Nemo too hot for Rovers

Article in the Irish Examiner — Monday, August 9, 2010

Nemo Rangers 0-11 Valley Rovers 0-4

NEMO RANGERS had their expected win over Valley Rovers in the Evening Echo Cork Senior Football Championship at Ballygarvan last night, but the 0-11 to 0-4 win was hard earned.

In a game that was far too physical and resulted in the referee issuing seven yellow cards, it was marred in the final minute by a disgraceful bust up which saw the Rovers corner back Noel O’Donovan receive a straight red card.

Several other players from both sides can consider themselves fortunate not to have suffered similar fates.

It was always going to be a tough encounter, but some of the personal duels on and off the ball that went on all over the pitch have no place on a football field. Not for the first time Nemo’s football got them through.

With Dylan Mehigan posing endless problems with his surging runs from midfield, Nemo finished the half leading 0-4 to 0-2.

Their slick inter passing had the Rovers chasing shadows at times, but all credit to the Innishannon side they never gave up the chase, and had Eoin Manning’s effort for a goal not been saved early in the second half which would have drawn the game, it may have turned out differently.

Clonakilty’s hold on their Evening Echo Cork SFC crown came under severe pressure in Rosscarbery on Saturday night, but the defending champions held their nerve to edge Ilen Rovers 2-9 to 0-13.

When Conor O’Driscoll boomed over a massive kick in the 56th minute to tie up the match, the momentum looked to have shifted irrevocably in Ilen Rovers’ favour. They had shaved off a five-point interval deficit with a stirring second-half display and seemed poised to plough in front in the finale.

But Clonakilty put a sloppy second-half performance behind them to summon the key scores at a critical time. Wing-back Denis Murphy injected life into their challenge in the 58th minute when he showed a lightning turn of pace to land a point and then as Ilen Rovers pressed for the levelling score, Thomas Clancy raced clear in injury-time before shrewdly opting to fist the point that sealed Clonakilty’s advance to the last eight.

There was drama and excitement in equal measure in Dunmanway on Saturday when St Finbarr’s survived a courageous O’Donovan Rossa challenge to hold out for a 2-7 to 1-9 victory.

There was a dramatic end to the tie as Conor McCarthy was presented with the nigh impossible task of trying to goal for the Skibbereen side from a close-in free and a half minutes into injury time.

Predictably, kicking into a packed goalmouth, his shot was stopped (and deflected over the bar), leaving team-mates and supporters to bemoan not just the consequence of their poor start, but the loss of chances late in the game after Paul Crowley’s 55th minute goal brought them back into contention.

And McCarthy himself, who played a significant role after being shifted off star Cork defender Michael Shields, missed a great goal chance soon before.

Waiting until the 15th minute for their opening score, the ‘Barrs had a further two points in the next four minutes before moving into a position of control after a goal from Cathal McCarthy.

It was a case of controlling midfield, being strong and composed in defence and more inventive in attack — where the stylish McCarthy played a key role. In contrast, O’Donovan Rossa struggled to get the ball beyond midfield where Conor McCarthy could make no headway against Shields, until he kicked their opening score in the 29th minute.

At the break it was 1-5 to 0-2.

Making two interval changes (and two more inside ten minutes), O’Donovan Rossa hopes of a comeback were hit by a cleverly taken goal after a mere 50 seconds from Jason Sexton.

With a nine points advantage they looked certain to win, but the West Cork side steadily raised their challenge.

Conor McCarthy’s switch to full-forward had the desired effect, enabling him to get on the ball frequently, Rob McCarthy looked promising in the corner and overall changes helped inspire a remarkable turn-around. Crucial was the improvement at midfield and half-back where substitute Ger Minihane was prominent.

With ten minutes remaining, the margin was down to four points when Conor McCarthy missed his goal chance and Roy Leahy boosted the Barrs with a vital pointed free. But then came Crowley’s goal, followed by a Donie Óg Hodnett score, to leave only a point between the sides. And, before another valuable Leahy point stretched it to two, O’Donovan Rossa missed several chances of an equaliser.