CORK SFC FINAL Nemo Rangers 2-10 Finbarr's 1-8:EVEN WITHOUT being at their best, Nemo Rangers once again displayed why they're the undisputed kings of Cork football by claiming their 18th title and their eighth in the last 11 years with a deserved win over great rivals St Finbarr's at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
A crowd of just over 6,000 witnessed a far closer game than most had anticipated and if Nemo were vulnerable, their opponents from across the city still didn’t have what was required to take advantage.
The key score was Nemo’s second goal after 44 minutes, scored by Barry O’Driscoll following a flowing move involving David Niblock, Alan Cronin, Colin O’Brien and Seán O’Brien.
His superb finish helped cancel out an equally impressive goal by Robert O’Mahony seven minutes before which allowed the ’Barr’s reduce the margin to just three points, 1-9 to 1-6.
Nemo wouldn’t score again after O’Driscoll’s goal until the first minute of injury-time, when Alan Cronin completed the scoring.
St Finbarr’s could only muster one point themselves in the closing period, though they were unfortunate when key forward Jason Sexton’s cross rebounded from the crossbar and just eluded the inrushing Jim O’Donoghue.
Nemo’s greater experience and craft showed as they hung on to their advantage, the strength of their bench shown by the introduction of former Cork players Martin Cronin and James Masters.
St Finbarr’s made an encouraging start to the contest, establishing a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes, due in the main to the dominance of midfielders Eoin Keane and Aidan O’Shea and the immense threat posed by Sexton .
He opened the scoring inside 30 seconds and added a second off his weaker right foot before Paul Kerrigan kicked Nemo’s first point in the eighth minute. But, the Finbarr’s measured approach paid off as Roy Leahy landed a free following a foul on Sexton and Colin O’Sullivan added a splendid fourth.
Nemo received a timely boost, though, just before the quarter-hour, when the ’Barr’s defence couldn’t deal with William Morgan’s probing sideline kick and Kerrigan squeezed the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Kevin McTiernan for a soft goal.
More sloppy defending allowed David Kearney restore parity before Alan Cronin nudged Nemo ahead with an 18th minute point, 1-3 to 0-4, but the ’Barr’s came again.
Leahy landed a brilliant point from a 50-metre free in the 21st minute and Sexton drew one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon by equalising with a sublime sideline kick four minutes later.
Typically, however, Nemo grabbed the next three scores close to the interval, O’Driscoll fisting over the first, followed by Kerrigan and David Kearney in stoppage time, Nemo 1-6 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
Just as significant was Nemo’s bright start on the resumption, again piecing together a run of three unanswered points as Niblock and Peter Morgan won valuable possession at midfield.
Niblock set the tone by firing the first inside 30 seconds and then added a quick second before a Kerrigan free opened up a 1-9 to 0-6 advantage. O’Mahony’s well-taken goal suggested a ’Barr’s fightback, but O’Driscoll clinched it with his effort.
NEMO RANGERS: B Morgan, captain; D Breen, D Kavanagh, C O'Shea; C O'Brien, B O'Regan, A O'Reilly; P Morgan, D Niblock (0-2); P Kerrigan (1-3, 0-2 frees), A Cronin (0-2), W Morgan; B O'Driscoll (1-1), S O'Brien, D Kearney (0-2). Subs: M Cronin for Breen (43 mins), J Masters for Kearney (45 mins), D Mehigan for W Morgan (48 mins), A Morgan for O'Brien (54 mins), B Twomey for Niblock (59 mins).
ST FINBARR'S: K McTiernan; P Kennedy, R O'Dwyer, G O'Connor; C Lyons, M Shields, N Horgan; E Keane, A O'Shea; C O'Sullivan (0-1), C McCarthy, J O'Donoghue; J Sexton (0-3, 0-1 sideline), R Leahy (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), R O'Mahony (1-0). Subs: M Ryan for O'Shea and F Murray (0-1, free)for O'Donoghue (48 min), I Leahy for O'Sullivan (51 min), G Leahy for McCarthy (59 mins).
Referee: M Collins(Cork).
