Irwin eager for next challenge

By Shane Brophy

Nicky Irwin has been one of the players that has experienced the lows of relegation battles for Nenagh Ormond so he can fully appreciate what the team has achieved in recent years, culminating in Saturday’s promotion to the top tier of Irish rugby.

“It was only three or four years ago we were in a playoff to go down to 2B and what a turnaround for the club to be going into 1A for the first time ever and being the first Munster club outside of Cork and Limerick to do so is unbelievable and I can’t wait for the challenge next year,” said the scrum half.

UCC, including three Munster Academy players, got the upper hand early, and with Nenagh falling foul of the refereeing decisions, gave the vocal visiting support plenty to cheer about but the home side had the last laugh.

“It’s always going to be a bit hostile when the other team gets a foothold in the game, it makes it harder to come back but it makes it all the sweeter when you do. What a win,” he added.

“That is down to the squad that we have, we could have forty lads training some nights and each of them could be on that field easily. We’ll celebrate and think about next year later in the week.”