On this day in 2000: Two goal win for Nemo

Bantry unable to make an impression on Nemo Ranger’s superb defence

Nemo Rangers 2-11 Bantry 0-9

This article appeared in the Cork Examiner after the 2000 Senior Football Championship Round 2 Replay.

FOR much of this game only a 14th minute William Morgan goal separated the sides. In the end, Nemo were to leave the large attendance at Sam Maguire Park, Dunmanway — there to watch Sunday’s senior football championship double header replay — in no doubt that they deserved a place against St Finbarrs in the next round.

Bantry were not helped by the reoccurring groin injury that forced Damien O’Neill off the pitch in the 43rd minute. Bantry began the game with a third choice goalkeeper. Alan Farrelly played well, but could do little about the goals, the first of which arrived after a typical Nemo move. It was finished by Morgan, who was left with the simple task of finishing on a four-man move started by Alan Cronin. Cronin, on this occasion, was to cause all sorts of problems for Timmy O’Mahony.

Bantry moved Ferman McCarthy across the field to curb Cronin, and he did so to some extent. However, with Mark O’Connor controlling Colin Corkery, Cronin’s industry and accuracy were vital for Nemos. Their midfield were much more productive in this game. Bantry were unable to capitalise on the breaks, with the result that Philip Clifford found himself without proper service and more tightly marked by Niall Geary.

Bantry managed to carve out few worthwhile goal-scoring chances. Their best opportunity came two minutes before Nemo’s first goal, when Eric Sheehan brought the best out of Don Heaphy. Heaphy managed to tip the Bantry winger’s shot around the post for a ’45.

A goal at that stage might have changed the course of the game. When O’Neill was forced into the corner for the start of the second-half, Bantry were in trouble. Although O’Neill was injured, he still carried a threat and, by the time of his departure, just two points divided the teams. Kieran Connolly scored an important Nemo point, before Alan Cronin set up Joe Kavanagh for Nemo’s second goal. Nemo played the final ten minutes in control.

Their defence was superb and, with their winger, Seán O’Brien, always looking for opportunities, Bantry were unable to make an impression. They failed to score in the last 18 minutes of the game, though the referee failed to allow for the slippery conditions.

NEMO: D Heaphy, L Kavanagh, N Geary, J Gibbons, K Connolly (0-1), S O’Brien, M Cronin, C Cahill (0-1), D Kavanagh (0-1), S O’Brien, J Kavanagh (1-1), D Hibble (0-1), W Morgan (1-0), C Corkery (0-4, 0-2 frees), A Cronin 0-2.

BANTRY: A Farrelly, T O’Mahony, M O’Connor, E McCarthy, G Barry, A O’Shea, N Twomey, D O’Neill (0-2), G Canty, S McCarthy (0-1), J Canty, P O’Rourke, E Sheehan, P Clifford (0-4 frees), S Dineen (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: S O’Neill, D O’Shea.