Ormond catch fire to see off Queens

RUGBY: Energia All Ireland League Division 2A Round 7

Nenagh Ormond 32

Queens University 24

Report: Shane Brophy in Lisatunny

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jake O’Kelly (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Doran, McMahon, O’Kelly, Rowland

Convs: McMahon (3) Pens: McMahon (2)

Queens University: Tries: Clarke (2), Hunter, Heasley Convs: McMaster (2)

Nenagh Ormond produced one of their best performances in quite some time as they came from behind to beat top of the table Queens University in a high-quality All-Ireland League Division 2A clash on Saturday.

The victory didn’t look likely when they fell 19-10 behind early in the second half, not helped by having three players sin-binned in the opening half, the third one carrying over into the second half when Queens crossed for their third try.

However, when Nenagh had their full compliment on the field they were as good as the league leaders and they showed it in the final quarter when they ran in three tries for a bonus point win.

Off the back of the disappointing loss to Old Crescent in the previous round when they gave up a big lead, Nenagh really needed to win this game to stay in the race for the playoffs and from the off they played with an edge and energy which indicated a big game, with centre John Healy leading from the front.

From the off, Nenagh looked to play at a high tempo and out-half Conor McMahon made an early break but lost his footing at a crucial stage. Whether they were too fired up, Nenagh’s indiscipline almost cost them, starting on seven minutes when Kevin O’Flaherty was yellow-carded for a high tackle, although it was harsh as the Queens winger Stuart Martin looked like he ducked into the tackle.

The visitors quickly made the numerical advantage pay as from the resulting play, they stretched the Nenagh defence from left to right and back again to where Jonny Hunter crossed in the corner for an unconverted score in the ninth minute.

Nenagh responded with a Conor McMahon penalty three minutes later but just as O’Flaherty was coming back from the bin, winger Patrick Scully was going in the opposite direction after being pinged for a deliberate knock-on. Crucially Nenagh defended well and managed to see out the next ten minutes without conceding a score.

On 32 minutes, now back at their full complement, Nenagh hit the front after a sustained period of pressure with prop Mikey Doran scoring a try Tadhg Furlong would have been proud of, running in from ten yards for a Conor McMahon converted score.

Nenagh weren’t able to take the lead to half time, and after captain Willie Coffey was sent to the bin for another deliberate knock-on, Queens mauled over from the subsequent lineout penalty with prop Alexander Clarke touching down with Richie McMaster adding the extras for a 12-10 half time lead.

Before Willie Coffey would come back on the field, Nenagh conceded a third try on 45 minutes when Ormond lost their own lineout in their defensive 22 and after conceding a penalty, another lineout maul saw Clarke cross again, with McMaster converting.

The gun was really to the Ormond heads and to their credit they responded superbly, aided by the impact from the bench with Rob Buckley, Evan Murphy and Derek Corcoran hugely impactful.

Conor McMahon cut the deficit to six with a penalty on the hour after Queens defence made a rare mistake. Sensing they were getting on top, Nenagh pressed on, and the visitors lost their impressive scrum-half James Wright to the sinbin for a tip-tackle on 67 minutes.

In that ten minutes, Nenagh would cross for three tries, firstly second row Jake O’Kelly sold a dummy to run in from the 22 under the posts for McMahon to convert on seventy minutes. Three minutes later, McMahon, now on the wing, crossed over after superb play on the wing by John Hayes and Josh Rowland to keep the ball alive.

The home support were in jubilant mood and they got more to cheer about on 77 minutes when Ormond secured the try-bonus when Josh Rowland kicked down field from inside his own half, with the bounce favouring him to re-gather possession and he crossed in the corner and amazingly Nenagh led 32-19.

Queens did manage a late try from sub Paul Heasley to secure a try-bonus but the missed conversion denied them a losing bonus-point as well as Nenagh secured their best win of the season so far, and after taking down the league leaders, they will have to do it again next Saturday when they take on Blackrock College who leapt to the summit following Queens demise, but Nenagh can go there in confidence from the manner of this win.

TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland (8); David Gleeson (7), Willie Coffey (6), John Healy (7), Patrick Scully (6); Conor McMahon (7), Nicky Irwin (8); Mikey Doran (8), Dylan Murphy (6), Jack O’Keeffe (7); Jake O’Kelly (8), Kevin O’Flaherty (7); Joe Coffey (6), John O’Flaherty (6), John Hayes (7).

Reps: Niall O’Gorman (6) for O’Keeffe (34); Rob Buckley (7) for J Coffey (47); Evan Murphy (7) for J O’Flaherty (47); Derek Corcoran (7) for Scully (61); Jack O’Keeffe for Doran (65); Peter O’Connor (6) for D Murphy (65); Mikey Doran for O’Gorman (80+1); Joe Coffey for Hayes (80+1).

Queens University: Robbie Telfer (6); Stuart Martin (6), Graham Curtis (6), Robbie Johnston (6), James Hunter (6); Richie McMaster (7), James Wright (8); Niall Carville (6), Alexander Clarke (8), Matthew Miller (6); Charlie Irvine (6), Tony Drennan (8); David Whitten (7), Chris Pollock (7), Gary Dillon (6).

Reps: Joe Hopes (6) for Irvine (22 inj); Ben Heath (6) for Johnston (26); Stewart Wilson (6) for Millar (HT); Matthew Miller for Carville (56); Peter Heasley (7) for Dillon (56); Harry Long (6) for Clarke (73).

Referee: Glenn Sheridan