Photograph: Senior XV v Old Wesley
AIL Division 2A - Old Wesley 17-15 Nenagh Ormond
Nenagh Ormond Senior XV travelled to Dublin on Saturday where they faced a tough match against table toppers Old Wesley who were unbeaten this season. Lying in ninth place on the table and having suffered a few disappointing losses, the Nenagh lads were eager to put things right and, despite losing this game, they certainly did that.
The first quarter was a battle for dominance with the teams looking fairly even. However, after just under 20 minutes, Old Wesley took the first points with a try which was converted, leaving them 7-0 up. Nenagh had been playing well however and they did not panic, working well together and showing great hunger and aggression which resulted in them gaining a foothold in Old Wesley’s 22. The support play from both backs and forwards was outstanding this week and this allowed Nenagh to hold on to the ball and work their way towards the try line with Lemeki Vaipulu showing great strength to power over the line. With a strong breeze blowing, the try was unconverted but Nenagh kept up the pressure and went ahead soon after with a well-deserved try from the hard-working Kevin O’Gorman after quick hands from Mark Doyle gave Misi Salave the break.
The second half started with Nenagh three points ahead but Old Wesley were not about to give up and they threw everything at the visitors in the first ten minutes. This third quarter was a tough one for Nenagh with 3 players receiving yellow cards which left Nenagh with twelve players on the pitch at one point. The commitment and willingness to put their bodies on the line which was shown by all the players during this period was a credit to them and, although Old Wesley did score, they had to work very hard for it.
Nenagh were 17-10 down going into the final ten minutes and Old Wesley were working hard to keep their lead. However, Nenagh closed the gap when Lemeki Vaipulu broke through the defence and into the Old Wesley 22 with a storming run. The forwards showed their skills when Vaipulu offloaded to Kevin O’Gorman outside him who then popped the ball inside to John Healy for the try. Dan Fogarty was unlucky to narrowly miss the conversion when the strong wind diverted the course of his kick and Old Wesley held out for the final few minutes for a 17-15 victory.
This was a committed performance against tough opposition and will give the team a much needed boost going into a three week break from AIL action. Thanks to everyone who travelled on Saturday and provided great support for the team. Next AIL game for our Senior XV is against Queens University at home on Saturday, February 21st.
Team: Hugh Maloney, William Coffey, Misi Salave, William O’Connor, Mark Doyle, Mike Fogarty, Eoin Gardiner (c), Conor Brislane, Peter O’Connor, Fergal Brislane, Kevin Seymour, Kevin O’Flaherty, Michael Slattery, Anthony Kavanagh, Lemeki Vaipulu. Reps: John Coffey, John Healy, Kevin O’Gorman, Dan Fogarty.
Photograph: Senior XV v Old Wesley
Munster Junior Cup
Nenagh Ormond Seconds were away to Newcastle West RFC on Sunday last in the first match of the Munster Junior Cup. Newcastle West are a strong, well-drilled team and Nenagh were caught napping as they struggled in the first quarter to get used to some new player combinations. The Limerick team scored early when their scrum-half made a good break and was followed closely by several backs. The covering Nenagh defence could not stretch far enough and Newcastle West scored in the corner. Soon after, they added their second try with yet another break from their scrum-half, this time inside Nenagh’s 22, which he touched down himself.
Nenagh started to settle but not in time to stop a third try for the home team when they tapped a penalty on half-way and broke through the defence. They also slotted a penalty which put them 22-0 in front. However, Nenagh did come back into the game and in the fifteen minutes before half time Jamie Quigley scored two good tries, the first from a solid lineout maul and the second when scrum-half Darragh Hassey picked at the back of a ruck and popped the ball deftly back inside to Quigley who was coming at pace. Both tries were converted by Denis Slattery to leave the half-time score at 22-14 to the home side.
