Division 1 FL: Nemo Rangers into the league final after easing past Carbery Rangers

Ross Corkery kicked 1-7 for the city side as they make it five wins on the trot

Carbery Rangers 2-2 Nemo Rangers 1-12

NEMO RANGERS have booked their spot in the league decider after overcoming the challenge of Carbery Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 football league clash at sun splashed Rosscarbery on Sunday morning.

In the battle of the Rangers, this was a pivotal one for both teams in this Round 8 tie. With two games remaining for the teams at the start of play, room for error was very minimal. As a result, Robbie O’Dwyer’s side have picked up a fifth win on the trot and are top with 13 points, two points clear of St Finbarr’s and Carrigaline who are joint second, but the Barrs have now finished their league programme.

Carbery Rangers are second from bottom with five points, a point behind Douglas and Éire Óg, after suffering a fourth successive defeat.

Nemo were in control of this poor match from start to finish. They didn’t have to get out of second gear against a home side who never clicked. Ross Corkery, son of former Cork and Nemo great Colin Corkery, was the star of the show with the Cork U20 footballer ending up with 1-7 (0-3 f).

Nemo Rangers started this one on the front foot as they kicked the first two points inside six minutes, Corkery and a beauty from Paul Kerrigan with the outside of his boot.

The city continued to have a firm grip on proceedings as they tacked on three unanswered points. Oisín Whyte’s the pick of those, 0-5 to 0-0 after 24 minutes. After seven wides and some very ponderous play, Carbery Rangers got their first score three minutes to the break when Peadar O’Rourke pointed. Nemo got the last score of the half when the impressive Corkery bisected the posts, 0-6 to 0-1 at half-time.

The one-way traffic continued as Nemo slotted over two successive white flags before Carbery Rangers were given a lifeline after 42 minutes when sub Paul Hodnett, just on the pitch, calmly slotted the ball past Nemo goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin, 0-8 to 1-1.

Nemo kicked two of the next three points before Carbery Rangers were reduced to 14 players with 12 minutes remaining when Brian Hodnett picked up a black card having already been on a yellow card.

Jack Coogan and Corkery slotted over efforts before Corkery goaled after 56 minutes, a great finish, 1-12 to 1-2. Ross did get a consolation score in added on time when sub Pádraig Hodnett raised a green flag with the final whistle sounding soon after on what was a very disappointing performance from Carbery Rangers.

Nemo weren’t at their brilliant best, they didn’t have to be as they host Douglas in the final round on Sunday, June 23 while Carbery Rangers are away to Carrigaline on the same day. Both games throw-in at 11.30am.

Scorers for Carbery Rangers: Pádraig Hodnett, Paul Hodnett 1-0 each, C O’Donovan, P O’Rourke 0-1 each.

Nemo Rangers: R Corkery 1-7 (0-3 f), R Dalton 0-2 (0-1 f), O Whyte, P Kerrigan, J Coogan 0-1 each.

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; C Daly, James O’Riordan, D O’Dwyer; Jerry O’Riordan, T O’Rourke, P Hurley; K Scannell, B Hodnett; P O’Rourke, J Hodnett, C Twomey; M Hodnett, B Shanahan, D Hayes.

Subs: C Hayes for M Hodnett (h-t), J Fitzpatrick for K Scannell, Pádraig Hodnett for T O'Rourke (both 39), Paul Hodnett for D Hayes (42), C O’Donovan for J Hodnett (45), M Maguire for B Shanahan (50), E Hayes for P Hurley (54).

NEMO RANGERS: M Aodh Martin; E Nation, C Shalloe, A Cronin; L Horgan, K Fulignati, S Cronin; A O’Donovan, B Cripps; O Whyte, R Dalton, R Corkery; G Sayers, P Kerrigan, J Coogan.

Subs: C Kiely for G Sayers (53), M Hill for C Shalloe (55), A McGowan for E Nation (57).

Referee: Jack Forbes (Dohenys).