Nenagh Ormond continue to impress with home victory over strong Shannon effort

All-Ireland League - Division 1B - Round 12

Nenagh Ormond   24      

Shannon RFC 18

By Mike McMahon

Two teams at opposite ends of the table but with the same objective – to get their season back on track after bruising defeats the previous week. 

Bottom-placed Shannon made the short journey up the M7 to take on second-placed Nenagh Ormond in this round 12 clash of AIL Division 1B.

This game was never going to be a classic. There was simply too much at stake for both teams but particularly for the Limerick men from “the parish” who are now seriously looking relegation in the face after being just edged out by their Tipperary neighbours in this tense and hard-fought contest 

The half-time score of three points apiece was entirely reflective of the game, a classic dogfight where every point was earned the hard way. Shannon did everything in their power to upset their high-flying hosts and the game was on a knife edge right to the final whistle. 

Nenagh opened the scoring through a ninth-minute penalty from centre Conor McMahon but there was no further score until out-half John O’Sullivan replied for the visitors. 

Half-time came and went and it was clear that the game's first try could prove decisive. That score came to Nenagh six minutes into the second half when hooker Dylan Murphy touched down from a driving lineout maul to give his side a 10-3 lead.

O’Sullivan brought the deficit back to four with a well-taken penalty but it was Nenagh who struck the next blow as referee Andrew Cole awarded a penalty try to the home team after Shannon were adjudged to have brought down a maul with a try looking certain.

Shannon responded immediately with a penalty try in similar circumstances at the other end and Nenagh were reduced to 14 after wing forward Joe Coffey was yellow carded in the same play.

As the game went into the final quarter, Nenagh captain Kevin O’Flaherty nudged his side further ahead from another driving maul and their lead stretched out to nine points with the scoreboard now standing at 24-13.

In keeping with a gritty performance throughout, Shannon responded almost immediately with a try from winger Matt Te Pou. 

When Nenagh were awarded a penalty with two minutes remaining, they had the choice to either try to kill the game off or go in search of a fourth try and a bonus point. 

They chose the latter option but failed to secure the resultant lineout and so left open the possibility open for a Shannon score which could have stolen the points.

As it happened, Ormond held out for the victory but the sense of relief amongst the home supporters was palpable. 

Nenagh remain in second place but their pursuit of Old Belvedere now seems a forlorn quest as the Dubliners went eight points clear at the top with an impressive 71-14 victory over Queens University.

The league now takes a mini-break until Saturday, February 8th when Nenagh will travel to Belfast to face Queens whilst Shannon will host fourth-placed Blackrock.

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Dylan Murphy, Penalty try, Kevin O’Flaherty; Cons: Conor McMahon 2, Pen try con; Pen: Conor McMahon.

Shannon: Tries: Penalty try, Matt Te Pou; Con: Pen try con; Pens: John O’Sullivan (2).

Nenagh Ormond: Josh Rowland; Davey Gleeson, Conor McMahon, Angus Blackmore, Brian O’Rourke; Charlie O’Doherty, Nicky Irwin; Sean Frawley, Dylan Murphy, Jack O’Keeffe, Craig Hannon, Kevin O’Flaherty (capt), Jake O’Kelly, Joe Coffey, John O’Flaherty.

Replacements: Shane Maloney, Matthew Burke, Fionn O’Meara, John Healy, Ben Pope, Derek Corcoran.

SHANNON: Cillian Corkery; Jack O’Donnell, Luke Doyle, Harry Long (capt), Matt Te Pou; John O’Sullivan, Ian Leonard; Conor Glynn, Alex Long, Cathal Hynes, Jack Brady, Jade Kriel, Kelvin Brown, Tadhg O’Brien, Lee Nicholas.

Replacements: Jordan Prenderville, Shane Carew, Christian Storey, Scott Gleeson, Rory McDermott, Sam Birrane.

Referee: Andrew Cole