Ormond find the going tough against slick St Mary’s

RUGBY: Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A Round 7

St Mary’s College 49

Nenagh Ormond 15

Report: Mike McMahon at Templeville Road

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Myles Carey (St Mary’s College)

SCORERS – St Mary’s College: Tries - O’Sullivan (2), Carey (2), Gilsenan, Leane, Kennedy. Cons - O’Gara (7).

Nenagh Ormond: Tries - W Coffey, O’Brien. Con - O’Doherty (1). Pen - O’Doherty (1).

The gulf in class between the top and the bottom of Division 1A of the All-Ireland League was very evident in this round 7 tie on Saturday as leaders St Mary’s College scored seven tries in an emphatic win over a struggling Nenagh Ormond side.

The league’s top scorer, Mick O’Gara took over in the number 10 shirt for the home side in place of regular Conor Dean, with the multi-talented Dan Goggin switching from number 8 to partner Myles Carey in the centre.

If these changes caused any disruption to the league leaders, then it was not apparent as they produced a performance of power, precision and speed which Nenagh simply could not handle.

In fairness to the visitors, they started well enough and probably should have taken the lead on eight minutes when Willie Coffey made a trademark break in midfield and kicked through for centre partner Angus Blackmore in support. The man from New South Wales could not capitalise on the opportunity, however as he tried to dribble the ball across the line but kicked it too far and over the end-line.

With dominance in the scrum and an excellent line-out, it was not long before St. Mary’s started to threaten and they took the lead in the fifteenth minute when left wing Aaron O’Sullivan ran an unstoppable line to cross for the opening try. O’Gara added the extras, as he would do for all his side’s tries in a flawless kicking performance.

A Charlie O’Doherty penalty following obstruction at the restart brought Nenagh back to within four points but in truth they never looked like getting on level terms as the home team were monopolising possession and looking more dangerous with every attack.

The impressive Myles Carey extended his side’s lead when finishing off a move which he started himself with a scintillating break on 25 minutes.

Six minutes later, he was on the scoresheet again as O’Sullivan broke from deep and found Carey in support to touch down under the posts and stretch the lead out to triple scores.

Mary’s put the game beyond reach before half-time as scrum half Rob Gilsenan was rewarded for excellent support play crossing for his side’s bonus-point try, which left the scoreline at 28-3 going into the break.

When second row Daniel Leane finished off a flowing move seven minutes into the second period, it looked like the home side were going to run riot.

With their scrum under serious pressure and the penalties mounting, Nenagh were finding it impossible to get any sort of footing in the game. Their defence was breached once again shortly afterwards when winger Stephen Kennedy collected a long pass to cross unopposed in the right corner.

With the game well and truly wrapped up, St Mary’s made a number of changes, as did Nenagh and the game took on a slightly different complexion. The entrance of Mikey Doran made a big difference to the scrum and Derek Corcoran coming into the out-half slot also made a positive impact.

George Clancy’s unfussy refereeing meant that despite all the changes, the game continued to flow and little by little, Nenagh started to get some sort of a foothold – albeit they were only playing for pride.

They got their first try with ten minutes remaining when Willie Coffey broke through to score and seven minutes later, Nenagh’s new Munster recruit Sean O’Brien got over in the corner after fine work by replacement hooker Mateo Sentous.

These two scores at least took the rather ugly look off the scoreboard and gave the travelling supporters something to cheer at the end of what was another long day at the office for the team in red and white.

Second placed Clontarf come to New Ormond Park next week in round 8 before Nenagh travel to Limerick in the final game before the Christmas break to take on fellow strugglers Young Munster.

St. Mary’s College: Mark Fogarty; Stephen Kennedy, Myles Carey, Dan Goggin, Aaron O’Sullivan; Mick O’Gara, Robert Gilsenan; Thomas O’Reilly, Jack Nelson Murray, Michael McCormack; Greg Jones, Daniel Leane; Josh Gimblett, Finn Burke, Ronan Watters.

Reps: Richie Bergin, Oisin Kearney, Andrew Sparrow, Ethan Baxter, Adam McEvoy, Zac Hopkins.

Nenagh Ormond: Matthew Brice; Davy Gleeson, Angus Blackmore, Willie Coffey, Sean O’Brien; Charlie O’Doherty, Nicky Irwin; Sean Frawley, Dylan Murphy, Darragh McSweeney; Kevin Seymour, Kevin O’Flaherty; Joe Coffey, Robbie Tynan, John O’Flaherty.

Reps: Mateo Sentous, Mikey Doran, Matthew Burke, Jake O’Kelly, Derek Corcoran, Patrick Scully.

Referee: George Clancy.