Ormond are riding crest of a wave

By Thomas Conway

Let’s be honest, nobody expected this.

Fair enough, Nenagh Ormond have been flying high of late, but Highfield have been flying higher. The Cork club have been enjoying an unbeaten streak since Christmas, winning all four of their league games in January. They currently sit third in the Division 1B table. They’ve been playing an irresistible brand of quicksilver rugby, laden with sleek passes and off the shoulder movement.

And so, what happened to them in Lisatunny last Saturday was slightly astonishing as Nenagh Ormond cruised to victory to progress to the final of the Munster Senior Clubs Challenge Cup for the first time in their history.

They were simply outplayed by a Nenagh side which grew in confidence with every passing minute. The Tipp club overwhelmed their opponents, outmuscling them in the rook and outmanoeuvring them with the ball in hand. It was a tour de force, a special performance, and the home crowd relished every second of it.

So too did John Long, Nenagh’s Director of Rugby. Speaking in the aftermath of the game, Long praised his players and coaching staff effusively, paying tribute to the time and energy which they’ve invested over the past several months. He knew this kind of performance was in them, but even he could not have predicted that Nenagh would coast to such a comfortable victory.

“It’s just unbelievable,” Long said.

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