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Nenagh Ormond Rugby Football Club History
Before the official formation of the Ormond Cricket and Football Club, rugby was played in Nenagh in a somewhat sporadic fashion. After the initial kick-off in the Military Barracks field on 27th December 1875 there were periods of revivals followed by spells of inactivity. There are records that show there were teams in existence in areas such as Kilruane and Carrigatoher. However, in 1884 the Ormond Cricket Club became the Ormond Cricket and Football Club
In 1884 an advance notice appeared in the Nenagh Guardian announcing the revival of 'this really healthy outdoor amusement'. The game was played in Smithfield on Wednesday 26th March 1884 and resulted in a win for Limerick County by two goals to nil. The return match was played on 11th April and resulted in a draw. The first General Meeting of the Ormond Cricket and Football Club took place on 2nd April at 18 Castle Street, then Edward Coyne's. The first annual dinner of 'The Ormonds' as they began to be known was held in O' Meara's Hotel in March 1885. In 1886 the Munster Challenge Cup, now known as the Munster Senior Cup was born. The Ormonds were drawn in the first round against Garryowen. Theirs was the first fixture of the competition and kicked off at 3.30pm on 23rd February 1886. Garryowen won by 9 points to nil however, they went on to be beaten in the final by Bandon. Interestingly this Bandon team included a man called Brennan whose grandsons, Dom and Vincent played with Nenagh in the 1950s. The Ormonds continued to play in Munster competition. Some names began to stand out Chumney, Gleeson, McLeod, Hanly to name but a few who were praised regularly in print. Scores were hard to come by however, particularly the all-important conversion of a try into a goal. Bear in mind that a try only counted if there were no goals and as of 1886, only as a point - but 3 if converted into a goal. McLeod stands out as the only one recorded in the era to have secured a goal when he converted one of his three tries against Kilkenny. Jos Gleeson also stood out. He was selected for Munster in 1888 and was the Ormond's first interprovincial. His decendants are still highly involved in the club to day. His grandson Joe is a former president who
Tony Courtney (1899 - 1970) is the club's first full international. In fact, with Nenagh Ormond dormant from 1908 to 1924, Courtney's formative and peak years, his brief local career only followed his seven Irish caps. He learned his rugby at Clongowes College. He was a medical student at UCD when the college put out its first senior rugby team in 1919-20. He made his debut for Ireland against Scotland in Inverleith, Edinburge in 1920. Ireland were beaten 19 - 0. He played in Irelands next match, against Wales, Ireland were beaten 18 - 4 but Courtney was praised for having played well. In 1921 he played in all 4 internationals and was always named among the newspapers' favoured forwards. In the match against Scotland, Ireland were down 8 - 3 at half time. The big Nenagh and UCD man, the college's first international, helped to turn the tide. He broke away from a line-out, drew the full-back and passed to Cunningham who crossed the line. Ireland won 9 - 8.
Liam O' Brien of of the 1948 Garryowen Cup win by Nenagh Ormond was on an Irish XV which played a British Rugby XV in February 1944. It did not have full international status, those games having been suspended for the duration of World War II. Tony Courtney held the proud record of being Nenagh's only ever full international, eventhough Barry Everett and Ray Hogan both did us proud by wearing the Green Jersey in Under 21 and Ireland A Teams. However, on Sunday 12th June 2005, on a misty muggy day in Japan, Trevor Hogan, who we have seen blossom with Munster through the Celtic League and Heiniken Cup competitions, came on as a Sub to earn his first (hopefully of many) full international caps and become the second Nenagh man, and the only one remaining alive today to do so. Since that day in Japan we have had more Nenagh men in the Green Jersey Donncha Ryan played on the Ireland A team in the Churchill Cup in 2008 Barry Everett Fiona Steed Inter-provincial Senior Clubs Jack Hegarty First taste of Silverware - Garryowen Cup 1926 The cup was presented by the Garryowen Club the previous year to encourage the game in North Munster among the new clubs. They ruled themselves and other more established Limerick City clubs out. Thurles took it home on its first outing. In the 1926 final Nenagh played Fethard on Saturday March 13th 1926 in Templemore. Nenagh emerged winners, the score 6 points to 5. To Be Continued .......... Log back on soon to find out what happened next
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