Nenagh edge out Cashel after an absorbing Tipperary rugby derby

A huge crowd filtered into Spafield on Saturday afternoon long before kickoff for what was an absorbing AIL Division 2A contest featuring two teams at the top of their game. 

At the end of eighty plus minutes of an epic test, it is Nenagh Ormond who sit unbeaten at the top of the table with nine wins from nine games, however they were made to work every step of the way by Cashel in what was an intense encounter that came down to fine margins and the final kick of the ball. 

Afterwards Nenagh captain Willie Coffey applauded the efforts of both teams: "It was a good battle," he said. 

"I know a lot of the Cashel boys from Rockwell, they are a great squad. They never give up. I suppose their pack is as good as any of them in the rest of the league and our pack gave every bit of it to them as well so it was a good battle," the former Rockwell College student said after what was a bruising encounter.

When the whistle sounded, it was heartbreak for the home side. They had played some tremendous rugby but they didn't take their chances when the opportunities were presented in the second half, whilst Nenagh were more efficient in striking to deliver the key scores.

The wind played havoc with lineouts and penalties all afternoon but it was a penalty for Cashel from Ben Twomey that got the scoring underway early on much to the delight of the vocal home following. 

Nenagh worked their way into the game and slick passing set up Josh Rowland to sprint towards the corner at the Roadside End to touchdown in fine style. 

The conversation was added by Ben Pope despite the swirling wind making matters difficult. It was a lead Nenagh Ormond held until full time, but Cashel kept them honest and with good scrummaging they had plenty of attacking options. 

Nenagh conceded a number of penalties in the game and three yellow cards at different stages ensured Cashel got into dangerous positions time and time again.

It was cagy early on when the steady Ben Twomey - from a penalty - made it a one point game just after the midway mark in the first half to leave the scoreline Nenagh 7 Cashel 6. 

Nenagh sensed they needed to take the game to the home team to keep them on the backfoot as Cashel were looking comfortable at the scrum and breakdown. Quick thinking from substitute Derek Corcoran gave them some breathing space as he produced a match changing moment.

The veteran gathered a ball and looked to run to his right and towards the Cashel corner but he changed his mind opting to run laterally instead, catching the Cashel side offguard, before angling a defence splitting kick into space. 

The hopping ball fell nicely for Nenagh as John Hally touched down just after in front of shocked Cashel supporters who felt they were matching their opponents well up until that point.

The conversation got caught in the wind however approaching the break both kickers for their respective teams, Ben Pope and Ben Twomey, added penalties to leave it at the break Nenagh 15 Cashel 9. 

It was tense and wide open. The hot whiskeys were ordered by supporters at the break as those present walked around and mingled to stay warm in the cold December air. 

The players stayed focused on the task at hand. On the restart Nenagh attacked, keeping the pressure on. It paid off when the excellent Ben Pope, the standout player on the field, was at the end of a team move to score a try into the Cahir Road corner pushing Nenagh 20 points to 9 clear in a close encounter. 

The conversion was missed but their handling skills meant that they could move at speed in the dry conditions and running at Cashel was paying dividends. 

In general play Nenagh were doing well when they ran at Cashel and the side were winning a high percentage of line outs, however their discipline meant that they were still conceding penalties.

John Healy was having a great game but another yellow card for Nenagh - they had three in total - allowed Cashel a chance to gain territory as they pushed hard to find a way back into the game. 

The pressure applied paid off when Tom Tobin touched down in the corner just by the clubhouse in fine style to great applause and the conversion followed. Cashel were right back in the game, leaving the scoreline Nenagh 20 Cashel 16. 

The home side pushed on again with constant attacking and confidence high. There was some yardage gain from Brendan Crosse as well as Ciaran and James Ryan however despite the constant pressure, they couldn't get the key try they were looking for. 

The clock was ticking. The subs bench called upon for tired bodies. Cashel threw the kitchen sink at Nenagh who showed real grit to withstand the pressure and they counted down the seconds until they were back to fifteen players. 

The game ebbed and flowed as Cashel pushed towards the try line. Richard Kingston was inches from the line and a mistimed catch just about kept Cashel at bay and while there were handling errors by both teams, it was hugely skilful and entertaining rugby in the Spafield cauldron.

Both sides held their nerve for the most part and played attacking rugby right up until the final play. Four behind, Cashel gave it everything to get back into the game and came oh so close with a final kick to set up a try drifting out of the range of grasping hands.

It was a fittingly tense, nerve wracking ending to an enthralling encounter and the good news for supporters is they get to do it all again in January when they meet for the return league fixture at New Ormond Park. 

Nenagh go into Christmas top of the table, eight points clear of their nearest rival, Cashel. More to come this season between these two quality sides, with all still to play for. 

MATCHDAY SQUADS:

NENAGH: Mikey Doran, John Healy, Colm Skehan, Jake O'Kelly, Joe Coffey, John O'Flaherty, Evan Murphy, John Hayes, Nicky Irwin, Ben Pope, Conor O'Shaughnessy, Patrick Scully, Willie Coffey (C), David Gleeson, Josh Rowland. SUBS: Niall O'Gorman, Jack O'Keefe, Kevin O'Flaherty, Kevin O'Gorman, Derek Corcoran. 

CASHEL: Cormac O'Donnell, Niall Fitzgerald, Brendan Ryan (C), Brendan Crosse, Ed Kelly, Aidan Butler, James Ryan, Ciaran Ryan, Josh Pickering, Jack Evenden, Tom Tobin, Jamie Ryan, Richard Kingston, Ryan O'Sullivan, Ben Twomey. SUBS: Sean O'Connell, Cathal Ryan, Hermann O'Donoghue, Kevin O'Connor, Paidi Leamy.