Ormond searching for New Year cheer
RUGBY: Energia All Ireland League Preview
NENAGH ORMOND v QUEENS UNIVERSITY
Lisatunny
Saturday 11th January
Kick-off @ 2.30pm
Referee: Andrew Cole
Nenagh Ormond face into a crucial stretch if they are to have any chance of surviving in Division 2A of the All Ireland League.
Ormond are in the midst of a seven match losing run which sees them rooted to the bottom of the table at the half way point of the season.
The New Year fixtures start with the repeat pairings from the ninth round before Christmas with Nenagh welcoming Queens University to New Ormond Park on Saturday.
Queens defeated Nenagh 29-21 last month in a game Ormond dominated for large part until injuries came against them with the home side rallying late for a bonus point leaving Nenagh emptyhanded.
The four week break will have given Nenagh an opportunity to get some key players back from injury, including captain John Hayes in the back row. Alan Long, Willie Coffey, Aaron Hennessy and Fergal Brislane all limped out of the Queens game last month and Nenagh would hope to get some or all back to win a game they badly need to.
The January transfer window also affords Nenagh Ormond the opportunity to bolster their squad with one rumoured returnee being scrum half Nicky Irwin who departed to Young Munster at the start of the season.