DIVISION THREE FINAL Queen's University 17 Nenagh Ormond 16:NOT EVEN the supporting presence of Leinster's Trevor Hogan and Munster's Donnacha Ryan could help Nenagh Ormond prevent a 79th-minute try by wing Chris Quinn from completing an Ulster Senior Cup-AIB League Division Three double for Queen's University at Anglesea Road on Saturday.
Still, Queen’s director of rugby, Robbie Moore, was not happy with the display: “It was one of our worst performances of the season. We didn’t play at all this afternoon,” said Moore. “Our first objective was to achieve promotion. We did that. Then, the Ulster Senior Cup was next in our sights. We won that final 34-0 against Malone last Friday week”.
Certainly, that performance alone would have made them heavy favourites to put on a five-star show. But, Nenagh did not travel to be second best.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Moore continued. “Nenagh played very well. They made it difficult for us. There wasn’t much in it in the regular season league match. It went our way 18-13.
“But, our backs did not perform. Some of our passes were very, very poor. Had we lost I would have had no complaints whatsoever”.
Ultimately, the try count fell in favour of Queen’s as outhalf Michael Pyper’s intercept from halfway, tighthead Mark Sampson’s rumble from one metre and wing Chris Quinn’s 79th- minute touchdown eventually eclipsed the Tipperary club.
It will come as little consolation to Nenagh that they made it so hard for so long. They just didn’t have the fire-power to deliver the knock-out blow, lock David Walsh pouncing on the indecision of the Queen’s backs for their only try.
QUB: D McElwaine; C Quinn, M Hooks, J Reekie, M Arneill; M Pyper, I Porter; P Karayiannis, G Megaw, M Sampson, T Patton, A Linton, P McGowan, G Hooks, M Robinson (capt). Replacements: M Ferguson for Patton (17 mins), J Shiels for Reekie (54 mins), J McKinney for Hooks, M Boyd for Megaw (64 mins), C O'Neill for McGowan (65 mins) R Whitten for Arneill (67 mins).
NENAGH ORMOND: S Harvey; G Harmse, J Kingston, T Connolly (capt), C McMahon; D Delaney, D Corcoran; C Brislane, D Dunne, F Brislane, D Walsh, D Gallagher, S O'Callaghan, B Williams, K Quigley. Replacements: J Quigley for Walsh (47 mins), M Fogarty for Harmse (56 mins), M Slattery for O'Callaghan (69 mins).
Referee: A Rogan(IRFU).