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Nemo rely on Masters

Cork SFC Final/Nemo Rangers 1-10 Doheny's 0-7: James Masters inspired holders Nemo Rangers to their 15th Cork football title…

Mon Oct 30 2006 - 00:00

Cork SFC Final/Nemo Rangers 1-10 Doheny's 0-7: James Masters inspired holders Nemo Rangers to their 15th Cork football title with an exhibition of point scoring against Dohenys at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

The Cork star accounted for 1-6 of his side's total, 1-4 coming from play, and his man-of-the-match display earned Nemo their fifth title in the past seven years.

Nemo's greater experience was a telling factor in their success as was their composure while Dylan Mehigan was an influential figure for the winners at midfield.

Dohenys' best spell came in the third quarter. Daniel O'Donovan reduced the deficit to four points with a score after just 10 seconds on the resumption, quickly followed by a Ger McCarthy free.

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But the Dunmanway club, trying to bridge a 109-year gap since their only county title, squandered hard-won possession with some poor shooting.

The difference between the teams was highlighted by a lightning breakaway which led to Nemo captain Martin Cronin placing his brother Alan for a superb point after 42 minutes.

McCarthy landed his third point from a free entering the final quarter to make it 1-7 to 0-7, but it proved to be Dohenys' last score as Nemo pulled away in the closing stages. Masters once again led the way, kicking two great points from distance in less than a minute and then earning a free for himself seven minutes from the end.

Nemo led 1-6 to 0-4 at the end of an entertaining first half during which Masters stamped his class. They were 0-3 to 0-1 in front when Masters capitalised on a mistake by Dohenys' goalkeeper Darragh Farr to finish off SeáO'Brien's probing ball to the net in the 13th minute.

NEMO RANGERS: D Heaphy; C O'Shea, N Geary, P Brophy; B Twomey, D Kavanagh, G Murphy; D Niblock (0-1), M Cronin; R Kenny, A Cronin (0-2), D Mehigan (0-1); J Masters (1-6, two frees), S O'Brien, A Morgan. Subs: M McCarthy for Morgan (half-time), P Kerrigan (0-1) for Kenny (40 mins), G O'Shea for Twomey (48 mins), J Kerins for Niblock (54 mins).

DOHENYS: D Farr; C Collins, P Deane, A Murray; T O'Donovan (0-1), M O'Donovan (0-1), N Hurley; M Farr, P Collins; P McCarthy, S Farr, JB Collins; D Healy, D O'Donovan (0-2), G McCarthy (0-3, frees). Subs: S Collins for JB Collins (33 mins), D Lyons for Hurley (50 mins).

Referee: J Geaney (Cork).