Nenagh Ormond promotion hunt looking strong after brilliant win at Thomond Park

All Ireland League - Division 1B - Round 7

Nenagh Ormond 42

Shannon RFC 15

By Enda Murphy

The first All Ireland League meeting between these two sides, with the sense of occasion greatly added to by the evening fixture being played under lights at Thomond Park. 

When Nenagh Ormond became a senior club 20 years ago, Shannon were All-Ireland League champions but Nenagh have made huge strides since then and went into this game as warm favourites.

In truth, Nenagh justified their favourites tag with relative ease as they scored five tries in an impressive haul of 42 points against the team from “the parish” who have been in a period of transition since they were relegated from division 1A last season.

An early exchange of penalties left the scores level after 15 minutes, but Nenagh then took control with a well-worked try finished by left winger Patrick Scully followed by a touchline conversion and another penalty from centre Conor McMahon. 

The scoreline remained at 13-3 up to half-time but it was Nenagh who were very much on top.

Another McMahon penalty put the Tipperary men 16-3 clear early in the second period before Scully bagged his second try 11 minutes in, to leave the home side facing a 20-point deficit and a mammoth uphill struggle.

Although Shannon did score next when Munster hooker Eoghan Clarke put the finishing touches to a powerful maul, they were visibly tiring as the introduction of the Nenagh bench brought them fresh impetus. 

McMahon added a third try for Nenagh when he latched onto a long pass from Ben Pope to break clear and score under the posts. Shortly afterwards, the bonus point was secured when substitute lock Craig Hannon drove over from close range. 

A fine individual score by Stephen Kiely gave the Shannon support something to cheer about but the result was never in doubt and Nenagh hit the 40-point mark when Charlie O’Doherty finished off a flowing move to score his side’s fifth try and put a full stop on a memorable victory.

Nenagh Ormond can still hold onto their promotion aspirations as they retain second place in 1B but for Shannon, it looks like a tough spell as they travel next to league leaders Old Belvedere.

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Patrick Scully (2), Conor McMahon, Craig Hannon, Charlie O’Doherty; Cons: Conor McMahon (4); Pens: Conor McMahon (3).

Shannon RFC: Tries: Eoghan Clarke, Stephen Kiely; Con: Cillian O’Connor; Pen: Sean Nolan.

Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland; Patrick Scully, Conor McMahon, Angus Blackmore, Conor O’Shaughnessy; Ben Pope, Nicky Irwin; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Colm Skehan, Jake O’Kelly, Kevin O’Flaherty, Rob Buckley, Evan Murphy, John O’Flaherty.

Replacements: Jack Devanney, Jack O’Keeffe, Craig Hannon, John Brislane, Derek Corcoran, Charlie O’Doherty.

Shannon RFC: Cillian Corkery; Stephen Kiely, Cian O’Halloran, Harry Long, Darren Gavin; Sean Nolan, Evin Crowe; Conor Glynn, Eoghan Clarke, Emmet Calvey, Jack Brady, Cian McCann, Kelvin Brown, Oisin Minogue, Lee Nicholas.

Replacements: Alex Long, Shane Carew, Christian Storey, Ciaran Vaughan, Ian Leonard, Cillian O’Connor.

Referee: George Clancy