Gaelic Games

Barry O’Driscoll’s crucial goal helps turn the tide for Nemo

City powerhouse Rangers reclaim the title for the first time since 2010

Nemo Rangers’ Conor Horgan in ation against Tom O’Leary of Castlehaven during the Cork SFChampionship Final replay at Páirc Uí Rinn. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Sun Oct 25 2015 - 19:54

Nemo Rangers 1-10 Castlehaven 0-11

Nemo Rangers swept to their 19th Cork senior football title with a powerful last-quarter surge in their replayed final against Castlehaven at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

The roll-of-honour leaders had to dig deep after falling 0-9 to 0-6 behind early in the second-half as Castlehaven looked the more likely side to succeed for long periods.

As always, there were a number of game-defining incidents which turned the contest Nemo’s way.

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The first came in the 37th minute, when Michael Hurley was sent straight through the Nemo defence only for outstanding goalkeeper Micheal Aodh Martin to pull off a brilliant save, diving to his right to turn the ball away for a ‘45’.

Golden opportunity

Castlehaven didn’t leave empty-handed, however, because Paudie Hurley took a quick delivery to Mark Collins, who drilled over his side’s ninth point for a three-point lead.

The Cork county player missed a golden opportunity to stretch it to four when his weak finish dropped into Martin’s grateful arms and Nemo duly prospered at the other end with a priceless goal.

Captain Paul Kerrigan sent Conor Horgan in along the right end-line before he punched the ball across the face of the goal for Barry O’Driscoll to fist home at the far post.

Now level at 1-6 to 0-9 entering the final quarter-hour, Nemo took inspiration from this major breakthrough and kicked a couple of quick-fire points from a James Masters’ free and a Kerrigan effort off his left foot.

Typically, the ’Haven responded to the challenge by restoring parity with two points in a minute, courtesy of substitute Stephen Hurley and wing-back Chris Hayes.

The next score was always going to be crucial and Nemo snatched it in the 57th minute with veteran Masters showing his class and experience. The city side, last champions in 2010, played keep-ball in the two additional minutes before a Kerrigan free sealed matters.

Castlehaven led 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time, having started and finished the period on top with Nemo dominating the middle portion.

Despite O’Driscoll pointing after 30 seconds, it was the ’Haven who gained a stranglehold around the centre and lorded possession.

Conor Cahalane, younger brother of Damien, levelled almost immediately before Mark Collins and a Brian Hurley free left it 0-3 to 0-1 though missed chances prevented them moving further in front.

Nemo capitalised from limited opportunities as corner-back Alan Cronin and Horgan, who struck the butt of an upright, pointed to level the tie for the first time after 20 minutes.

The teams were level twice more before the ’Haven finished strongly. Brian Hurley, who was held scoreless from play over the two games, pointed a free for 0-6 to 0-5 approaching the break.

In stoppage time, the Haven gained a seventh point in the most unlikely circumstances as Nemo defender Aidan O’Reilly’s swipe screwed over his own crossbar. But he, and Nemo, had the last laugh.

NEMO RANGERS: M Martin; A Cronin (0-1), A O'Reilly (0-1 own point), C O'Shea; K Fulignati, T Ó Sé, A O'Donovan; D Niblock, M Dorgan; D Mehigan (0-1), B O'Driscoll (1-1), P Kerrigan (0-4, two frees); C Horgan (0-1), L Connolly, C O'Brien. Subs: C Dalton for Connolly (15 mins), J Masters (0-2, one free) for Mehigan (42 mins), P Morgan for M Dorgan (56 mins).

CASTLEHAVEN: P Hurley; J O'Regan, D Limrick, T O'Leary; Damien Cahalane, C Hayes (0-1), R Whelton; S Dineen, D Hurley; M Collins (0-2), S Cahalane (0-1), Darragh Cahalane (0-1); B Hurley (0-3 frees), C Cahalane (0-1), M Hurley. Subs: S Hurley (0-1) for Darragh Cahalane (37 mins), S Collins for Hayes (58 mins), S Nolan for S Cahalane (59 mins). A O'Reilly (0-1 own point)

Referee: J Bermingham (Cork).