More misery for Nenagh Ormond who flounder at home to rampant Ballynahinch outfit

All-Ireland League - Division 1A - Round 6

Nenagh Ormond 3 

Ballynahinch 24

Report by Mike McMahon

The barren season continues for Nenagh Ormond as they succumbed to a determined Ballynahinch team, who left New Ormond Park with all five points in a dominant display.

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The northerners are now seasoned campaigners in Division 1A, and their experience showed as they gave the home team very little opportunity to get a foothold in this game and break their losing run.

Starting strongly, the visitors went ahead within five minutes when prop Tom McAllister powered over from close range, with full-back Conor Rankin adding the extras. 

Nenagh have made a habit of starting slowly in games this season and once again they were left with an uphill battle to overcome an early deficit.

A well-taken penalty from out-half Charlie O’Doherty did bring Nenagh back to within four points but Ballynahinch were applying most of the pressure through their excellent set piece and disciplined game plan.

This pressure eventually told on twenty minutes when the home team ran out of numbers after defending a series of phases, ultimately leading to Hinch right winger Aaron Sexton galloping over unopposed in the corner.

On the half-hour mark, Nenagh gained a five-metre lineout and drove for the line but were met with spirited defence from the Ulstermen, who were very much up for the fight. 

After a number of failed attempts through the forwards, O’Doherty decided to vary the attack and threw a long pass out towards right winger Davey Gleeson. Unfortunately for the home team, he was not able to gather and the siege was lifted.

Turning just 12-3 down, Nenagh were still very much in with a shout, but Hinch were clinical, dominating possession and giving the home team little or no opportunities to work with.

A speculative cross-field kick early in the second half found Hinch number eight Bradley Luney on the left wing and he managed to gather and shake off a defender to score in the corner. This was a soft concession and with the score now at 17-3, the game was moving rapidly away from the home team.

The visitors secured a fourth try and a bonus point when substitute Sam Warwick burst through a broken defence to score under the posts with nine minutes left to play. Hinch saw out the remainder to secure a comfortable win, which keeps them in fifth place and still in the championship hunt.

For Nenagh, a sixth consecutive league defeat means they remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are still seeking their first points in the top grade.

Nenagh Ormond: Matthew Brice, Davy Gleeson, Angus Blackmore, Willie Coffey, Fionn Higgins, Charlie O’Doherty, Luke Kerr; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Darragh McSweeney, Fionn O’Meara, Kevin O’Flaherty, John O’Flaherty, Robbie Tynan, John Brislane.

Replacements: Mateo Sentous, Matthew Burke, Sean Frawley, Jake O’Kelly, Nicky Irwin, Oscar Davey.

Ballynahinch: Conor Rankin, Aaron Sexton, Matthew Booth, Mark Best, Ethan Graham, Paul Kerr, Chris Gibson; Matthew Burke, Claytan Milligan, Tom McAllister, Declan Horrox, Ryan Connolly, Zack McCall, Jon Rodgers, Bradley Luney.

Replacements: Josh Hanlon, John Dickson, Stephen Campbell, Sam Warwick, Ruairi Meharg, Pierce Crowe.

Referee: Andrew Fogarty