Nenagh Ormond managed to register their first point of the season despite another home loss

All-Ireland League - Division 1A - Round 11

Nenagh Ormond 31

Young Munster 43

By Mike McMahon

A cracking contest to open 2026 as Young Munster edged out Nenagh Ormond in this highly entertaining AIL Division 1A clash at New Ormond Park.

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The visitors had put up a big score against Nenagh in the corresponding fixture before Christmas, and Cookies supporters travelled out from Limerick in numbers, expecting more of the same.

That expectation was thwarted early as Nenagh raced into a 14–0 lead after only nine minutes. Willie Coffey opened the scoring three minutes in with a powerful burst, and Charlie O’Doherty added the second after concerted pressure from the home side.

As could be expected, Young Munster responded quickly and got off the mark through Oran O’Reilly after a strong carry by his second-row partner and captain Alan Kennedy.

When centre McCready capitalised on a defensive lapse to score his side’s second try shortly afterwards, things looked a little ominous for the home side, but they were in no mood to surrender lightly. Halfway through the first period Willie Coffey barged over for his second and Nenagh’s third try, and with the scores now at 21–12, Young Munster knew they were very much in a contest.

With serious firepower at their disposal, the visitors always looked dangerous, but Nenagh defended well and were a little unlucky themselves on a couple of occasions. Young Munster got their noses in front, however, late in the half with two tries, both emanating from lineouts deep in Nenagh territory. With only two points between the sides at half-time, the game was very much in the balance, and when talisman wing-forward Bailey Faloon was yellow-carded early in the second half, things were looking up for Nenagh.

They got even better 16 minutes in when scrum-half Luke Kerr broke through a clutch of defenders to score under the posts and restore the lead for his side, also securing a four-try bonus point, Nenagh’s first of the season.

Nenagh were still in front with 10 minutes remaining, but with talent such as Munster out-half Tony Butler to spring from the bench, Young Munster were always going to finish strongly.

Oisin Pepper scored a fourth try for the Limerick men from a well-worked move off a scrum, and heading into added time, scrum-half Jake O’Riordan capped a fine individual display with their fifth to finally settle the contest and deny Nenagh a losing bonus point.

A much-improved display from the home side, however, and hopefully a sign of things to come. Next up is a trip to Clontarf in two weeks’ time.

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Coffey (2), O’Doherty, Kerr; Cons: O’Doherty (4); Pens: O’Doherty.

Young Munster: Tries: O’Reilly, McCready, Hanson, O’Loughlin, Pepper, O’Riordan; Cons: O’Leary (5); Pens: O’Leary.

Nenagh Ormond: Davy Gleeson, Patrick Scully, Sean O’Brien, Angus Blackmore, Fionn Higgins, Charlie O’Doherty, Luke Kerr, Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Matthew Burke, Kevin Seymour, Kevin O’Flaherty (c), Rob Buckley, John O’Flaherty, Willie Coffey.

Replacements: Mateo Sentous, Sean Frawley, Fionn O’Meara, Robbie Tynan, Nicky Irwin, James Finn.

Young Munster: S. O’Leary, O. Pepper, F. Gibbons, L. McCready, S. McCarthy, K. Langan, J. O’Riordan, D. Begley, S. McLoughlin, K. Ryan, A. Kennedy (c), O. O’Reilly, A. Hanson, B. Faloon, L. Murphy.

Replacements: A. Roulston, B. Everard, J. Horrigan, L. Langbridge, T. Butler, O. Burke.

Referee: Jonathan Erskine

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