Ormond’s strength in depth shown in Junior Cup rout

RUGBY: Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup Quarter Final

Nenagh Ormond 80

Old Christians 10

Report: Thomas Conway at New Ormond Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sam Cusack (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries - Crofts, Healy, Cusack (3), O’Kelly, Whelan, O’Doherty (2), Tynan, Coffey, O’Meara. Cons - Crofts (5), O’Doherty (5)

Old Christians: Try - O’Connell. Con – Haberlin. Pen - Haberlin

Nenagh Ormond’s experience in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League may not have been a pleasant one, but the trickle down effects of playing elite calibre rugby week-in and week-out were in evidence for all to see at New Ormond Park on Sunday afternoon.

Ormond’s experienced seconds dismantled Old Christians side in the quarter final of the Munster Junior Cup, in conditions so changeable and gusty that the wind should have proven a decisive factor.

Instead, the only factor deciding the outcome was Nenagh’s sheer class. The home side played with flourish and panache. In the end the affair was a mismatch, as the final scoreline reflected.

Ormond’s starting XV contained a host of names more associated with the first team and that in itself should serve as an indication of how seriously they are treating this competition. The club is intent on bridging a 22 year gap to their most Munster Junior Cup which was with their first team. They have both the players and the firepower to make it happen.

Nenagh’s avalanche of twelve tries began in the ninth minute via Tom Crofts. The ubiquitous scrumhalf latched onto the end of a gorgeous move kickstarted by a Derek Corcoran break and teed up by a beautiful Sam Cusack grubber.

Although Samuel Haberlin responded for Old Christians by smacking a penalty over from 35 metres, the Cork side’s day was about to disintegrate.

Nenagh’s second try, which was arguably the best of the lot, arose from deep within their own 22. Patrick Scully snatched a pass, bolted, and rapidly set off a brilliant counterattack which culminated a couple of seconds later with John Healy sliding down in the landing zone. Crofts nailed his second conversion and Nenagh were in control.

After a slight lull, Sam Cusack’s magic footwork lit up the play, with the full-back slaloming through before touching down for the first of his three tries.

Jake O’Kelly, another first-team regular, was next, before Cusack again steamed through with a diagonal run, cutting the Christians defence apart. Nenagh ended the half 33-3 in front.

Given that Ormond now had the wind at their backs for the remaining forty minutes, there was no sense that a Christians comeback was on the cards. It wasn’t, although the rural Cork club - which like Nenagh is located in a hurling heartland and serves a wide catchment area - did manage a 52nd minute try thanks to Ben O’Connell.

Charlie O’Doherty, introduced as part of a suite of half-time substitutions, delivered a commanding second-half performance. He broke from the back of the scrum and thundered home for the first of a brace of tries in the 54th minute. Six minutes later, he was in again, fed superbly by Cusack, who was responsible for the initial break.

Robbie Tynan, Joe Coffey, and Fionn O’Meara all contributed tries as the game dragged to its inevitable conclusion, and fittingly, it was Cusack who ultimately finished the job. His try in stoppage-time was the final act of the game and it illustrated Nenagh’s running power.

They are a team of formidable athletes, many of whom have tasted life at the very top level of club rugby in this country. With a semi-final against either Old Crescent or Kilfeacle awaiting, this Nenagh outfit has momentum and will feel themselves well capable of overcoming either of those sides.

The other semi-final is an all-Cork affair pitching holders and favourites Cork Constitution against Highfield, who narrowly defeated St. Mary’s last weekend.

Nenagh’s Munster Junior Cup triumph, in 2004, was a glorious moment for the club. Times are different now. They have reached unthinkable heights, and the Junior Cup is, to some extent, a second-order priority. But to win it would still rank as a significant achievement. And it would be widely celebrated after a tough year at adult level.

TEAMS - Nenagh Ormond: Sam Cusack (9); Brian O’Rourke (7), Patrick Scully (7), John Healy (8), Fionn Higgins (7), Derek Corcoran (8), Tom Crofts (9); Richie Whelan (8), Jack Devanny (7), Matthew Burke (8), Fionn O’Meara (8), Jake O’Kelly (8), Joe Coffey (8), Robbie Tynan (7), John Brislane (Capt 7).

Reps: Charlie O’Doherty (9) for Crofts (HT), Kevin O’Gorman (7) for Coffey (HT), Niall O’Gorman (7) for Burke (HT), Ivan Struzia (7) for O’Kelly (57), James Meagher (6) for Tynan (70), Joe Coffey (7) for Devanny (70).

Old Christians: Noah Morris (6); Samuel Haberlin (7), Tim Hegarty (6), Daniel Kelleher (6), Oscar Clarke (6), Conor Dolan (7), Seán Crowe (6); Sam Loftus (6), Mark Gleeson (6), Cian Walsh (6), Jack Lonergan (7), Conor Kiely (6), Niall McCarthy (6), Jamie Hayes (6), Cian Smith (6).

Reps: Ben McCarthy (6) for Hegarty (HT), Ryan Butt (6) for Gleeson (HT), John Marnell (6) for Kiely (HT), Ben O’Connell (7) for Dolan (48), Patrick O’Rourke (6) for Loftus (73).

Referee: Jack Kingston.