Photograph: Seconds v Newcastle West
Nenagh were playing much better at this point but made life difficult for themselves early in the second half when Newcastle West kicked into their 22. Nenagh opted to run the ball and unfortunately knocked on, giving Newcastle West a scrum inside Nenagh’s 22. They had a strong scrum throughout the match and this one was no exception, giving them good go-forward ball, and they scored a few phases later. It was from another scrum that they scored next, flashing the ball wide to their strong, pacy winger for a score in the corner.
At 34-14 down, the match was as good as won but it was encouraging that Nenagh did not give up. They worked their way into the Newcastle West 22, patiently going through the phases, and it was scrum-half Darragh Hassey, who had an outstanding 80 minutes, who spotted a gap and slipped through it to score under the posts. Newcastle West had the last word though when they scored a last minute try to leave the final score at Newcastle West 39-21 Nenagh Ormond.
Team: Gerard O’Gorman, Anthony Collins, John Long, Hugh Maloney, William Coffey, Denis Slattery, Darragh Hassey, John Coffey, Thomas McNamara, Aidan Doyle, Kevin O’Gorman, Eamon Healy, John Healy, Jamie Quigley, Cian Comerford. Reps: Gavin Hayes, Martin Fogarty, Eddie Gleeson, Paudie Breen, William Carroll, Marek Gribs.
Photograph: Seconds v Newcastle West
East Munster Cup - Under 14’s 10-0 Kilfeacle
On Sunday morning in Lisatunny Nenagh hosted Kilfeacle in the second of their East Munster cup matches. Nenagh got off to a very strong start and put a huge amount of pressure on Kilfeacle and it looked like Nenagh would put an early score on the board. However Kilfeacle’s defence held firm and did not allow Nenagh to cross their line. The Nenagh pack did not have things all their own way and were finding it hard to win good ruck ball to allow their backs to run at Kilfeacle. It wasn’t until fifteen minutes into the match that Nenagh managed to break down the Kilfeacle defence when a good back line move was held up ten metres short of the Kilfeacle line and the forwards then took it on with Jack O’Keeffe crossing the line for a well-deserved opening try. This Nenagh score seemed to bring Kilfeacle back to life and they started to put some passages of play together but the Nenagh forwards with Dylan Murphy, Oisin Webb and Eoghan Slevin to the fore putting in some great tackles and did not allow Kilfeacle to get a proper foot hold in the game. At half time Nenagh had a slender lead of 5 – 0.
The second half began much like the first with Nenagh putting a lot of pressure on Kilfeacle and after the forwards had put in a huge amount of drives to wear down the Kilfeacle pack the ball was moved swiftly out the Nenagh back line and left wing Peter Rainsford nearly got in for a try but just as he was caught on the line he popped a lovely pass up to full back Oisín Larkin who crossed for Nenagh’s second try. Jack Moran narrowly missed the conversion and Nenagh now lead 10 – 0 with fifteen minutes of the match remaining. For the last fifteen minutes Nenagh continued to attack Kilfeacle but Kilfeacle’s defence which had been very strong all day held firm and the match ended with a well-deserved 10 – 0 win to Nenagh.
Once again thanks to all the parents who came out to support the players and to everybody who brought food and helped out in the kitchen afterwards. Also thanks to Enda Murphy for stepping in to referee the match at late notice. A friendly match has been arranged against Cistercian College Roscrea for next Saturday the 7th of February in Roscrea with an 11 a.m. kick off. Training continues in Tyone this Wednesday.
Nenagh Team: Danny O’Connor, Eoghan Slevin, Luke Connolly, Ruan O’Hanluain, Oisín Webb, Dylan Murphy, Jack O’Keeffe, Kian O’Kelly, James Ferris, Owen Farrell, Peter Rainsford, Jack Moran, Roan Harte-Murphy, Matthew Hodgins, Oisín Larkin, Oisín McMahon, Dylan Knight, Lorcan Tuohy, Patrick Finn, Conor McMahon, Patrick Whelan.
Mini Blitz
Next Sunday we welcome Lansdowne from Dublin to the club. They will be bringing teams from Under 8 right up to Under 13. They will have 20 players per squad and an adult per player. This adds up to 240 visitors in Lisatunny next Sunday morning.
