’s territorial dominance and from the resumption they set about grinding down the Dublin side’s resolve.

The lineout was starting to cause problems and a superb Jake O’Kelly steal served to frustrate James Blaney’s charges. Nicky Irwin pegged back Rock’ back with a 50th minute touch-finder deep inside the 22 and even at this juncture the large crowd could sense a swing in momentum in favour of the men in red and white.

Nenagh introduced their own version of the ‘bomb squad’ on 61 minutes and the four fresh bodies served to inject more pace and power. Replacement prop, Colm Skehan was forced off with the recurrence of a knee injury after just a few minutes, but Nenagh just re-grouped and forced their game on ‘Rock.

Centres Willie Coffey and Angus Blackmore stylishly combined for a sweet 56th minute try after cutting a swathe through the ‘Rock scramble defence with Coffey crossing over much to Nenagh fans delight. Conor McMahon’s metronomic left boot was on song throughout and he duly added the extras with what can only be described as a Dan Carter-esque banana-kick conversion from way out on the touchline on the wrong side for a left-footed kicker, a kick worthy of any highlight reel.

Blackrock responded with a scything Derry Moloney break bringing the visitors to the Nenagh’s 22 which came to nothing. Again, Nenagh thwarted a dangerous Blackrock attack before the home side surged deep inside the ’Rock half on 65 minutes from where second row, Kaylam Tytherleigh was sin-binned for collapsing a maul.

Nenagh elected to kick for the corner on two occasion when a shot at goal would have put two scores between the sides but when ‘Rock coughed up another penalty on 71 minutes, captain Kevin O’Flaherty pointed to the posts, Conor McMahon duly obliged to fire Nenagh eight points clear, 25-17.

Although there was time for the visitors to respond it was clear the fight had waned in a numerically disadvantaged Blackrock side.

Nenagh Ormond managed the closing stages expertly with the experienced player/head coach Derek Corcoran pulling the strings at out-half and ensuring the home side maintained their eight-point advantage right to the final whistle.

TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland (7); David Gleeson (7), Angus Blackmore (8), Willie Coffey (8), Conor McMahon (8); Ben Pope (8), Nicky Irwin (7); Mikey Doran (8), Dylan Murphy (8), Matt Burke (7); Jake O’Kelly (8), Kevin O’Flaherty (Capt 8), Joe Coffey (7), John Healy (7), John O’Flaherty (7).

Reps: Rob Buckley (7) for O’Kelly (41); Colm Skehan (NR) for Burke (61); Evan Murphy (7) for Healy (61); Charlie O’Doherty (7) for Irwin (61); Matt Burke for Skehan (65 inj); Derek Corcoran (7) for Pope (67); Jake O’Kelly for K O’Flaherty (76); John Healy for D Murphy (80); John Brislane (NR) for J O’Flaherty (80); Ivan Struzia (NR) for Doran (80).

Blackrock College: Brian Colclough (8); Ciaran Mangan (7), Matthew Dwan (7), Dave McCarthy (8), Barry Galvin (7); Conor O’Shaughnessy (8), Jack Ringrose (7); Paddy Moore (7), Liam McMahon (7), Joe Byrne (7); Roy Whelan (Capt 7), Kaylam Tytherleigh (7); Tommy Butler (7), Dave Fortune (7), James Burke (7).

Reps: Odhran Ring (6) for Butler (60); Derry Moloney (7) for Galvin (60); Peter Quirke (6) for Colclough (62 inj); Andrew Savage (NR) for Byrne (75)

Referee: Keane Davison (Ulster SRFR).