Castlehaven 0-11 Nemo Rangers 0-09
Late scores from Michael and Brian Hurley were the difference as Castlehaven defeated defending champions Nemo Rangers 0-11 to 0-09 in the final of the Bon Secours Hospital Premier Senior Football Championship at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The Haven had to do it the hard way as they had to find a way to answer the great conundrum of Cork football – how to stop Nemo in a county final.
The club did it before in 2013 – but this was a new generation that had just three starters from their 0-16 to 1-11 victory a decade ago.
Castlehaven set out to repeat that achievement by dominating possession and that led to Michael and Brian Hurley kicking over two points inside five minutes.
This wasn't the solution – rather the end product of a gameplan that started at the back. The sextet were led by Damien Cahalane and together they reduced Nemo to just one shot inside the opening 15 minutes.
As is the way with the most successful club side in Ireland, Nemo evolved and tied the game up through scores from Luke Connolly and Jack Horgan.
Their brace turned the final into a straight shoot-out and Barry O’Driscoll and Mark Cronin were the next players in black and green to find the target.
Their contribution cancelled out points from Michael Hurley and Sean Browne and it made the scoreboard read 0-04 apiece at the break.
A Connolly point after the restart put Nemo into the lead for the first time and a Brian Hurley free immediately tied things up. Mark Cronin then restored his club’s advantage and once again Castlehaven replied through a Brian Hurley free.
All of this happened in just four minutes and the explosive change in the game’s pace meant very little as it went back to being a drawn final between two teams desperate to control possession.
It might seem like a simple way to win a game of football, but it worked for Nemo as it allowed them to create four scoring opportunities and Connolly put one away to edge the club 0-7 to 0-6 in front.
Their management team – led by veteran Paul O’Donovan capitalised on their growing sense of momentum by bringing on 2010 All-Ireland winner Paul Kerrigan.
Castlehaven were resolute – when even seeing their opponents bring on a ten time Cork SFC winner off the bench. The club made sure Nemo never once pulled away or got a clear sight of goal while Michael Hurley continued to split the posts.
The Haven found what they were looking for in the 61st minute as Brian Hurley held his composure to send over a free from 45 meters out.
The final minutes came down to making everything count – every tackle and every block. One hand was the difference as it got in the way of a Nemo pass and it allowed Castlehaven to counter-attack in added time.
Michael Hurley finished that move off and the full-time whistle went seconds later to confirm Andy Scannell’s destination as west Cork for the first time since 2016.
Nemo Rangers: Micheal Aodh Martin; Kieran Histon, Brian Murphy, Kevin O’Donovan, Colin Molloy, Kevin Fulhanati, Steven Cronin, Barry Cripps (0-01), Alan O’Donovan, Conor Horgan, Barry O’Driscoll (0-01), Jack Horgan (0-01), Mark Cronin (0-03, 3f), Luke Horgan, Luke Connolly (0-03, 1f).
Subs: Paul Kerrigan for Luke Horgan (45); Ronan Dalton for O’Driscoll (47), Gary Sayers for Molloy (49), Colm Kiely for Horgan (55).
Castlehaven: Darragh Cahalane; Johnny Regan, Rory Maguire, Ronan Walsh, Thomas O’Mahony, Damien Cahalane, Mark Collins, Conor Cahalane, Andrew Whelton, Jack O’Neill, Brian Hurley (0-04 3f), Sean Browne (0-01), Cathal Maguire, Jack Cahalane, Michael Hurley (0-06, 1m).
Subs: Conor O’Driscoll for Browne (46); Robbie Minihane for Whelton (48), James O’Driscoll for O’Neill (54), Ciaran O’Sullivan for O’Mahony (59).
Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)
