Nenagh on verge of becoming first Tipp side to reach AIL Division 1A
It's 20 years since Nenagh Ormond became the first Tipperary side to take the leap into the All-Ireland League. Now, they are 80 minutes away from becoming the first Tipp team to reach Irish club rugby's highest rung. That would be some anniversary gift.
It's been quite the journey to get within eyeshot of Ireland's top-10 clubs. Not long ago, Ormond looked more likely to be heading for the fourth tier than the first.
They were in a relegation scrap when Covid cancelled the 2020 season finale. When domestic rugby returned, they had to survive a relegation play-off in 2022.
That was a turning point. Since then, the only way has been up.
In the three seasons leading up to that moment, Ormond won 14 games. In the three seasons since then, they have won 40.
They lost a promotion semi-final in 2023, captured the Division 2A title in '24, and will face UCC in the Division 1A/1B promotion play-off final at New Ormond Park on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off).
What's more, Ormond have contested two of the past three Munster Senior Cup finals, etching their name onto that famous trophy for the first time last month.
'There's no magic wand,' says backs coach Dan Fogarty of their transformation. 'It's been a whirlwind and it's a majority of the same players, which is a credit to themselves.
'They put in the effort. They've done everything they've been asked to do, mainly around strength and conditioning.
'When the club went from junior to senior, it took us nine years to get promoted into 2A and then another nine years to get promoted up to 1B.
'We've exceeded expectations this year, winning a Munster Senior Cup final and getting to a play-off final against UCC, a very historic club. To be even mentioned in the same breath as UCC in a play-off final, it feels surreal.'
Their head coach is Derek Corcoran, who has given lengthy service to Ormond. At 41, he is still seeing out games as their replacement out-half.
Back in 2014, when they went unbeaten to secure the Division 2B title, Fogarty lined out alongside Corcoran, who was already doubling up as coach back then, as well as current players Kevin O'Flaherty, Willie Coffey, and John Healy.
'I've played with Nenagh all my life,' says Fogarty. 'I was playing when we got promoted from 2B up into 2A. Then, due to unfortunate circumstances, I had to retire when I was 25.
'I coached in different places, like in Roscrea School and Shannon. When Derek became head coach, he asked me to come back and be part of the group, which I was absolutely delighted to do. Being a Nenagh man, it meant a lot to me.'
Ormond finished second in 1B this season, ahead of UCC in fourth, but the Students called on a quartet of Munster Academy players to relegate City of Armagh last weekend in Ben O'Connor, Seán Edogbo, Michael Foy, and Gene O'Leary Kareem.
Still, if all goes to plan, Tipperary rugby could even gain a double promotion as Cashel travel to College Park to meet Dublin University in the 1B/2A promotion play-off final.
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