25 Years On: Celebrating Nemo Rangers’ 2001 County Champions
As Nemo Rangers prepare to take on St. Finbarr’s in this weekend’s Premier Senior Football Championship Final, a very special group of former players and mentors will return to Páirc Uí Chaoimh. At half-time, the Nemo Rangers team that captured the 2001 Cork Senior Football Championship will be presented to the crowd, 25 years after their memorable triumph.
The 2001 championship was the middle chapter of a remarkable three-in-a-row of county titles won by Nemo Rangers in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Managed by the legendary Billy Morgan, the side combined established stars with an emerging generation of talented young footballers, producing some outstanding performances on their way to claiming the club's 12th senior football county title.
It was also a campaign that demonstrated the resilience and remarkable strength in depth of a Nemo team that had suffered the disappointment of losing the All-Ireland Club Final to Crossmolina earlier that year.
Under Morgan's guidance, the players regrouped, refocused and set about retaining their county crown.
Round 1 – William Morgan Shines in Clonakilty Rout
6 May 2001 | Bandon
Nemo Rangers 2-14, Clonakilty 0-5
Nemo opened their championship campaign with an emphatic 15-point victory over Clonakilty in Bandon, with William Morgan producing a superb performance that earned him the newspaper headline, "Morgan superb in Nemo landslide."
The young forward, a nephew of manager Billy Morgan, struck both Nemo goals in a convincing team display.
His first came after good work from Colin Corkery, who rounded his marker before finding Morgan in space to finish to the net. His second, early in the second half, followed a flowing move involving Colin Corkery, Joe Kavanagh and Liam O'Sullivan, with Morgan applying the finishing touch.
Colin Corkery was also in excellent form, particularly from placed balls, while Alan Morgan, Seán O'Brien and John Paul O'Neill were among those who contributed to Nemo's dominance.
It was an impressive opening statement from the defending champions.
Round 4 – Corkery's Golden Goal Sees Off Ballincollig
30 June 2001 | Ovens
Nemo Rangers 1-14, Ballincollig 0-12
Nemo faced a much sterner examination against Ballincollig at Ovens.
With the teams level at half-time, Ballincollig were proving stubborn opponents, and the contest remained finely balanced until a moment of brilliance from Colin Corkery in the 38th minute.
The goal was the product of a magnificent team move involving Martin Cronin, Derek Kavanagh, Liam O'Sullivan, John Paul O'Neill and James Masters, before Corkery finished expertly into the corner of the net.
It was the decisive score of the evening.
Corkery followed up with two points from frees, while John Paul O'Neill also contributed as Nemo took control in the closing stages.
Corkery finished with 1-7, and Nemo progressed to the quarter-finals with a five-point victory.
Quarter-Final – Dohenys Push Nemo All the Way
18 August 2001 | Innishannon
Nemo Rangers 2-8, Dohenys 1-8
The quarter-final against Dohenys proved to be one of the most dramatic games of Nemo's campaign.
For much of the contest, Nemo appeared to be cruising towards the semi-finals. A ninth-minute goal from Niall Corkery gave the champions a flying start, and they built an impressive 1-7 to 0-3 lead by half-time.
A second Nemo goal arrived in the 41st minute following excellent interplay between Maurice McCarthy, Colin Corkery and Gary Murphy, with Murphy finishing superbly to the net.
At that stage, Nemo led by nine points, and another comfortable victory seemed certain.
However, Dohenys had other ideas.
The Dunmanway side staged a remarkable fightback, introducing fresh legs and throwing everything at Nemo in the closing stages. The defending champions struggled to regain their earlier fluency as their opponents reduced the deficit.
Goalkeeper Brian Morgan was among those who helped Nemo survive a frantic finish, with Dohenys coming close to completing an extraordinary comeback.
Nemo held on by three points, and although the performance had raised some concerns, the champions had demonstrated their ability to win even when not playing at their best.
The newspaper headline captured the afternoon perfectly: "Nemo forced to battle hard."
Semi-Final – Nemo Produce Their Best Against the Barrs
29 August 2001 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Nemo Rangers 0-18, St. Finbarr's 0-11
The semi-final brought Nemo face-to-face with their great city rivals, St. Finbarr's, in a fixture rich in history and tradition.
The Barrs entered the game with considerable confidence, having enjoyed an impressive championship campaign themselves. Their side included Cork star Fionán Murray, and a close contest was anticipated.
Instead, Nemo produced one of their finest performances of the season.
Playing a magnificent brand of fast, attacking football, the champions overwhelmed the Barrs with their movement, passing and accuracy.
The Corkery brothers were particularly influential, with Colin scoring five points and Niall contributing four. Gary Murphy, Dylan Mehigan and John Paul O'Neill were also among the scorers as Nemo's attacking strength proved too much for their opponents.
Fionán Murray fought a largely lone battle in attack for the Barrs, but Nemo's defence, midfield and forward division combined to produce a complete team performance.
The seven-point victory earned widespread praise, with one newspaper describing it as one of Nemo's best displays in years.
The headline was emphatic: "Nemo cruise past unlucky Barrs."
It was a hugely satisfying victory for Nemo, and there is a fitting symmetry in the fact that the 2001 team will be honoured at half-time this weekend as the two great rivals meet once again in a county final.
