Nenagh can take the positives from Old Crescent loss

RUGBY: Energia All Ireland League Division 2A Round 11

Old Crescent 21

Nenagh Ormond 20

Report: Shane Brophy in Rosbrien

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Michael Hanrahan (Old Crescent)

SCORERS – Old Crescent: Tries: McDermott, Reynolds, Hurley Convs: McKenna (3)

Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Coman, Hayes (prop) Convs: McGibney (2) Pens: McGibney (2)

In a battle against relegation, every point is important and should Nenagh Ormond retain their Division 2A status, this losing bonus-point away to Old Crescent on Saturday might be the one they look back on.

In the short term, the Nenagh players and management will have been enthused by the manner of the performance, building on the win over Dolphin, even if they failed to secure back-to-back victories. However, taking something from the game in terms of a losing bonus-point was success in itself.

Twice in the second half, Nenagh fell eight points behind, but they hit back with a converted try on each occasion, and going into the dying minutes they were on the end of a big refereeing call by international official Joy Neville at an injury time scrum on Old Crescent ball. Nenagh got the hit on and there were claims for the penalty to go their way, which would have given Fionn McGibney a chance to win the game from long range, however, the visitors were penalised for wheeling and their chance of stealing the win was gone.

On the balance of play, Old Crescent deserved the win, but Nenagh didn’t help themselves with a high penalty count, particularly in the second half as they fell out of the referee, particularly at the breakdown, leading to out-half Derek Corcoran spending ten minutes in the sin-bin at a crucial stage.

However, the performance was encouraging from a Nenagh point of view, strong defensively and were threatening in attack where Willie Coffey and Conor McMahon were once again impressive in the centre, and it was a McMahon break which led to Nenagh opening the scoring on nine minutes from a close-range penalty. The home side were creating their own problems with poor kicking, three going out on the full, while their lineout also struggled but on twenty minutes, they managed to make a move click with a lineout maul halted short of the line but move the ball out wide, Ormond were short on defenders as wing Val McDermott crossed with Ronan McKenna adding the extras.

The home side dominated the remainder of the half, but some terrific defence saw Nenagh hold out, and it was the visitors who added the next points from a McGibney penalty right on half time as they trailed 7-6 at the break.

The trend of the game didn’t change much after half time with Old Crescent on the front foot and almost increased their lead, but Jack O’Neill had a try ruled out for a double movement. However, they were winning the forward battle and with Nenagh’s penalty count increasing, another close-range lineout led to back row Ronan Reynolds crossing over with McKenna adding the extras for a 14-6 lead.

Nenagh lost Derek Corcoran to the sin-bin on the hour mark for persistent infringing but it was Ormond who got in for their first try two minutes later, begun by a superb John Hayes turnover inside the attacking 22. Some home side dissent saw the ball moved to five metres out from where Nenagh took a quick tap and after a number of strong carries and with an advantage, the ball was moved wide with Fionn McGibney’s cross-kick finding Peter Coman to score in the corner, with McGibney converting from the touch-line to cut the margin to one point again.

It was game on again, but Old Crescent reasserted themselves and just as Corcoran was about to come back from the sin-bin, wing Dan Hurley cut a superb line from close range to go in under the posts for a McKenna converted try and a 21-13 lead.

Apart from one occasion when the Nenagh scrum went backwards, Ormond had a solid platform and in the 77th minute, they won a penalty just inside the opposition half. Fionn McGibney was unlucky to see the long-range kick hit the post and it looked as if Nenagh’s chance of a losing bonus-point was gone. However, they didn’t allow Old Crescent an easy exit with David Gleeson making a strong run back and strong carries from Willie Coffey and Conor Muldoon led to replacement prop Johnny Hayes crossing for a converted try and it was a one-point game once more.

There was still time for more with Conor McMahon making a superb break to get into the Old Crescent half. However, the attack came to nothing after a knock-on, but it still meant a scrum just inside the Crescent half with Nenagh hoping for a strike against the head, and they got it, but referee Joy Neville didn’t see it as being legal, which would have yielded a possible match-winning kick, but it was the home side who were relieved to kick the ball off the pitch and secure the four points.

One point was the least Nenagh deserved and will take a lot of positives into their next game at home to Ballymena on Saturday, and while the Ulster side are riding high, Ormond will fancy their chances of taking something from that game if they produce another strong performance.

TEAMS – Old Crescent: Jack O’Mahony; Val McDermott, Cathal Monaghan, Paul McNamara, Dan Hurley; Ronan McKenna, Michael Hanrahan; Cathal O’Reilly, Niall Hardiman, Jake Considine; Kevin Doyle, Padraig Monaghan; Jack O’Neill, Karl Madden, Ronan Reynolds.

Reps: Brendan McSweeney for McDermott (55); Tom Gormley for Considine (56); Darragh O’Brien for Hardiman (56); Cian Rael for O’Neill (56); John Hurley for C Monaghan (66); Jack O’Neill for Reynolds (68 inj); Cathal Monaghan for Hurley (76 inj).

Nenagh Ormond: Fionn McGibney; David Gleeson, Conor McMahon, Willie Coffey, Peter Coman; Derek Corcoran, Nicky Irwin; Fergal Brislane, Conor Muldoon, Niall O’Gorman; Kevin O’Flaherty, Kevin O’Gorman; John O’Flaherty, Rob Buckley, John Hayes.

Reps: Johnny Hayes for N O’Gorman (34); Peter O’Connor for Muldoon (39); Niall O’Gorman for Hayes (HT); Conor Muldoon for O’Connor (66); James Meagher for K O’Gorman (72); Johnny Hayes for N O’Gorman (73); James Finn for Buckley (76).

Referee: Joy Neville