Cashel ends Nenagh Ormond's unbeaten run with a brilliant away performance

AIL Division 2A - Round 10

Cashel RFC 20 

Nenagh Ormond RFC 13

By James Hayden

One of the biggest crowds of the year descended on New Ormond Park, Nenagh on Saturday afternoon last to witness a clinical Cashel side end Nenagh Ormond's nine-game unbeaten start to the season in what proved an absorbing top-of-the-table AIL Division 2A clash between two fierce Tipperary rivals.

Both Nenagh Ormond RFC and Cashel RFC have faced off in many a teak-tough battle down through the years and the latest chapter in their long-standing rivalry saw Cashel making the short journey to the north of the county in a bid to atone for a 20-16 home December defeat to a high flying and undefeated Nenagh Ormond side.

With a 100 per cent start to the first half of the season a depleted Nenagh Ormond side minus the services of John Hayes, Conor O’Shaughnessy and Kevin O’Gorman went into this clash with an eight-point advantage at the summit of the Division 2B table but Cashel were in no mood for a second capitulation on the bounce and took the game to the home side right from the kick-off.

Indeed, it was Nenagh who struggled to gain any semblance of a foothold inside their own 22' in the opening 20 minutes and with their lineout malfunctioning and scrums coming under severe pressure it came as no surprise when, after a sustained period of phased play, Cashel were first to register thanks to a 14th minute Ben Twomey penalty right in front of the Nenagh posts after Ormond captain, Willie Coffey was pinged for a high tackle on fly-half, Jack Evenden.

Nenagh’s response saw them mount an incursion deep into the Cashel half and but for the intervention of the Cashel defence Willie Coffey’s attempt to pop the ball to the impressive John Healy would have surely resulted in a retaliatory try.

Cashel were clearly dominating in most sectors though and a 24th penalty saw them kick to the corner when the posts were a viable option in what was a clear signal of their early intent. Hooker Niall Fitzgerald’s lineout throw was inch perfect and from the resulting possession the Cashel pack mauled their way towards the Nenagh line. 

Despite referee Andrew Mitchell's warnings Nenagh infringed and the Ulsterman was left with no option but to award a penalty try with the home side dealt a further blow after lock, Jake O’Kelly was sin-binned for the infringement.

Nenagh responded impressively though with their first real and meaningful incursion into the Cashel 22' after Evan Murphy gathered the kick-off and embarked on a surging run before handing off to Nicky Irwin on his shoulder. Cashel were pinged though for an indiscretion at the resulting ruck and Conor McMahon duly slotted the resulting penalty straight between the posts.

Despite being numerically advantaged, Cashel found themselves slightly under the kosh during the O’Kelly’s sin-bin period and fly-half Derek Corcoran’s sublime crossfield kick straight into the breadbasket of winger, Davy Gleeson almost saw the league leaders in for what would have been an audacious try.

Cashel held firm though and in the closing ten minutes of the half both their scrum and lineout stood up admirably to the Nenagh pressure before an impressive finish to the half saw them fashion a 17-3 interval advantage. An initial attack saw Cashel’s number 8 Ciaran Ryan block Derek Corcoran’s attempt at a through kick on Nenagh’s own 10-metre line. Ryan subsequently gathered possession and marauded his way into the Nenagh 22' before Cashel's backs quickly whipped the ball across to winger Ryan O’Sullivan whose attempt to get in in the corner was thwarted by a last-ditch Davy Gleeson tackle. From the resulting line out Nenagh’s misplaced kicked clearance was worked well through the hands of Ryan O’Sullivan, Ben Twomey, Tom Tobin and James Ryan before Ryan’s popped pass put scrum-half Josh Pickering clean through for Cashel’s second try of the half. Ben Twomey added the conversion to ensure the visitors were well in truly in control at the break.

Nenagh re-jigged their side at half-time with replacement Joe Coffey slotting in as openside flanker while John Healy moved to centre in a switch that paid immediate dividends with a 43rd minute Davy Gleeson try coupled with a Conor McMahon conversion serving to breathe life back into Nenagh’s challenge. The impressive Evan Murphy created the opening for the try before John Healy popped up on his shoulder and put Gleeson through for a deserved Nenagh try.

The absorbing nature of the clash continued throughout the second half with both sides coping well in defence, although Nenagh’s error count was ratcheting up noticeably. Nenagh posed a constant threat though with scrum-half Nicky Irwin’s 54th minute kick over the Cashel defence gathered well by Ben Pope but his pass to Davy Gleeson was just out of the grasp of the Nenagh winger and the home side's chance of a second try quickly dissipated.

Nenagh continued to press but a botched tap and go attempt close to the Cashel line on 58 minutes hampered their efforts. Cashel consolidated their efforts though and added a further penalty after Ben Twomey slotted between the posts on 63 minutes before Cashel were forced to soak up sustained Nenagh pressure as the home side sought to narrow the deficit and at the very least secure a losing bonus point.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Nenagh did indeed secure a losing bonus point with a second penalty from the left boot of Conor McMahon and with over nine minutes of time added on Nenagh pressed hard in the hopes of securing a late, levelling try but again the home side’s issues with their line-out and scrum ensured Cashel’s seven-point advantage remained intact to the final for a fully deserved derby victory.

Cashel’s victory now leaves five points between the sides at the top of AIL Division 2A with Nenagh away to Greystones and Cashel at home to Old Crescent next Saturday.

Cashel RFC: Cormac O’Donnell, Niall Fitzgerald, Brendan Ryan, Brendan Crosse, Ed Kelly, Aidan Butler, James Ryan, Ciaran Ryan, Josh Pickering, Jack Evenden, Tom Tobin, James Ryan, Richard Kingston, Ryan O’Sullivan, Ben Twomey.

Subs used: Paudie Leamy for O’Sullivan (55), Hermann O’Donoghue for Crosse (65); Sean O’Connell for O’Donnell (65).

Nenagh Ormond RFC: Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Colm Skehan, Jake O’Kelly, Kevin O’Flaherty, John O’Flaherty, John Healy, Evan Murphy, Nicky Irwin, Derek Corcoran, Conor McMahon, Patrick Scully, Willie Coffey, David Gleeson, Ben Pope.

Subs used: Joe Coffey for Scully (HT); Patrick Scully for Kevin O’Flaherty (60); Paudie Burke for Doran (68); Jack O’Keefe for Skehan (68); Rob Buckley for Murphy (70); Eoin Gardiner for Irwin (78).

Referee: Andrew Mitchell