Energia AIL Division 1B Round Playoff semi-final

(H-T Nenagh Ormond 15 Blackrock College 17)

New Ormond Park

Referee Keane Davison

Report by Mike McMahon

Scorers: Nenagh Ormond: Tries: Conor McMahon, Mikey Doran, Willie Coffey; Cons: Conor McMahon 2; Pens: Conor McMahon 2
Blackrock College: Tries: Dave McCarthy, Matthew Dwan; Cons: Conor O’Shaughnessy 2; Pens: Conor O’Shaughnessy 1

Player of the Match: Angus Blackmore

An historic season for Nenagh Ormond got even better last weekend as they overcame a fancied Blackrock College side to reach next week’s AIL 1B promotion play-off final, where they will meet UCC.

Having finished ahead of Blackrock in the league, Nenagh had the advantage of home soil for this semi-final and ran out deserving winners in the end by a scoreline of 25-17.

Blackrock started brightly and scored two first half tries through their impressive centre partnership of Dave McCarthy and Matthew Dwan. The home side kept in touch with tries by Conor McMahon and Mikey Doran but were down by two at half-time in what was a very tight contest.

Upping the pace after the break, Nenagh kept the Dubliners scoreless in a dominant second half performance and when centre Willie Coffey touched down midway through the half, the writing looked to be on the wall for the visitors. With their fitness and squad depth coming to the fore, Nenagh closed out the game perhaps more comfortably than the final score would suggest.

Blackrock had reached the play-offs by way of an impressive 40-28 home victory against Old Wesley. This victory also opened the door for fifth placed UCC to leapfrog Wesley into fourth and claim a place in the other semi-final.

The Cork students made the most of their late entry into the race for promotion to the top division by winning away to City of Armagh and thus earning a clash with Nenagh Ormond in next Saturday’s final, for which the Tipperary side will have home advantage.

In the regular season, Nenagh Ormond won both home and away against UCC in two very tight games and will probably enter the play-off final as the slightest of favourites considering they have home advantage. The students, however, finished the season strongly and have a number of Munster academy players in their line-up so will fancy their chances of a return to the top flight.

Considering that Nenagh were only promoted to 1B last year, to stand on the cusp of promotion in their first ever season at this level is an outstanding achievement. A large crowd will be expected in New Ormond Park on Saturday, where kick-off is at 2.30pm.

NENAGH ORMOND: 15. Josh Rowland, 14. Davey Gleeson, 13. Angus Blackmore, 12. Willie Coffey, 11. Conor McMahon, 10. Ben Pope, 9. Nicky Irwin, 1. Mikey Doran, 2. Dylan Murphy, 3. Matthew Burke, 4. Jake O’Kelly, 5. Kevin O’Flaherty (c), 6. Joe Coffey, 7. John Healy, 8. John O’Flaherty.

Replacements: 16. Ivan Struzia, 17. Colm Skehan, 18. John Brislane, 19. Rob Buckley, 20. Evan Murphy, 21. Charlie O’Doherty, 22. Derek Corcoran, 23. Patrick Scully.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: 15. Brian Colclough, 14. Ciaran Mangan, 13. Matthew Dwan, 12. Dave McCarthy, 11. Barry Galvin. 10. Conor O’Shaughnessy, 9. Jack Ringrose. 1. Paddy Moore, 2. Liam McMahon, 3. Joe Byrne, 4. Roy Whelan (c), 5. Kaylam Tytherleigh, 6. Tommy Butler, 7. Dave Fortune, 8. James Burke.

Replacements: 16. Stephen Judge, 17. Jack Mullany, 18. Andrew Savage, 19. Naoise Golden, 20. Odhran Ring, 21. Chris Rolland, Peter Quirke, Derry Moloney.