McCarthy Insurance Group Cork premier senior football final

Nemo Rangers 1-19 (1-2-15) St Finbarr’s 2-12 (2-1-10)

By Stephen Barry, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Nemo Rangers washed away three years of hurt as they dethroned city rivals St Finbarr’s to win their 24th Cork SFC title.

The record winners had lost the past three deciders, but 0-8 from Mark Cronin was enough to get them over the line.

Kieran Histon held Steven Sherlock scoreless, while the midfield pairing of Alan O’Donovan and Briaín Murphy were able to break even with Ian Maguire and Brian Hayes. They will host Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster quarter-final on November 8th.

It was a painful loss for the Barrs, who reached both hurling and football finals, but suffered defeat twice in a week. Injuries to defenders Alan O’Connor and Fionn Crowley were costly blows.

In front of a 7,054 crowd, this final got off to a sluggish start. A Cronin free was the only score in the first 10 minutes.

Nemo did show signs of getting inside the Barrs cover, but Sam Ryan clawed the ball to safety.
The Trabeg side were spurred on and showed their hunger for breaking ball to cultivate that momentum. Backed by the wind, they reeled off six points in five minutes to lead 0-7 to nil after the opening quarter.

Jack Horgan was influential in assisting Ronan Dalton and Alan O’Donovan points, while also claiming a kick-out mark that resulted in a Ross Corkery goal chance, which flew over.

Nemo should’ve had a penalty in between as Bryan Hayes was bundled over by Colm Scully. Referee David Murnane spotted the foul as occurring just outside the square. Cronin slotted that free and then nailed a two-pointer from play.

Led by the ball-winning abilities and creative powers of Maguire and Brian Hayes, the Barrs finally began to make headway.

They got off the mark in the 18th minute with the first of three points from defender Enda Dennehy. John Wigginton-Barrett also had a brace, including one goal effort tipped over by Micheál Aodh Martin.

It looked like Nemo might only take a three-point lead into the break, but they doubled it in stoppage time. Playing with advantage, Mark Cronin’s two-point attempt dropped short, where his older brother, Nemo captain Stephen, had read the flight of the ball. He squared for Luke Horgan to palm in for a 1-8 to 0-5 cushion.

Enda Dennehy and Luke Hannigan wiped two points off that lead after the break, but Nemo kicked on with five of the next six points.

Briaín Murphy, who was keeping tabs on Brian Hayes, won a kick-out mark, charged forward with advantage, and hooked over a two-pointer into the breeze to make it 1-13 to 0-8.

The Barrs needed a break and moving Brian Hayes into full-forward was their crucial move. Rickey Barrett lobbed in a high ball and though Mark Hill initially appeared to be breaking out with possession, the ball came loose for Hayes to rattle the net.

Substitute Cillian Myers-Murray tacked on a two-pointer and suddenly it was a one-score game.
A Cronin free and Ronan Dalton appeared to settle Nemo, but Hayes was out in front to create another goal, with Ciarán Doolan teeing up Wigginton-Barrett for the finish.

Myers-Murray and William Buckley twice narrowed the gap to one point, but Nemo made the final move. Corkery split the posts before Cronin tapped over two frees which were advanced to the 14-metre line.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Mark Cronin 0-8 (5f, 1tp); Luke Horgan 1-0; Ronan Dalton 0-3; Alan O’Donovan, Briaín Murphy (tp), Ross Corkery 0-2 each; Conor Shalloe, Bryan Hayes 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: John Wigginton-Barrett 1-2; Brian Hayes 1-0; Enda Dennehy, Cillian Myers-Murray (1tp) 0-3; William Buckley 0-2; Ian Maguire, Luke Hannigan 0-1 each.

NEMO RANGERS: Micheál Aodh Martin; Kieran Histon, Mark Hill, Colin Molloy; Jack Horgan, Kevin O’Donovan, Stephen Cronin; Alan O’Donovan, Briaín Murphy; Mark Cronin, Luke Horgan, Conor Shalloe; Ross Corkery, Ronan Dalton, Bryan Hayes. Subs: Neville O’Shea for J Horgan (46), Conor Horgan for Shalloe (49), Dara O’Sullivan for L Horgan (55).

ST FINBARR’S: Darragh Newman; Sam Ryan, Dylan Quinn, Enda Dennehy; Conor Dennehy, Ciarán Doolan, Colm Scully; Ian Maguire, Brian Hayes; Luke Hannigan, William Buckley, Thomas Egan; John Wigginton-Barrett, Rickey Barrett, Steven Sherlock. Subs: Cillian Myers-Murray for Egan (39), Fionn Crowley for C Dennehy (47), Bill O’Connell for Scully (60+1).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).