Seasons grind down to defining moments, little watersheds - a bounce of a ball, a breakaway try, a hastily-flung forward pass. Those defining moments tend themselves to define relegation play-offs, and often the winner is decided not by magic footwork or beautiful rugby, but by which team retains enough composure to avoid critical mistakes. Nenagh and Rainey are two sides now fighting for their identity. Demotion to 2B would be, psychologically at least, a catastrophe.

Both clubs are proud bastions of rural rugby in areas with a distinctly different sporting culture. In North Tipp hurling is where the heart is. In many parts of Derry, soccer is the only game in town. So preserving Division 2A status means an awful lot to either club - its importance extends beyond the senior team and percolates right down into the underage ranks, where the next generation of players will be watching to see what the future holds. 

The first leg was quintessential knock-out stage rugby. It ended 17-17 all, Rainey mounting a second-half revival having been demolished by the visitors in the opening forty. Nenagh’s two tries, finished by scrum-half Nicky Irwin and centre Willie Coffey, arose from shrewd attacking movement and, one would imagine, some fragile nerves within the home side’s ranks.

Still, the Derry club showed a measure of resilience to salvage the game and eke out a stalemate, but they can ill-afford a similar first-half display in Lisatunny on Saturday. Anxiety will be everywhere - amongst the players, on the sideline, in the stands. Don’t expect swashbuckling rugby. This game is likely to be a fight, and perhaps, a battle of wits. 

Both these teams have had a long season. Their bodies are tired, and fatigue will inevitably become a factor as 4pm approaches. Fatigue, or in harsher terms, a lack of physical conditioning, may well be part of the reasons why Nenagh and Rainey have ended up in this fight for survival. Nenagh's form has been inconsistent to the point of absurdity, though they have been helped by factors such as injury and Covid-19.

The last time Rainey made the trip down to North Tipp in late February, they suffered a crushing 38-0 defeated. Granted, they were short some key players, but their performance was irredeemably poor - lacking in any sort of structure or conviction.

They will almost certainly bring a different ball game to New Ormond Park on Saturday, and if they whisk the ball regularly to the likes of Andrew Donagh and Scott McLean, the Magherafelt outfit may well trouble their opponents. Even so, Ormond, now on their own turf, have to enter this one as favourites. Much could hinge on out-half Fionn McGibney.

At time, the Number 10 commandeers and directs with deftness and intelligence. He is flamboyant, capable of landing a kick in behind or darting past three men himself with ball in hand. But he can also disappear. If he maintains his composure and remains present throughout, Nenagh should be playing Division 2A rugby next season.