Munster Junior Challenge Cup Quarter Final

Sunday 30th March, New Ormond Park

(half-time Nenagh Ormond 15  Thomond RFC 14)

Report by Mike McMahon

A sensational Junior Cup tie between Nenagh Ormond and Thomond RFC saw the Limerick side grab a dramatic late victory to reach the Munster Junior Challenge Cup Semi-Finals.

In a topsy-turvy game which flowed one way and then the other, Nenagh got off to the perfect start and were 15 points up at the end of the first quarter with tries from centre Brian O’Rourke and right winger Ryan Thomson added to by a successful penalty from Nenagh’s impressive out-half Charlie O’Doherty.

Not having experienced defeat so far this season, Thomond were stunned into a response and finally began to show some of the form that sees them come off the back of 13 straight victories in all competitions. 

Nenagh lost their big second row Kevin O’Gorman half way through the first period and then lost his replacement Darragh Tucker minutes later. This disrupted the home side and as Thomond began to apply pressure, Nenagh lost another forward when flanker James Meagher saw yellow with the penalty count mounting.

Eventually the pressure told as flanker Riann O’Dwyer forced his way over under the posts to bring his side very much back into the game. As the half came to a close, Thomond once again began to turn the screw and scored a second try through number 8 Shane Kiely after Nenagh had been reduced to 13 following another yellow – this time for lock Fionn O’Meara.

Starting the half two men down and now playing into the breeze, Nenagh’s 15-14 half-time lead looked very precarious as the large number of travelling fans began to find their voice. Thomond looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage early on and after a series of rucks close to the home line, O’Dwyer grabbed his second try, diving over the ruck to touch down and give his side the lead for the first time.

Thomond’s lead lasted only two minutes however as the imperious O’Doherty took a quick tap penalty and beat several defenders before touching down under the posts – converting the try himself to restore a single point advantage for Nenagh.

With 10 minutes remaining, another O’Doherty break from deep almost resulted in Brian O’Rourke getting clear up the right wing only to be thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from Thomond full back (and former Nenagh player) Jamie McGarry.

The helter-skelter play continued as Thomond looked to be going in under the posts, but a tremendous counter-ruck from Nenagh won the ball back and they immediately attacked from deep. The ball eventually found its way to Ryan Thomson on the right wing, and he made excellent headway before passing inside to replacement full back debutant Sam Cusack who finished with style for the game’s outstanding try.

With only 5 minutes remaining and now 8 points clear, Nenagh now looked to hold all the cards, but a successful Thomond penalty brought the Limerick men back to within a try score. Incredibly that try came with only 2 minutes remaining as Thomond created space down the left for winger Cillian Moughty to race 50 meters and touch down in the corner to raucous approval from the travelling support.

With the difficult conversion missed and the scores now tied at 29-29, the game now looked to be going into extra time but almost inevitably, there was time for one more twist as Thomond won a penalty in the dying seconds and a chance to secure an unlikely win. 

Centre Jason Kiely held his nerve to slot the kick and seal a semi-final place for his team - sparking wild celebrations from the Limerick contingent and palpable dejection for a valiant home side who played a full part in what was an outstanding game of rugby.

 

NENAGH ORMOND: 15. Evan Fitzpatrick, 14. Ryan Thompson, 13. Brian O’Rourke, 12. Robbie Tynan, 11. Kian O’Kelly; 10. Charlie O’Doherty, 9. Cian Ryan, 1. Sean Frawley, 2. Jack Devanny, 3. Matthew Burke, 4. Fionn O’Meara, 5. Kevin O’Gorman (capt), 6. Rob Buckley, 7. James Meagher, 8. John Brislane.

Replacements: 16. Shane Malone, 17. Paudie Bourke, 18. Niall O’Gorman, 19. Darragh Tucker, 20. Ivan Struzia, 21. Sam Cusack, 22. Alex Moloney.

Thomond: 15. Jamie McGarry, 14. Luke Costelloe, 13. Joshua Dillon, 12. Jason Kiely, 11. Cillian Moughty, 10. Eoghain Sherlock, 9. Joe O’Toole, 1. Seaghan Gleeson, 2. Sean Rice, 3. Kian McGrath, 4. Cian Gorey, 5. Aidan Quinlivan, 6. Riann O’Dwyer, 7. Kealon McMahon, 8. Shane Kelly.

Replacements: 16. Rian Burke, 17. Jack O’Shea, 18. Colin Slater, 19. Colin McCarthy, 20. Maksymillan Zerdel, 21. Andrew Lyons, 22. Gary Bateman.