Nemo Rangers were forced to grind out a hard-earned 11th Munster title by Fethard in Fermoy yesterday.

The holders suffered a blow before the start when influential centre back Steven O'Brien was ruled out with a back injury. Mick Daly took his place and Nemo's tight marking in defence never allowed Fethard in for a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Nemo's goal came after just six minutes when Alan Cronin availed of an unfortunate slip by corner back Michael Aherne and scored at the second time of asking after his initial shot rebounded from the chest of goalkeeper Paul Fitzgerald.

Colin Corkery had pointed two minutes earlier, but first-time finalists Fethard settled to claim the next three points through Tommy Sheehan, JP Looby and Karl Maher.

Cronin wasted a great chance of a second goal when he sliced a shot across the face of the goal, but Joe Kavanagh and Corkery picked off points to help Nemo into a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead and they extended it to 1-9 to 0-6 in the second half.

However sloppy shooting and points by Gavin Burke and Looby cut the deficit to four with 10 minutes left.

Burke then missed an easy free when Fethard were pressing, and Corkery scored a super score from play before Kavanagh wrapped it up with a fisted point two minutes from the end.

NEMO RANGERS: D Heaphy; L Kavanagh, N Geary, S O'Brien; G Murphy, M Daly, M Cronin; K Cahill, D Kavanagh; D Mehigan (0-1), JP O'Neill, M McCarthy; A Cronin (1-0), C Corkery (0-6), J Kavanagh (0-4). Sub: D Niblock for O'Neill.

FETHARD: P Fitzgerald; M Aherne, C Maher, T Anglim; W Morrissey, M Quinlan, S O'Donnell; B Burke, A Fitzgerald; D Byrne, T Sheehan (0-2), JP Looby (0-2); K Maher (0-3), M Spillane, G Burke (0-3). Sub: K O'Donnell for Maher.

Referee: A Mangan (Kerry).