Nenagh Ormond beat MU Barnhall on Saturday to win the AIL Division 2A trophy and clinch promotion the Division 1B for the first time in the club's history.
Nenagh put in a dominant display to beat the Kildare club 29-12. Nenagh went into the game needing a point to secure promotion to Division 1B of the Energia Ail. However, tries from Derek Corcoran, John Healy, Patrick Scully, two from Willie Coffey, as well as two conversions from the boot of Josh Rowland was more than enough to do the job.
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It was a busy weekend of AIL and provincial rugby throughout the province 🏉
Results: https://t.co/oyDNHQmSTT
AIL Roundup: https://t.co/J1lBNxwyiZ
Provincial Roundup: https://t.co/6OzTXKXjZW#MunsterStartsHere #SUAF 🔴
📸 @nenaghormondrfc pic.twitter.com/5fWht5Pn0d— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 1, 2024
The Tipperary club who are the reigning Munster senior club of the year has produced Ireland internationals Donnacha Ryan and Trevor Hogan as well as Scotland outhalf Ben Healy. They only turned senior in 2005 with their greatest achievement up to now back in the 2013/14 season when they won the Division 2B trophy.
Since then Nenagh have remained in 2A and have had a number of close losses in the play-off rounds during previous years as well as a relegation play off in 2022. On Saturday they were finally to secure promotion in their final home game of the season in front of their fans at New Ormond Park.
Captain of Nenagh Ormond Willie Coffey spoke to us after the game.
It has been an incredible season with the lads. From day one this year, our goal was to win the league, and there has been complete buy-in on that. From away days up North to a Tuesday night flogging, we've enjoyed every bit of it. There's such a great atmosphere in the club, and a lot of it comes back to our club motto 'One Club'. From minis to seniors, there's no egos, and we're all willing to lend a hand and have a bit of crack. It's difficult to put it into words, but this is such an amazing club.
There's such a great bunch of talented players there that deserve to be playing division 1 rugby. We've come a long way in the past 24 months, from fighting relegation to champions. Derek (Corcoran) and the coaches deserve so much praise, not only for the training, but for the belief they instilled in us throughout the year.
For a small club like us, only promoted from Junior rugby 20 years ago, this season means so much to the club. To win the league at home in front of our home crowd was incredible.
This is @nenaghormondrfc! Champions!@NenaghGuardian @TippFMSport pic.twitter.com/d5o0pbxag2
— Thomas Conway (@ThomasConway_96) March 30, 2024
Another Tipperary club in Cashel secured their spot in the play offs at the weekend where they will be joined by MU Barnhall. Banbridge and Old Crescent will battle it out for that final play off spot in the final round of the league this coming weekend.
This weekend's fixture list can be found here.
Nenagh Ormond: Sean Frawley, Dylan Murphy, Jack O'Keefe, Jake O'Kelly, Kevin O'Flaherty, John O'Flaherty, John Healy, Evan Murphy, Nicky Irwin, Derek Corcoran, Conor O'Shaughnessy, Willie Coffey (C), Conor McMahon, David Gleeson, Josh Rowland, Replacements: Mikey Doran, Colm Skehan, Joe Coffey, Patrick Scully, Eoin Gardiner
MU Barnhall: Keith Farrell, Cathal Duff (C), Daragh Bellanova, Luke Callinan, Ciaran Enright, Dan Murphy, Abdul Olaosebikan, Shane Stokes, Tim Lambe, Adam Chester, Conor Lacey, Nick Doggett, Sean Higgins, Sean Sexton, Conor Duggan, Replacements: Joshua Boyce Donohue, Jack Castles JP Botha, Fergus Stanley, Rob Holt.
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