Nenagh Ormond fall to first defeat of season but still come away with points

Energia All Ireland League - Division 1B - Round 4

Nenagh Ormond 31

Old Belvedere 32

By Mike McMahon

Old Belvedere snatched a dramatic one-point win away to Nenagh Ormond with a late penalty to sweep back to the top of Division 1B in a highly entertaining game at New Ormond Park.

This was a cracking contest between two in-form teams with the momentum switching first one way and then the other before the visitors finally prevailed in a tie that could have gone either way. 

Each side scored four tries to secure a bonus point, with Old Belvedere displacing Nenagh at the top of the division, with two points clear of UCC in second place, who now just shaded Nenagh into third place on points difference. 

Belvedere started the game impressively, taking barely over a minute to force over the line from a driving maul. Within five minutes, they had doubled their lead to 14 when lively scrum-half Jack Dunne broke clear down the touchline and left the home defense flat-footed as he darted in under the posts for a fine individual score. 

By half time however, the home side had wrested back control as they led 17-14 with tries from Willie Coffey and Ben Pope and a penalty from Conor McMahon.

Belvo came out firing once again in the second half and within 15 minutes, they were 12 points clear after tries from Patrick Dowling and Andre Ryan. Nenagh were shell-shocked but battled back bravely and were rewarded with a penalty try with 15 minutes remaining. 

With time running out, they dramatically claimed the lead once again when lock Kevin O’Flaherty forced his way over and McMahon added the extras to lead 31-29 with barely a minute left.

The final play was a Nenagh scrum on their own 22, but they could not hold out under enormous pressure. Referee Robbie Jenkinson awarded the away side a penalty, which was coolly slotted by out-half Sam Wisniewski to give his side a last-gasp win with the final kick of the game.

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Willie Coffey, Ben Pope, Kevin O’Flaherty, Penalty try. Cons: Conor McMahon (3). Penalty: Conor McMahon.

Old Belvedere: Tries: Ryan McMahon, Jack Dunne, Paddy Dowling, Andre Ryan; Cons: Sam Wisniewski (3). Pens: Sam Wisniewski (2).

Nenagh Ormond: Ben Pope; Conor O’Shaughnessy, Angus Blackmore, Willie Coffey, Conor McMahon; Derek Corcoran, Nicky Irwin; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Colm Skehan, Jake O’Kelly, Kevin O’Flaherty, Joe Coffey, Evan Murphy, John O’Flaherty.

Replacements: Jack Devanny, Jack O’Keeffe, Matthew Burke, Craig Hannon, John Brislane, Charlie O’Doherty.

Old Belvedere: Joe White; Jack Keating, Jayden Beckett, Justin Leonard, Andre Ryan; Sam Wisniewski, Jack Dunne; Hugh Flood, Calum Dowling, Ryan McMahon, Fionn McWey, Eddie Rees, Paddy Dowling, Will McDonald, Tasipale Valavala.

Replacements: Luke McLaughlin, Hugh Hogan, Kale Thatcher, Peter O’Beirne, David Wilkinson, Gavin Nugent.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson