Skehan feels Ormond can compete strongly in top tier

By Shane Brophy

One of the key additions to the Nenagh Ormond coaching group three years ago was getting Colm Skehan on board as Strength & Conditioning coach.

The Moycarkey native had previously played AIL rugby with Young Munster and initially signed on in 2022, primarily in a coaching role, but such was the spirit in the group, he got the boots on again and played a key role as a prop in their growth over the last three seasons, despite being unable to play last Saturday through injury.

“To be fair, the lads put in the work,” Skehan began.

“There is good buy-in to the S&C side of things. You can be as skilful as you want but if you put in the work (physically) you will reap the rewards.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the lads today, they do whatever is asked of them at training, even the lads that aren’t involved at weekends are always going bits and pieces.

“We put a good emphasis on their fitness and that is backed by the rest of the coaches too.”

Skehan admitted it was tough to watch on after failing a pre-match fitness test on a foot injury sustained in the semi-final win over Blackrock College, paying tribute to the strength of the squad as no player was irreplaceable in the team.

“Watching on the sideline was heart in mouth stuff,” he admitted.

“I knew for a fact that the lads were always going to stay playing to the end. We could have been thirty or forty points down and the lads wouldn’t have batted an eye-lid. They knew it was about the next play, go again.”

He added: “One of the biggest things we said coming into 1B this year was having a squad. We recruited well, and got the right people in too, and they bought into our culture of one-club.

“Regardless of whether I was able to play or not, I knew whoever was going to step in was going to do just as good a job. I’m devastated I couldn’t play a part, but it is great to be going up and I know the lads will do great again next season.”

Next season, Nenagh Ormond will become the first Tipperary team to play in the top division, pitting themselves against the best clubs in the country, including 1A champions Clontarf, but Skehan feels they have more than enough talent to be more than just competitive.

“There are lads there like Joe Coffey, Dylan Murphy and a few more that are 1A standard and can play higher as well,” Skehan feels.

“Willie Coffey is fighting off lads left right and centre and would go through a wall if he had to.

“The physicality is there, the fitness is there, and the skill is there to match it too.

“We knew when we put the coaching team together that we had the players. At the start of the year, some people would have said ye hardly want to go up again (after winning 2A), but it was always about taking it one game at a time, get points on the board.

“Even when we knew Old Belvedere were going to go as champions, we focused on getting a home semi-final and hopefully a home final on top of it.

“The standard is there, the intensity in training is there, the fitness is there so it is about putting it together for every Saturday next year, but we’ll enjoy this first.”

Nenagh will have to add to the squad for next season with Ben Pope and Angus Blackmore returning to their native New Zealand and Australia respectively after making immense contributions.

“Every lad that came in at the start of the year bought in,” Skehan revealed.

“Credit goes to the committee and those behind the scenes too, the club is in great shape, you can see it with the underage and minis, they are thriving too. It’s not just about the senior team either, the 20’s are doing well and if we can add a few young lads and get in one or two players in key positions, you are sorted.

“It is there and in place I don’t see why Nenagh can’t go and compete in 1A next season.”