Gaelic Games

Inspirational Hurley helps Castlehaven retain their Cork senior football crown

Cork stark kicks 12 points in an outstanding personal display

Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley and Sean McKeown of Nemo tussle for possession during the Cork county final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo: James Crombie/Inpho
Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley and Sean McKeown of Nemo tussle for possession during the Cork county final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo: James Crombie/Inpho
Mon Oct 14 2013 - 01:00

Castlehaven 0-16 Nemo Rangers 1-11

Castlehaven carved out their own slice of history by retaining the Cork Co Senior Football Championship for the first time, when winning their fifth title after a deserved win over Nemo Rangers in a high-quality decider at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.

A crowd of 7,258 witnessed an absorbing contest and marvelled at the scoring exploits of Cork star Brian Hurley, who kicked a dozen points for his side in one of the finest individual displays seen for a long time.

The outstanding corner-forward was a constant threat to Nemo and thrived on a first-class service from midfielders Sean Dineen and Dermot Hurley and Cork colleague Mark Collins.

Either from frees or kicking off his right or left in open play, Hurley was just sensational and was regularly fouled himself which led to him knocking over important pointed frees.

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Damien Cahalane was another to produce an eye-catching display as he moved around the half-back line, keeping close tabs on Cork colleague Paul Kerrigan at various stages.

Brian Hurley was seen at his thrilling best in the game-defining third quarter, when the Haven knocked over five unanswered points in a devastating 10-minute spell with Hurley helping himself to four on the spin and captain Seanie Cahalane, who also led the side last year, completing the sequence.

It left the holders 0-15 to 1-9 in front with Nemo’s cause not helped by poor shooting from promising positions as they attempted to get back into a contest that was slipping away.

Hurley kicked his closing point five minutes from the end of regulation time, which brought a quick response from a James Masters free, only Nemo’s second score of the half.

The same player added another from play in the first minute of injury-time, but the Haven’s massed defence frustrated a late effort to snatch a winning goal.

The first-half produced end-to-end flowing football with Nemo beginning smartly and leading by 0-5 to 0-1 after nine minutes with veteran Masters landing a super score from a difficult angle on the right.

But the holders settled, kicking four points in five minutes to edge in front.

The Haven led 0-7 to 0-6 when goalkeeper Paudie Hurley denied Barry O’Driscoll before Collins rattled the angle of crossbar and post with a cracking shot in the 22nd minute.

Nemo made the most of their escape to claim the only goal four minutes from the interval following a clinical Masters pass into the path of Alan Cronin, who slipped the ball low into the net for a 1-8 to 0-7 lead.

Castlehaven, though, rallied like champions with Hurley again their main inspiration as he kicked three points without response to leave just a point between the teams at the break.

And while Paul Kerrigan nudged Nemo two clear with an early free it was the holders who took a firm grip at midfield and supplying enough quality ball for Hurley to be their tormentor in chief.

CASTLEHAVEN: P Hurley; L Collins, D Limrick, T O'Leary; R Whelton (0-1), D Cahalane, C Hayes; S Dineen, D Hurley; E Dennehy, Stephen Hurley (0-1), M Collins; S Nolan (0-1), S Cahalane (0-1), B Hurley (0-12, seven frees). Subs: M Hurley, D Hegarty, Shane Hurley and S Collins.
NEMO RANGERS: D Farry; S McKeown, B O'Regan, captain, A Cronin jnr; C O'Brien, K Fulignati, A O'Reilly; D Nation, P Morgan; B O'Driscoll (0-2 frees), A Cronin snr (1-0), D Mehigan; J Masters (0-4, one free), P Kerrigan (0-5, three frees, 1'45), A Morgan. Subs: S Cronin, D Niblock, C O'Shea, M Dorgan.
Referee: C Lane (Cork)