Cashel maintain Indian sign over Nenagh

RUGBY: Energia All Ireland League Division 2A Round 17

Nenagh Ormond 10

Cashel 20

Report: Shane Brophy in Lisatunny

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Alan McMahon (Cashel)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Try: Finn Conv: McGibney Pen: McGibney (1)

Cashel: Tries: Blair, Gallagher Convs: Mullane (2) Pens: Mullane (2)

Nenagh Ormond will face a two-legged playoff to retain their division 2A status as their slim hopes of escaping the relegation mire evaporated with defeat in this Tipperary derby with Cashel on Friday night.

It brings Nenagh’s winless run in the league against their great rivals to seven games as you have to go back to January 2018 for the last time Ormond had bragging rights.

And there can be no complaints in on this occasion either as Cashel controlled the game for the large part and in the second half they made it count on the scoreboard after Nenagh went in leading at half time.

It was a poor game overall with too many handling errors from both sides, while referee Paul Haycock didn’t allow much of a contest at the breakdown with the ball-carrier penalised almost immediately.

The game lacked the fire and brimstone you would associate in these derby games, particularly as both sides had something to play for at either end of the table.

Cashel were far from full strength, but they knew that they wanted to do, with Cian Mullane’s kicking game hugely effective. They pinned the home side back in the early going but the home sides defence was superb on their own line on two occasions in the opening ten minutes.

It took fifteen minutes from Nenagh to have their first meaningful attack after a strip tackle by Rob Buckley leading to a good counter-attack by Patrick Scully which came to nothing.

However, it was Nenagh who scored first in the 21st minute after Cashel were penalised for a high tackle and from the penalty into the 22, Nenagh mauled well before the ball was moved wide by Derek Corcoran to James Finn and onto David Gleeson who was well tackled with Cashel winning a penalty. However, they failed to find touch and carrying the ball back inside the 22, Gleeson made a strong burst and after some good carries, James Finn went over close to the corner for an unconverted try.

Cashel were rattled for a period, but Nenagh were unable to benefit from it before the visitors got back into the 22 and won a number of penalties after being camped on the Nenagh line. With the scrum under pressure, a smart call was made to bring on Johnny Hayes who solidified the scrum with Cashel’s attack coming to nothing.

The action livened up close to half time with both sides running the ball from all parts of the field with Cashel managing to get on the scoreboard through Cian Mullane to cut the deficit to 5-3 at half time.

Cashel upped a gear after half time and crossed for their first try on 47 minutes through prop Jonny Blair, after Nenagh were exposed down the short side of their defence which created the opening for the visitors.

Cian Mullane converted and thereafter Cashel played the game on their terms with Mullane pinning Nenagh back while centres Ben Murray and Alan McMahon were a constant threat.

Still the game was tight on the scoreboard and the visitors opted not to take three points in the search of a try which Nenagh defended well before Ormond had their first real sustained attack in the second half just after the hour mark and won a penalty five metres out, but they didn’t claim the lineout and with that Nenagh’s big chance was gone to retake the lead.

On 73 minutes, Cashel appeared to put the game to bed with winger Diarmuid Gallagher going over in the corner after Nenagh gave up possession inside their own half and the visitors managed to hold on to possession for a sustained period.

Cian Mullane added the extras, but Nenagh fought back with replacement hooker Peter O’Connor getting over in the corner after David Gleeson made another superb incision off his wing. Fionn McGibney’s difficult conversion was missed but trailing 10-17 Nenagh still had a chance to claim a draw but in trying to attack from inside their own half, they were penalised for holding on the ground and Cian Mullane slotted over to seal the win for Cashel and send Nenagh into a two-game playoff with an improving Rainey Old Boys, with a trip to MU Barnhall to round off their regular season campaign this Saturday.

TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Fionn McGibney (6); David Gleeson (8), Patrick Scully (7), James Finn (7), Peter Coman (7); Derek Corcoran (7), Nicky Irwin (8); Fergal Brislane (7), Conor Muldoon (7), Damien Dunne (6); Kevin O’Flaherty (6), John O’Flaherty (7); Rob Buckley (7), Evan Murphy (7), John Hayes (7).

Reps: Johnny Hayes (7) for Dunne (36); Cian Ryan (6) for Irwin (39 inj); Kevin O’Gorman (6) for K O’Flaherty (54); Damien Dunne for Johnny Hayes (56); Kian O’Kelly (6) for Finn (60); Conor Muldoon for Brislane (73); Johnny Hayes for Dunne (73).

Cashel: Stephen McMahon (7); Richard Kingston (6), Alan McMahon (8), Ben Murray (7), Diarmuid Gallagher (7); Cian Mullane (8), Michael Hickey (7); Cormac O’Donnell (7), Niall Fitzgerald (7), Jonny Blair (7); Richard Moran (6), Brendan Crosse (7); Kieran Ryan (7), Aidan Butler (7), Fearghail O’Donoghue (7).

Reps: Michael Kelly (6) for O’Donnell (HT); Josh O’Dwyer (6) for Hickey (48); Josh Pickering (6) for Gallagher (62); Brendan Ryan (NR) for Fitzgerald (79); Liam Shine (NR) for Ryan (79).

Referee: Paul Haycock