Late McMahon try secures Ormond win against promotion rivals
RUGBY: Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A Round 2
MU Barnhall16
Nenagh Ormond17
Nenagh Ormond travelled to Parsonstown, Leixlip on Saturday for round 2 of the Energia AIL to face MU Barnhall.
Having secured a maximum five points from their opening round win over UL Bohs, the team were anxious to keep the momentum going. Barnhall, having lost their opener on the road to Old Crescent, would have been anxious to establish their own title chasing credentials having been runners up in last year’s promotion playoff final.
The opening exchanges were tight as would befit the calibre of both teams. Nenagh were playing into a strong breeze and had to concede early territory to the home side. From a penalty concession Nenagh found themselves defending deep in their own half. The defensive structure initially held well but having dragged Nenagh defenders infield the Barnhall attack saw a chance to exploit the blind side and their number 8 Luke Callinan scored the opening try of the game.
Nenagh responded strongly and held possession on the restart, forcing a succession of penalties to work their way into the Barnhall red zone. A set play move was executed clinically to put John Healy over the line and the try count was levelled up.
The remainder of the first half was largely fought out between the ten metre lines as two well-matched sides went toe to toe. Nenagh did fashion two significant line breaks from Ben Pope and Patrick Scully but on both occasions the Barnhall full-back Conor Duggan was sharp to the task and snuffed out the breaks.
The deadlock was broken when an infringement by Kevin O’Flaherty was punished with a yellow card and Barnhall exploited the man advantage clinically to add a try and penalty to their tally. The half time score was 13-5 to the home side but Nenagh had the elements to come after the break.
With the full complement of players restored, Nenagh upped the ante and once again the training ground work was in evidence as Nicky Irwin, Nenagh’s best player, finished off a well-worked move from a lineout to score an unconverted try.
Barnhall were anxious to quell the comeback and re-established territory in the Nenagh half. In perhaps the key moment of the match they won a kickable penalty in sight of the Nenagh line. The opportunity to push the lead out to six points was rebuffed in favour of going to the corner to kill off Nenagh’s chances. The visitors grasped the opportunity to get off the hook and Evan Murphy had the big play, getting in the air to steal the lineout and lift the siege.
Barnhall soon got another kickable chance though and thought differently on this one, Adam Chester knocking over the kick for a 16-10 lead well into the last quarter.
Nenagh knew the game was still there for them though and went on the hunt. Nicky Irwin again had a key impact, tapping a penalty quickly to send Barnhall scrambling. When he was reeled in an attempted offload could only be knocked back by the covering Barnhall defenders. Conor McMahon was sharpest to the loose ball and to the horror of the Barnhall team and supporters got free to go under the posts. He converted himself to take the lead for Nenagh for the first time.
There were only four minutes left to play and credit is due to both teams for battling to the death in search of a winner in Barnhall’s case or an insurance score for Nenagh. Ultimately neither came. Nenagh Ormond had a late chance to kick a penalty to the corner and perhaps chase a bonus-point but the pragmatic decision was taken to knock the ball dead and take the away win.
Perhaps memories of Old Crescent last season came to mind here. On that occasion a decision to chase the bonus backfired and cost the team the win. Small margins like these often add up by season’s end.
This was a super road win ultimately against a team that will have a lot to say on the outcome of this division before the year is out. It is back to home turf next week with Navan to visit New Ormond Park. Kick-off is at 2.30pm on Saturday.
TEAMS – MU Barnhall: Conor Duggan; Sean Sexton, Sean Higgins, Nick Doggett, Conor Lacey; Adam Chester, Rob Holt; JP Botha, Cathal Duff, Darragh Bellanova; Ryan Doyle, Dan Murphy; Shane Stokes, Abdul Olaosebikan, Luke Callinan.
Reps: Gearoid Quinn, Jack Castles, Eoghan Murphy, Dylan Kelly, Niall Hilliard.
Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland; Conor O’Shaughnessy, Willie Coffey, Patrick Scully, Conor McMahon; Ben Pope, Nicky Irwin; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Colm Skehan; Joe Coffey, Kevin O’Flaherty; Rob Buckley, John Healy, Evan Murphy.
Reps: Seán Frawley, Jack O’Keefe, Kevin O’Gorman, John Hayes, Charlie O’Doherty.
Referee: Glenn Sheridan