Nenagh Ormond 2nd XV 48 Kilfeacle 1st XV 39
Venue: New Ormond Park
Referee: Mike Scanlon
Report by: Mike McMahon
Nenagh Ormond 2nd XV defeated Kilfeacle RFC in a highly entertaining Mansergh Cup final last Tuesday evening (9th April) under the lights at Lisatunny.
The final scoreline of 48-39 to Nenagh was reflective of a game that was full of open play from the start and was very much in the balance until Nenagh scored their 7th and final try with the last play of the game.
This fixture was switched from its usual venue at Clanwilliam RFC to facilitate a move from Sunday to Tuesday at the request of Kilfeacle.
Conditions were excellent and the game was keenly contested from the start. Second rower James Meagher was first to cross the whitewash within the opening 5 minutes and shortly afterwards Nenagh went further in front when Davey Gleeson finished off a flowing move to touch down in the corner.
The Kilfeacle maul looked dangerous throughout, and they powered over twice in the first half to close the score difference until Nenagh out-half Derek Corcoran came up with a brilliant steal and break to put his side 19-10 in front at half-time.
The ebbs and flows continued in the second half as Kilfeacle got close again with a penalty and another maul try only for Nenagh to press ahead again with an excellent try from Brian O’Rourke following a break by Patrick Scully.
A yellow card for Kilfeacle and two tries in quick succession from Rob Buckley and Evan Fitzpatrick then saw Nenagh go into what looked like an unassailable 40-20 lead.
As the home side began to unload their bench however, Kilfeacle sensed an opportunity and began to get their backline moving, scoring two excellent tries to bring the margin back to just 6 points with plenty of time remaining.
Nenagh stretched the lead out to two scores with a Fitzpatrick penalty, but Kilfeacle responded once again and scored their sixth try to bring the game right to the wire.
With Kilfeacle out on their feet and barely seconds remaining, Nenagh finally secured the victory when Davy Gleeson rounded a broken defence to score his side’s seventh try and bring the final score to 48-39.
Not having won this trophy since turning senior in 2004, this was a great achievement for the club and due reward for a group of players who have trained diligently all season and missed out narrowly in the recent Munster Junior Cup Quarter final tie with Thomond.
Nenagh: 1. Ivan Struzia, 2. Jack Devanny, 3. Niall O’Gorman, 4. James Meagher, 5. Kevin O’Gorman, 6. Rob Buckley, 7. Robbie Tynan, 8. John Brislane, 9. Cian Ryan, 10. Derek Corcoran, 11. Kian O’Kelly, 12. Patrick Scully, 13. Brian O’Rourke, 14. Davey Gleeson, 15. Evan Fitzpatrick, 16. Shane Malone, 17. Padraic Bourke, 18. Sean Frawley, 19. Cillian Ryan, 20. Luke Conneally, 21. Luke Graham, 22. Conor McGrath.
Kilfeacle: 1. Richard Whitney, 2. Brendan Barron, 3. Simon Barry, 4. Bob Purcell, 5. Cormac Ryan, 6. Beau Walker, 7. Brian Barlow, 8. Kevin Kinane, 9. Gavin Heuston, 10. Luke Heuston, 11. Shane Farrell, 12. Muiri Lamb, 13. Jacques van Wyngaardt, 14. Michael McCormack, 15. Killian Noonan, 16. Brian Barron, 17. Daniel Lambe, 18. Ben White, 19. Robert Noonan, 20. Darren Lowry.