County Final – Nemo's Untouchables Deliver Title Number 12
30 September 2001 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Nemo Rangers 1-14, Bantry Blues 0-6
Nemo entered the county final as favourites, but Bantry Blues were formidable opponents.
Bantry had claimed county titles in 1995 and 1998 and possessed an exceptionally talented team featuring the likes of Graham Canty, Damien O'Neill, Philip Clifford, Jeremy Canty and Mark O'Connor.
In the build-up, Nemo midfielder Derek Kavanagh warned against underestimating the West Cork side, particularly their strength through the middle of the field.
There was also concern over the fitness of experienced centre-back Stephen O'Brien, who had suffered a painful groin injury in a practice match just a week before the final.
However, O'Brien was determined to play and, following intensive physiotherapy and painkilling injections, took his place in the Nemo defence.
The match was played in difficult, wet conditions before a crowd of almost 10,000 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Bantry began brightly, taking an early 0-5 to 0-3 lead, and for much of the opening half the contest was every bit as competitive as anticipated.
However, Nemo gradually established control, with Colin Corkery once again leading the way. By half-time, the champions had turned the game around to lead 0-7 to 0-5.
The second half was a different story entirely.
Nemo emerged with renewed purpose, combining outstanding defensive work with intelligent possession football and a ruthless cutting edge in attack.
Corkery was simply magnificent. The Nemo forward produced a masterclass in scoring, contributing ten points, including five from frees, in a display that earned him the Man of the Match award.
The decisive moment arrived in the 38th minute when Maurice McCarthy and Niall Corkery combined to create an opportunity for John Paul O'Neill, who finished to the net.
The goal broke Bantry's resistance, and Nemo never looked back.
Martin Cronin, Alan Cronin, Kevin Cahill and Dylan Mehigan also contributed important scores, while Derek Kavanagh and Kevin Cahill helped establish Nemo's superiority around midfield.
At the back, Stephen O'Brien produced a remarkable performance despite his injury, marshalling the defence as Bantry were restricted to just a single point in the entire second half.
Nemo outscored their opponents by 1-7 to 0-1 after the interval, turning a tight encounter into a comprehensive 11-point victory.
Following the final whistle, manager Billy Morgan was full of praise for his players, singling out O'Brien's bravery and Corkery's exceptional kicking while emphasising the team's discipline and intelligent use of possession.
The newspapers were equally impressed.
"Morgan's untouchables" declared one headline, while another proclaimed "Corkery leads Nemo charge."
The image of Colin Corkery lifting the county trophy was a fitting conclusion to another magnificent championship campaign.
Nemo Rangers were Cork Senior Football Champions for the 12th time.
More Than Just Fifteen Players
The success of the 2001 side was built on far more than the brilliance of its most celebrated footballers.
The county final starting team featured Don Heaphy, Larry Kavanagh, Niall Geary, Ivan Gibbons, Gary Murphy, Stephen O'Brien, Martin Cronin, Kevin Cahill, Derek Kavanagh, Dylan Mehigan, John Paul O'Neill, Maurice McCarthy, Alan Cronin and the Corkery brothers, Colin and Niall.
But this was a squad packed with talent.
Players such as Willie Morgan, James Masters, Liam O'Sullivan, Paul Brophy, Seán O'Brien, Mick Daly and many others ensured that competition for places remained fierce throughout the season.
Indeed, four of Nemo's substitutes in the final had been members of the Cork Under-21 team that had reached the All-Ireland semi-final that year, highlighting the depth of emerging talent available to the club.
Billy Morgan was assisted on the sideline by selectors Ephie Fitzgerald and Colm Murphy, with the management team successfully blending established players and younger talent.
In an insightful article published following the final, journalist Tony Leen explored what made Nemo such a dominant force, under the headline "Nemo Rangers have the best system on and off the field."
The article highlighted the work being done at underage level, the club's disciplined approach and the importance of a strong collective spirit.
Former player Jimmy Kerrigan also pointed to the close relationship between the senior players and the younger generations, with established stars regularly involved in coaching and developing the next crop of Nemo footballers.
It was this culture, as much as the individual talent on the field, that sustained the club's extraordinary success.
The 2001 championship was followed by another county title in 2002, completing a magnificent three-in-a-row and securing this team's place in the history of Nemo Rangers.
A Special Reunion – 25 Years Later
Twenty-five years on, the players and management of the 2001 team will once again take to the field at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, this time to receive the recognition of the Nemo Rangers supporters.
For many, it will bring back wonderful memories of a remarkable era, the friendships forged along the way and the pride of representing their club at the highest level.
For the current Nemo Rangers team, it is a reminder of the standards established by those who wore the green jersey before them and the great tradition they seek to continue.
And what better occasion to celebrate the 2001 champions than another county final against St. Finbarr's, the very opponents they defeated so convincingly in that memorable semi-final 25 years ago?
We look forward to welcoming the players and management of our 2001 County Senior Football Championship-winning team back to Páirc Uí Chaoimh this weekend and thanking them for their outstanding contribution to Nemo Rangers.
Three in a row. A remarkable team. A proud chapter in Nemo Rangers history.
A special thanks to George Hatchell for providing some of the photographs from the final.