Draw secures Ormond survival

Blackrock College 23

Nenagh Ormond 23

 

By Thomas Conway in Stradbrook

 

Never had a draw felt like a win for Nenagh Ormond as the share of the spoils with Blackrock College on Saturday ensured their survival in division 2A of the All Ireland League for another season.

It came at the expense of broken bodies and shattered nerves, but eventually, after an untouchable first-half performance from Nenagh, a dramatic turn-around which conjured up past demons, and an epic final passage of play, the Tipperary side departed South Dublin on Saturday with everything they required to preserve their status for another season as they are six points ahead of Blackrock with just one game remaining.

It was the quintessential game of two halves, having failed to register a score in the opening period, Blackrock staged a second half onslaught disturbingly similar to the one they inflicted on Nenagh in the reverse fixture last October, which the Dublin side won 31-23. History seemed to repeat itself in this clash, with Nenagh utterly dominant in the first forty minutes before very nearly relinquishing the game to their opponents.

Aware that a loss would take the battle to avoid the relegation play-off down to the final day with Blackrock having the easier game, the visitors task was made considerably more difficult by the fact that Blackrock required a win to avoid the same fate, though that realisation appeared not to sink in until after half-time.

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MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Conor O'Brien (Nenagh Ormond)

SCORERS – Blackrock College: Tries: Colclough, Vignon, Godson Treacy. Con: Quirke (1). Pens: Quirke (2)

Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Gleeson, Carey. Cons: Ropeti (2). Pens: Ropeti (1), O’Brien (2)

 

TEAMS - Blackrock College: Brian Colclough, Kim Henderson, Matty Dwan, Ben Mahon, Hugo Godson Treacy, Peter Quirke, Michael O’Leary, Conan Dunne, Steve McLoughlin, Joe Byrne, Hugh Doyle, Mick Carroll, Job Langbroek (C), Alan Francis, Leo Vignon.

Nenagh Ormond: Peter Coman, David Gleeson, Patrick Scully, Stephen Carey, Gerard O’Gorman, Alex Ropeti, Nicky Irwin, Fergal Brislane, John Healy, John Coffey, Kevin O’Gorman, Kevin O’Flaherty, Jake O’Kelly, Evan Murphy, John O’Flaherty.

Reps: Conor O’Brien for G O’Gorman (35 inj), John Hayes for O’Kelly (HT)

Referee: Dan Carson