Nemo Hold Their Nerve to Secure Fifth Successive County Final Appearance

Nemo Rangers 1-15 — Carrigaline 0-16

Nemo Rangers booked their place in a fifth consecutive Premier Senior Football Championship county final following a dramatic two-point victory over Carrigaline at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday. Mark Cronin’s late penalty and a vital point from substitute Dara O’Sullivan helped Nemo through a tense finish to set up another final meeting with St Finbarr’s.

Nemo made a positive start, with two-pointers from Cronin and Ross Corkery helping establish an early advantage. Cronin added a two-point free, while Bryan Hayes, Briain Murphy and Ronan Dalton also contributed as Nemo reached half-time with a 0-10 to 0-7 lead.

Carrigaline came back strongly after the interval, wiping out the deficit and moving ahead during a closely contested second half. Éanna Desmond, Brian Coakley and Jack McCarthy were central to their challenge, and the sides were level at 0-14 apiece as the match entered its decisive stages.

The breakthrough came when Kevin O’Donovan collected a pass from Luke Horgan and was fouled as he tried to create a shooting opportunity. Cronin stepped forward and converted the penalty, putting Nemo three points clear. Carrigaline responded through a Brian Coakley two-pointer, leaving just the minimum between the teams.

There was still considerable drama to come. In added time, Callum Barrett’s attempt to draw Carrigaline level struck the post. Nemo recovered possession and worked the ball forward through Jack Horgan, Alan O’Donovan and Ronan Dalton, before O’Sullivan supplied the crucial point to secure victory.

Cronin finished with an excellent 1-7, with Corkery and Murphy contributing two points each. Hayes, Dalton, Luke Horgan and O’Sullivan completed Nemo’s scoring.

Attention now turns to St Finbarr’s and a repeat of last year’s county final. This will be Nemo’s fifth successive appearance in the decider, a remarkable achievement by the players and management. Having defeated the Barrs in 2022, Nemo have endured three consecutive final defeats — against Castlehaven in 2023 and 2024, and St Finbarr’s last year.

The challenge now is to turn another final appearance into championship success. With a record 24th county senior football title the target, Nemo supporters will look forward to another major occasion and the opportunity to bring the trophy back to the club.

Nemo Rangers: Mícheál Aodh Martin; Kevin O’Donovan, Mark Hill, Kieran Histon; Jack Horgan, Stephen Cronin (captain), Colin Molloy; Alan O’Donovan, Briain Murphy; Mark Cronin, Luke Horgan, Conor Shalloe; Ross Corkery, Ronan Dalton, Bryan Hayes.

Substitutes used: Dara O’Sullivan, Conor Horgan and Conor Moore.