Sports Ireland has another compelling club rugby story to follow as John O’Flaherty leads Nenagh Ormond into a fresh Division 1B campaign. Two wins from two matches have given the Tipperary club an immediate lift after the bruising experience of last season in the top tier.
O’Flaherty, a 31-year-old Burgess native, has taken over the Nenagh captaincy from his older brother Kevin. With more than 150 senior appearances behind him, the number eight brings experience, resilience and a deep understanding of a club that has transformed itself in recent seasons.
Sports Ireland: Nenagh make a winning start
Nenagh opened their league campaign with a valuable 22-12 away victory over Highfield at Woodleigh Park before overcoming Naas 31-21 at New Ormond Park. The results have delivered nine points and, just as importantly, restored confidence after a difficult spell in Division 1A.
The win in Cork was particularly significant. Before that match, Nenagh’s previous Energia All-Ireland League victory had come in April 2025, when a late Josh Rowland try secured a dramatic 36-33 promotion play-off win over UCC.
That triumph followed Munster Senior Cup success and promotion from Division 2A. Nenagh then faced the country’s leading clubs in Division 1A, losing all 18 league matches. The results were painful, but the experience has become a central part of the club’s current rebuilding effort.
Experience gained the hard way
O’Flaherty believes the campaign still brought enormous value to a young squad. Five or six under-20 players featured in Division 1A, gaining exposure that could prove decisive in the more evenly matched battles of Division 1B.
Rather than allowing the losing run to split the group, Nenagh maintained its energy at training and continued to compete in other areas. Their run to the Munster Junior Cup final showed that the club’s spirit remained intact.
That togetherness is now one of Nenagh’s greatest strengths. The side knows that Division 1B will be fiercely competitive, but it also knows what is required to survive pressure and recover during a match.
A new chapter under John O’Flaherty
The captaincy carries particular meaning for O’Flaherty. He previously led the team during the uncertain pandemic seasons, but this latest spell arrives with greater responsibility and a much broader perspective.
He has spent close to a decade in the senior side and recently passed the 150-cap mark. His next personal target is his brother Kevin’s 200 appearances, provided his fitness continues to hold up.
O’Flaherty’s leadership is also shaped by the club’s community. He has highlighted the work of the volunteers, coaches and supporters who operate behind the scenes, making the captaincy about representing the entire Nenagh Ormond family rather than simply directing the team on match day.
His distinctive white and red scrum cap has become a familiar sight in the Nenagh back row, but it is his consistency and experience that may matter most as the season develops.
Lessons from Division 1A
Nenagh’s early victories suggest the lessons from last year are already influencing their rugby. Against Highfield, they spent much of the opening half under pressure, defended strongly and improved after the interval. Against Naas, they built a lead before surviving a determined second-half comeback to claim a bonus-point win.
Those matches required patience and composure—qualities that were often tested in Division 1A. The challenge now is to maintain that discipline for the full 80 minutes throughout the season.
O’Flaherty expects the division to remain tightly packed, with teams capable of beating one another every week. Nenagh’s ambition is clear: use last season’s education to remain in contention and, ultimately, create another route back to the top flight.
Instonians provide the next test
The next fixture brings Instonians to New Ormond Park for the clubs’ first league meeting in almost 13 years. Nenagh won their last encounter 20-8 in November 2013, although the current captain was not involved.
Instonians’ rise has attracted considerable attention. After dropping into the junior ranks, the Belfast club secured a remarkable sequence of promotions and narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 1A last season.
That makes the fixture a useful early measure of Nenagh’s progress. A third consecutive victory would strengthen their position and provide further evidence that the club has recovered from its difficult top-flight campaign.
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What to watch next
Nenagh Ormond’s immediate priority is Instonians, but the bigger story is whether this group can turn hard lessons into sustained progress. The opening wins have created momentum; the next challenge is proving that the club can perform consistently across a demanding Division 1B season.
For O’Flaherty, the task is both personal and collective: lead a young squad, honour the club’s tradition and help Nenagh build towards another promotion push. Sports Ireland will be watching closely as this new chapter unfolds.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
