Photo: Hazel Slevin jumping in the line out during Nenagh Ladies Quarter Final on Sunday versus Tralee.
Senior XV Update
Nenagh Ormond Senior XV face a top of the table clash against second placed Greystones at home this Saturday, March 15th. With six points separating the teams, a win for Nenagh would give them a good lead going into their last two games.
This will be a tough game for the lads and all support would be greatly appreciated. France v Ireland will be shown in the clubhouse after the game. Kick off at 2.30pm.
Nenagh Ladies 5-12 Tralee
Nenagh Ormond Ladies faced Division One side Tralee in their Shield Quarter Final last Sunday in Lisatunny. The girls have played Tralee many times over the years and they were ready for a battle. Tralee kicked off and Nenagh started well, recycling well and making good ground but the Tralee players were also up for the game and they put pressure on the Nenagh rucks from the off. Eventually, Tralee got possession and got back into the Nenagh half but, despite a good spell in Nenagh's 22, only came away with a penalty.
The first half continued with equal enough possession seeing both teams putting on the pressure in the other’s 22 but both defences were unbreakable and Nenagh had some patches where their support and rucking could have been better. The lineouts were untidy on both sides which was a pity as one clean ball allowed Nenagh to set up a great maul which saw them make huge ground. Unfortunately, pressure from Tralee’s jumpers made it difficult to capitalise on this area of strength. The soft ground underfoot also made life difficult in the rucks and on one of their trips to the Nenagh half, Tralee won a penalty which they converted, leaving the half time score at 0-6.
After identifying the areas that needed improvement at half time, the second half saw the Nenagh girls working hard in support and their ball retention was much better. However, Tralee were clinical, taking two more penalties over the course of the half and continuing to make life difficult for the Nenagh attack. Credit to the Nenagh girls, they kept going and with time running out they knew they had to make every minute count. With just a few minutes left on the clock, they worked their way into the Tralee half and kept going forward, eventually winning a penalty just metres out. Inside centre Genevieve Rowland’s quick tap and go caught the defence off guard and she powered through two tacklers to touch down.
At 5-12 down with just two minutes left, the Nenagh girls received the kick off and put every last ounce of energy into what would be their final chance. Unfortunately, a knock on saw Tralee get a scrum outside the Nenagh 22 and in the dying seconds they won yet another penalty which was not converted but brought play up to the final whistle, leaving the full time score at Nenagh Ladies 5-12 Tralee.
The girls can be proud of an outstanding defensive performance and special mention must go to Marie Louise Ryan who played out of position but whose work rate and ball carrying was excellent. Also, Breda Doheny and Adeline Harty in the backs both deserve credit for some crunching tackles and hard work. The girls are disappointed to have their Cup campaign cut short but have plenty of work to do in the next few weeks in preparation for their All Ireland League Semi Final on April 6th.
Team: Sandra Williams, Breda Doheny, Adeline Harty, Genevieve Rowland (capt), Margaret Hogan, Emma Dunlea, June Whelan, Vanessa Chadwick, Gillian Ryan, Catherine McGill, Sarah Corcoran, Hazel Slevin, Eithne Darcy, Sinead Hennessy, Marie Louise Ryan. Reps: Denise Williams, Niamh Hogan, Jennifer Donovan.
Training continues every Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm. New players always welcome. Contact Eithne on 087 2940928 for details.
Under 14’s
The Nenagh Under 14’s were in action on Sunday last when they travelled to Limerick to take on Presentation in a friendly. Nenagh were missing a number of players for various reasons but still lined out with a very strong squad. Although Presentation ran out eventual winners by 4 tries to 3, this proved a very useful outing for the Nenagh lads with some very big games pending in the coming weeks.
Overall the visitors played well with a number of players playing out of position. We need a good turnout at training this week as we have some very big games coming up during March.
Under 13’s 12-10 Kilfeacle
Nenagh hosted Kilfeacle in Tyone on Sunday morning in the league. Nenagh got off to a strong start and put a lot of early pressure on Kilfeacle. The Nenagh forwards once again were dominant in the rucks and mauls in the early stages of the game and this allowed the Nenagh backs to put some fine passing movements together and run at the Kilfeacle defence. It wasn’t until about fifteen minutes into the match that Nenagh managed to break down the Kilfeacle defence and after the forwards had carried the ball into the Kilfeacle twenty two they then released their backs and centre Matthew Hodgins got in for a well deserved opening try. This seemed to spur Kilfeacle into life and the Nenagh players had to put in some great tackling to keep them out. However just before half time Kilfeacle managed to barge their way over the Nenagh line to bring the scores level at half time.
The second half started with Kilfeacle trying to turn the Nenagh forwards by constantly kicking over them into the Nenagh twenty two. However the Nenagh players had the ability and confidence to run out of defence. It was one of these movements where the forwards first of all took up the ball in their own twenty two and drove out of danger and then gave the ball to the Nenagh backs who moved it quickly all the way out to the right wing where Peter Rainsford ran from his own ten metre line, beating the Kilfeacle defence to score under the posts for a great try. Oisin Larkin converted the try to give Nenagh a 12-5 lead.
Once again the Nenagh try spurred Kilfeacle into action and slightly against the run of play they scored a try but were unable to convert it leaving the score delicately poised at 12-10 with ten minutes to go. The players then showed great maturity to continue to attack the Kilfeacle line and the last ten minutes of the game was played in the Kilfeacle half with Nenagh trying to score instead of just defending their two point lead. This was one of the toughest matches Nenagh have had to play this season and it was great credit to all the players for the way in which they dealt with a very spirited Kilfeacle side and more importantly another good league win with the final score being 12-10.
We are hoping to arrange for a couple of the Nenagh senior team players who have kindly helped out before to be at training this Wednesday and we therefore hope to see a full squad of players there.
Nenagh team: Daragh Butler, Luke Connolly, Owen Farrell, James Ferris, Patrick Finn, Kevin Harding, Matthew Hodgins, Roan Harte-Murphy, Dylin Knight, Oisin Larkin, CianO’Farrell, Peter Rainsford, Eoghan Slevin, Oisin Webb, Patrick Whelan, Conor McMahon, Jack O’Keeffe, Kian O’Kelly, Oisin McMahon, Lorcan Tuohy and Manus Heenan.
Under 11’s Blitz
The Under 11’s travelled to Portumna on Sunday and took on the home side in the first game. I would like to thank five of our players who played with the host team who were short on the day. This game was played on a very small pitch with little room for expansive rugby but Nenagh still came out on top 2 tries to nil.
On a much bigger pitch, playing 13 a side, we played Birr and put in our best performance of the year and while also winning 2 tries to nil it was the manner of the performance which was most pleasing. This team have being working in training on getting the ball through the hands and on many occasions they achieved this and really stretched Birr to the limit. With the season coming near an end all these lads can hold their heads high in the knowledge that they have worked really hard on their skills and the results can be seen on match day.
Team: Nathan Griffin, Jack Gleeson, Patrick Fogarty, DaireSlevin, Sonny Dower, John Brislane, Eoghan Tighe, Andrew Ferris, Sean Fitzgerald, James Finn, Peter Collins, DJ McGrath, Evan Rainsford, Jamie Cottrell, Martin Ryan and Tom Kennedy
Membership
Please note that membership for this season is now overdue. All coaches and players must be members of the club. International and Provincial tickets are allocated based on membership. Please forward any outstanding subs to Michael Mackey (086-2578298) as soon as possible.
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