A 100 point thriller ends in agony for Nenagh Ormond despite brilliant attacking display

All-Ireland Rugby League - Division 1A - Round 17

Nenagh Ormond 49

UCD 57

By Mike McMahon

Nenagh Ormond have experienced many different types of defeat since their promotion to Division 1A, but they discovered a new one last Saturday, losing at home to UCD despite scoring 49 points in this high-scoring bottom-of-the-table clash.

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Nenagh simply could not handle the fast-paced offloading game of the students, which saw them run in nine tries altogether for a 57–49 victory.

In some ways, there was nothing at stake for this Round 17 clash, as both sides already knew their placing in the division with two games remaining. Nenagh’s relegation to Division 1B was already confirmed, while UCD will be involved in a promotion/relegation series in April.

Nevertheless, there was plenty of endeavour and entertaining rugby from both sides, with the game very much in the balance until the closing stages.

UCD hooker Thomas Quinn opened the scoring after only two minutes, but Nenagh hit back with a try from back-rower Jake O’Kelly to take the lead. Free-scoring UCD winger Daniel Hurley grabbed an 18th-minute try and added two more in the second half to bring his total for the season to 11.

Although Nenagh held a 28–24 lead at half-time, the UCD backline cut loose in the second half and ran in five tries, including one from impressive full-back Ruben Moloney and another from replacement out-half Daragh Gilbourne.

A late consolation try from Patrick Scully brought the Nenagh tally to seven, but it was not enough to secure a first win of the season for the home side.

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Conor O’Shaughnessy, Patrick Scully (2), Derek Corcoran, Mateo Sentous, Luke Kerr, Brian O’Rourke; Cons: Conor McMahon (4), Charlie O’Doherty (3).

UCD: Tries: Thomas Quinn, Daniel Hurley (3), Maxim Aschenbrenner (2), Oran Handley, Ruben Moloney, Daragh Gilbourne; Cons: Patrick Clancy (4), Daragh Gilbourne (2).

Nenagh Ormond: Davy Gleeson, Luke Kerr, Willie Coffey, Brian O’Rourke, Conor McMahon, Derek Corcoran, Charlie O’Doherty, Mikey Doran, Mateo Sentous, Ivan Struzia, Fionn O’Meara, Kevin Seymour, Jake O’Kelly, Joe Coffey, John O’Flaherty.

Replacements: Dylan Murphy, Richie Whelan, Matthew Burke, Kevin O’Flaherty, Patrick Scully, Conor O’Shaughnessy.

UCD: Ruben Moloney, Daniel Hurley, Mark Canniffe, Ben Brownlee, Maxim Aschenbrenner, Patrick Clancy, Thomas Quinn, Tom O’Riordan, Duinn Maguire, Jack Spencer, Donnacha McGuire, Daniel Barron, Oran Handley, Conor Tonge, Paul Gerard.

Replacements: Lucas Maguire, Mikey O’Reilly, Oisin Spain, Andrew O’Mahony, Daragh Gilbourne, Tom Murtagh.

Referee: Andrew Fogarty

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