We hope to give them a warm welcome and some good rugby as well. They gave us a wonderful day two years ago which included a full tour of the Aviva Stadium which our kids still talk about.
Under 12’s
The Under 12’s had their first blitz since the Christmas break in Kilfeacle on Sunday morning. Nenagh had 23 players and they all got game time. First up they played Thurles and in a very keenly contested game Nenagh were just pipped at the final whistle 5 tries to 4.
There was no shame in this defeat as Nenagh showed the benefit of all the skills training which has taken place every week in Ballymackey. The continuity, passing skills and support play was a joy to watch as well as some great defending. Some of our newer players showed some nice handling skills especially Cian White and Darragh Tucker both getting away try scoring passes while under pressure. Try scorers: Paul Seymour (2 tries) and James Finn and Sonny Dower (1 each).
In the second game against Kilfeacle we were beaten 4 tries to 2 with DJ McGrath and Sonny Dower getting the scores. There was some nice rugby played here again and very little between the teams. Thanks to all the parents who travelled early on icy roads.
Panel: Jack Gleeson, Daire Slevin, Sean Fitzgerald, Barry Ryan, George O’Leary, Shaun Hilmi, John Brislane, Eoghan Tighe, Cian White, Darragh Tucker, Paddy Ryan, Tom Kennedy, Niall O’Sullivan, Sonny Dower, James Finn, Andrew Ferris, Evan Rainsford, Liam Cooney, Tommy Ryan, Paul Seymour, DJ McGrath, Peter Collins and Patrick Fogarty.
Under 9’s & 10’s
Our Under 9's and Under 10's made the hour long journey to the heart of the beautiful Galtee Mountains last Sunday to take part in a mini blitz against Kilfeacle RFC and Thurles RFC. In all 28 players made the journey and we divided them equally into two teams of 14. One team was called the Nenagh Bulls and the other was called the Nenagh Wolfhounds!
Photograph: Nenagh Ormond U9 and U10's Wolfhounds with coach Andy Cawley
Each team played both the home side and Thurles. On an ideal day for rugby our brave young players produced some fantastic displays, scoring great tries, passing intelligently and tackling bravely. In all a most enjoyable morning was had, and the coaches sincerely thank the parents who continue to support us in such great numbers in spite of the cold weather.
Photograph: Nenagh Ormond U9's and U 10's Bulls with head coach Denis O'Meara
A special thanks to our great bunch of young players who continue to improve with every outing. There is a great team spirit in the camp, and as usual all our young players got loads of game time. Our thanks to Kilfeacle RFC for the invitation and the hospitality. Next weekend we hope to play Lansdowne RFC at home - details will follow by text.
Under 8's
21 Nenagh Ormond under 8 players participated in the Kilfeacle Blitz on Sunday last. We fielded two teams against the hosts and fellow visitors, Thurles. The games were played in bright sunshine and with the snow-capped Galtees in the background, the scene was more reminiscent of the Swiss Alps than south Tipperary.
All our players played very well and the running and passing skills honed on the Ballymackey all-weather pitch were very much in evidence. Stephen Gleeson, who was making his debut, deserves special mention as he scored some excellent tries.
Thanks to all players and parents who made the trip on Sunday. We will have a big test next weekend when we host Lansdowne in Nenagh.
NORFC Table Quiz
Nenagh Ormond RFC’s annual Table Quiz takes place in the Dapp Inn on Friday, February 13th at 9pm. We hope you will come along for some questions & craic to support the club.
Juvenile Flag Day
The Nenagh Ormond R.F.C. Age-grade section will hold a Flag day in Nenagh on Saturday 14th February. We are appealing to all parents to help by manning a table for an hour or two. Please contact your child’s coach if you are available.
All proceeds go to the Age-grade section of the club.
Six Nations Tickets
Please note that we are no longer taking orders for either of Ireland’s home Six Nations matches (Ireland v France & Ireland v England) as we are already oversubscribed for both games.
©2024 Nenagh.ie. Website by The Smart Group
