Ormond relegation confirmed in thrilling defeat to Terenure

RUGBY: Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A Round 15

Nenagh Ormond 31

Terenure College 40

Report: Thomas Conway at New Ormond Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Davy Gleeson (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries - Scully (2), Gleeson (2), O’Kelly. Cons - McMahon (3)

Terenure College: Tries - O’Neill, Egan, Gabriel, Hanan, Hickey, Ryan. Cons - Cosgrove (5)

Not since the heady days of last season have Nenagh Ormond produced a performance as energetic and exhilarating as this, and although it still proved insufficient to topple title-chasing Terenure College on Saturday, it was a tonic for club stalwarts and supporters, many of whom almost rejoiced at the final whistle.

On a weekend in which the first team game was, for once, more of a curtain-raiser to the Dónal Walsh Cup decider on Sunday, the objective, from an Ormond perspective, was to lead by example and set a tone.

Player/Head Coach Derek Corcoran’s troops did all that and more, delivering an aggressive, combative display and confronting ‘Nure (as their supporters refer to them) in all sectors of the pitch. In the end the south Dublin side - who just weeks ago parted company with their high-profile former All-Black head coach, Carlos Spencer - prevailed in relatively comfortable fashion, but at times they were made to look somewhat ordinary by a Nenagh side which exuded confidence from the get-go.

Terenure were first to register, hooker Harry O’Neill dotting down amid a sea of bodies in the tenth minute, his try flowing from a clever Aran Egan tap & go near the Nenagh line.

But Nenagh responded swiftly. Following two line-breaks from an agile Mikey Doran and the vigorous Davy Gleeson, it was winger Patrick Scully who snatched their opening try. An audacious looping pass from Derek Corcoran hung in the air and eventually floated into the path of the on-rushing Scully, who enjoyed a simple finish. From there Nenagh gained in confidence, momentarily forgetting about their troubles and taking the game to their opponents.

They scored the next try and again Corcoran was again instrumental in the move. He supplied the final pass to Gleeson, who produced a series of sidesteps and shimmies before surging over the line. It was a brilliant display of ethereal footwork and raw power from the mercurial winger, and it left Terenure stunned. All of a sudden they were trailing to a side languishing at the foot of Division 1A.

Gradually, however, they began to compose themselves and on 33 minutes, out-half Aran Egan shot over near the corner.

But Nenagh hit back. Their third try, on 36 minutes, arose from a sweeping move which featured Corcoran and Conor McMahon. The entire episode was precipitated by a Willie Coffey break in midfield, but it ended in the corner, with Scully crashing over.

It was end-to-end stuff and Nenagh were in giant-killing mode, but Caspar Gabriel’s try on the cusp of half-time dampened expectations. It was converted beautifully by the sweet-striking Chris Cosgrove. 19-19. Still all to play for.

The question on everyone’s lips at the interval was could Nenagh sustain the same intensity for the remaining forty minutes? The initial indicators were not good, however. Terenure were first to seize the initiative, hooker Marcus Hanan bundling over on 47 minutes to secure his side’s fourth try.

But Nenagh’s heads didn’t drop. Five minutes later, David Gleeson was in again, snapping a pass from Conor McMahon before sliding several metres along the ground and touching down just inside the corner flag.

Nenagh were reduced to fourteen men when Dylan Murphy received a yellow card on 56 minutes, and sixty seconds later Will Hickey nabbed another Terenure try. Reinforcements were required and on came the cavalry from the Nenagh bench, but the home side just couldn’t contain their opponents, who are now odds-on to secure a last-four place. Centre Patrick Ryan dealt Nenagh the final blow on 65 minutes, scoring Terenure’s sixth try. Cosgrove took care of the conversion and with the scoreline now standing at 24-40, there was only really going to be one outcome.

To Nenagh’s credit, however, they didn’t relent. They were still playing well and the supporters were loving it. There was a crunching tackle from skipper Kevin O’Flaherty, a couple of good carries from a variety of players, and then finally, a ridiculous sequence involving the returning Dylan Murphy, Jake O’Kelly and a couple of others in which the ball was passed around skilfully like a hot potato. Eventually, O’Kelly went over in the corner and the crowd went wild. Nenagh may not have emerged as winners, but they had just produced their best performance of this campaign, and everybody knew it.

TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Davy Gleeson (8), Conor O’Shaughnessy (7), Conor McMahon (7), Willie Coffey (7), Patrick Scully (8), Derek Corcoran (7), Charlie O’Doherty (7); Mikey Doran (6), Dylan Murphy (7), Matthew Burke (6), Kevin Seymour (6), Jake O’Kelly (8), John O’Flaherty (7, capt), Joe Coffey (7)

Reps: Seán Frawley (7) for Burke (44); Luke Kerr (7) for Corcoran (49); Rob Buckley (7) for J Coffey (58), Kevin O’Flaherty (7) for O’Kelly (58), Jake O’Kelly for Seymour (77) Niall O’Gorman (7) for Doran (77).

Terenure College: Adam La Grue (6), JJ Kenny (7), Patrick Ryan (7), Caspar Gabriel (8), Chris Cosgrove (8), Aran Egan (7), Griffin Culver (6); Marcus Hanan (8), Harry O’Neill (8), Adam Tuite (7), Oisin Shannon (7), Seán Rigney (7), Luke Clohessy (8, capt), Daragh Brooks (7), Will Hickey (8).

Reps: Harrison Brewer (7) for Brooks (26 inj), Conor McKeon (7) for Culver (61), Caolan Dooley (7) for Egan (69), Karl O’Brien (6) for Tuite (73).

Referee: Sam Holt.