Ormond down Highfield in Munster Senior Cup again
RUGBY: Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Group 1 Round 3
Nenagh Ormond 33
Highfield 27
Report: Thomas Conway in Lisatunny
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: James Finn (Nenagh Ormond)
SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Finn (2), Buckley, Rowland, O’Shaughnessy Convs: McMahon (4)
Highfield: Tries: Spearman, Shanahan, Cronin Convs: O’Riordan (3) Pens: O’Riordan (2)
It might be early doors, but Nenagh Ormond are building towards another big season. You can feel it in the Lisatunny air.
Last Saturday’s victory over Division 1B visitors Highfield in round 3 of the Munster Senior Cup was satisfying on various levels, not least because Nenagh were craving a win to take into the start of the league campaign on October 7th. It wasn’t enough to progress to the semi-finals of the competition but beating Shannon and Highfield, teams ranked higher than them in the league, continues the positivity from last season.
From the start, Nenagh were sharp, and deadly focused. They were on the scoreboard within minutes, out-half James Finn completing a sweeping breakaway move which began inside the Nenagh half and culminated in the game’s first try. It was the type of score that Finn specialises in - a quick, opportunistic break, made possible by the sheer work ethic of the Nenagh pack and the blistering pace of the backline. Conor McMahon added the extras without fuss.
With Kiwi out-half Ben Pope absent due to injury, it was inevitable that McMahon would be installed as kicker. Following his performance on Saturday, he might well be chosen to maintain the kicking duties as the season progresses. The red-headed Nenagh man was a model of consistency, striking the ball with venom and almost always finding the posts.
But Nenagh's dream start soon transitioned into a nightmare. They had scored early and awarded themselves a platform, but it was Highfield who capitalised, trundling down the field to land two patiently worked tries and one further penalty inside the opening twenty minutes. Soon enough, it was 17-7 in favour of the Corkonians and Nenagh seemed a little confused.
Fortunately, however, stability was restored within minutes. A textbook Nenagh maul edged its way to within metres of the line and then, clever as a fox, Rob Buckley pounced, snatching the oval and diving over to secure Nenagh’s second try.
Their third was even better - a piece of individual magic from James Finn, who deceived the Highfield defence with the silkiest of sidesteps, before exploding straight over the line. McMahon slotted a not-so-easy conversion, and suddenly Ormond were 21-17 on top, the confidence flowing and half-time beckoning.
Nenagh brought in the heavy hitters after the interval, introducing captain Willie Coffey and several others into the fold. But it was Highfield who struck next, their 60th minute try marking the ending of a scrappy opening passage of second-half play.
Fragmented and disjointed as they had been, the try seemed to shock Nenagh into action. Immediately, Josh Rowland raced up the field and secured his first try, sending the hosts back in front and prompting raucous roars from the stand. Not long after, they added the finishing touches, newcomer Conor O’Shaughnessy ploughing his way over close to the touchline. Both scores merited top marks for aesthetics and seemed to demonstrate the cohesiveness of the Nenagh attack.
It may be early in the season, but the Nenagh Ormond backs are already firing. If the pack can retain its consistency and channel a slight bit more aggression into their performances, then Nenagh stand every chance of going the distance, both in this competition and in the league. For now, they can rest content with their work to date. But there are other hurdles to come, higher and more significant. 2023/24 is really only just beginning, but Nenagh look perfectly prepared.
TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland (7); Conor O’Shaughnessy (7), Conor McMahon (7), Patrick Scully (6), Mason Cawley (6); James Finn (8), Charlie O’Doherty (6); Mikey Doran (7), John Healy (7), Jack O’Keeffe (7); Kevin O’Gorman (6), Kevin O’Flaherty (6); Robert Buckley (7), John O’Flaherty (6), John Hayes (6).
Reps: Willie Coffey (6) for Cawley (35 inj); Seán Frawley (6) for O’Keeffe (HT); Joe Coffey (6) for O’Gorman (HT); Dylan Murphy (6) for Healy (45); Padraic Bourke (6) for Doran (58), Nicky Irwin (6) for Finn (60); Jack O’Keeffe for Frawley (70).
Highfield: Jamie Shanahan (7), Barry Spearman (7), Gavin O’Leary (6), Mark Dorgan (6), Timothy Duggan (6), Shane O’Riordan (7), Richard Cassidy (6); Cillian Buckley (6), Rob Murphy (6), Daragh Fitzgerald (6), Eoin Keating (6), John O’Callaghan (6), Con Butler (6), Liam Fahy (6), Miah Cronin (7).
Reps: Mark Fitzgibbon (6) for Dorgan (HT); James Rochford (6) for Fitzgerald (HT); Chris Bannon (6) for O’Callaghan (54); Eoin Dorgan (6) for Fahy (65); Colin O’Neill (6) for Buckley (70).
Referee: John Lillis.