Ormond’s power too much for Tipp rivals in Munster Junior Cup

RUGBY: Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup 3rd Round

Carrick-on-Suir 10

Nenagh Ormond 35

Report: Enda Murphy in Carrick-on-Suir

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Rob Buckley (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS - Carrick-on-Suir: Try – Daly. Con – Barry. Pen - Barry.

Nenagh Ormond: Tries - Penalty (2), Devanny, O’Rourke, Tynan. Cons - PT (2), Finn (1), Gleeson (2).

Nenagh Ormond 2nd XV travelled to Carrick-on-Suir on Sunday for their first outing in the Munster Junior Cup at the third round stage.

Being a Division 1 AIL team meant Nenagh received a bye in the first two rounds. The weather was ideal with little to no breeze.

The visitors started with the advantage of the slight slope in the field and used this well immediately with a good downfield kick chased by winger Kieran Kennedy. He managed to grubber the ball further downfield and just as it looked like he would win the race to touch down, the Carrick full back pushed him over leaving the referee no alternative to award a penalty try.

Seven minutes later and the advantage was doubled when a strong maul close to the Carrick line was finished by hooker Jack Devanny. James Finn added the extras for a 14-0 lead.

The home side finally got something on the board three minutes later when a penalty for a high tackle was converted by scrumhalf Fionn Barry.

Shortly after, Nenagh again used the slope well to gain territory. This time the Carrick full back got to the ball first but was forced to carry it over the tryline and touch down giving Nenagh a five-metre scrum. The Nenagh pack had been dominant up to now and this was no different with them forcing the Carrick scrum to collapse and the referee again gave the penalty try for a 21-3 lead.

It looked like the game would quickly move away from Carrick at this stage, but Nenagh were a little over-complicated in the way they were trying to play, and the home side dug their heals in, defending well winning a number of turnover penalties at the breakdown to ease the pressure on themselves. When the halftime whistle arrived, the score remained 21-3 and Carrick felt very much like they had a chance for an upset.

For a significant portion of the second half, Carrick dominated territory with the aid of the slope but could not get through a resolute Nenagh defence. They came close halfway through the half, but a pass went to ground five metres out but just as Darragh Gleeson looked to hack the ball up field, Nenagh were called back for a deliberate knock-on and a yellow card for Gleeson. Carrick tapped and drove for the line, but some excellent defence held them up over the line and allowed the pressure to be relieved.

When Nenagh did get up the field some wayward passing and handling cost them dearly allowing Carrick to kick their way out of trouble. However, on one of these excursions up field, Nenagh eventually got their handling right resulting in Brian O’Rourke going over the line untouched. Darragh Gleeson, who had rejoined the game, kicked a good conversion to stretch the lead to 28-3 and give Nenagh some breathing room.

Carrick refused to give up and with the game entering the final five minutes, they were eventually rewarded when wing James Daly sniped over from the back of a ruck five metres out. Fionn Barry added the conversion to make it 28-10.

Nenagh pushed back up field and had the final say when Robbie Tynan went over from the back of a close in ruck after some good carries by John Brislane. Darragh Gleeson again added the extras, and the referee blew the final whistle for a hard fought victory.

Nenagh will have a lot to work on before they travel to Killarney next Sunday for round four, the Kerry side having overcome Ballincollig 25-19. The victors in this match will then have a home quarter-final to look forward to.

TEAMS - Carrick-on-Suir: Noel Moriarty; Ronan O’Connell, Jack Boylan, William Kennedy, James Daly; Brandon Wheeler, Fionn Barry; Luke Falconer, Matthew Toole, Tyrone Forester; Darragh Anthony, Oscar Geoghegan; Tom Reid, Matthew Herbst, Kieran Kinsella.

Reps: Sean Mullarkey, John O’Dwyer, Sean Heffernan, Odhran Barry, Cian Walsh, Ben Moriarty, Jack O’Loughlin.

Nenagh Ormond: Sam Cusack; Kieran Kennedy, Brian O’Rourke, Brehon O’Donnell, Matthew Hodgins; James Finn, Tom Crofts; Richie Whelan, Jack Devanny, Niall O’Gorman; Kevin O’Gorman, Jake O’Kelly (capt); Rob Buckley, James Meagher, Robbie Tynan.

Reps: Mateo Sentous, Ivan Struzia, Ryan Gratton, John Brislane, Keelan Dunne, Darragh Gleeson, Davy Corcoran.

Referee: Brendan O’Connor.