Cork U20 star Brian Hayes kicks 1-6 as Nemo Rangers knock St Finbarr's out

New rules were a factor in the Nemo's quarter-final victory, as they hit five two-pointers to just one for Nemo

Nemo Rangers 1-17 St Finbarr’s 0-16 (AET)

Author: John Coughlan (Echo)

A superb individual display from Brian Hayes was enough for Nemo Rangers to book their place Pharmacare U21 A FC semi-final place following a hard-earned extra-time win over St Finbarr’s at Ballinlough on Sunday.

This game had everything but the Barrs will rue not taking more advantage, particularly in the first half when they looked the dominant team.

The Barrs still looked likely winners until Nemo sprung their Cork U20 ace Brian Hayes from the bench in the 37th minute and his 1-6 contribution eventually proved the difference between two committed sides.

Right from the throw-in the Barrs looked a side on a mission and John Wigginton-Barrett gave them the perfect start with a classy two-point kick in the second minute.

The biggest problem the Barrs encountered in the first half was their tendency to give away silly fouls and Dara O’Sullivan duly punished them with three points from placed balls.

As the half matured the free-flowing Barrs side increased their lead to four points 0-7 to 0-3 following a good run and finish from Daniel O’Keeffe.

The new rule of getting two points from kicks 40 metres from the centre of the goal certainly helped Nemo in the closing minutes as Conor Cusack and Darragh O’Sullivan had one each that saw the sides tied at the break at eight points each.

The Barrs had the better start to the second half as O’Sullivan and Wigginton-Barrett raised a white flag each in the opening eight minutes.

Cometh the hour cometh the man as the multi-talented Hayes arrived on the scene and his ability to win possession for Nemo set the tone for the remainder of the game.

The first two-pointer in the 40th minute was followed by consecutive white flags and with Ruari Hogan battling doing trojan work Nemo suddenly looked a better side.

Credit to the Barrs they battled back, and a late William Buckley point forced the game to extra time on a bitterly cold day at city division headquarters.

The outstanding Buckley kicked the Barrs ahead on the restart with Hayes responding with a two-pointer but consecutive Barrs points saw them edge ahead by the minimum heading into the second period of extra time.

The Hayes show finally killed off the Barrs when he slotted home a magnificent goal two minutes into the restart, and he followed up with two more points that saw Nemo grind it out at the death.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: B Hayes 1-6 (2 2pt, 0-2 f), D O’Sullivan 0-5 (1 2pt, 0-3 f), C Cusack 0-4 (1 2pt), D O’Leary 0-2 (1 2pt).

St Finbarr’s: C O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 f), W Buckley 0-4, J Wigginton-Barrett 0-3 (1 2pt), J O’Keeffe 0-2, S Kirby, D Burke, D O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

NEMO: D O’Leary; C O’Neill, D Quinn, D Coughlan; O White, C Molloy, T O’Brien; B O’Neill, E Kelly; C Yelland, L Healy, F Twohig; R Hogan, C Cusack, D O’Sullivan.

Subs: B Hayes for F Twohig (37), M O’Kelly for B O’Neill (53), L Jordan for E Kelly (53), B O’Neill for C Cusack), C Cusack for B O’Neill (70), F Twohig for L Jordan (70).

St FINBARR'S: J O’Leary; J Kennifick, F Crowley, E Hurley; G Murphy, M Aherne, D Burke; T O’Keeffe, T Egan; D O’Keeffe, J Barrett, S Fenton; S Kirby, W Buckley, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: M Hetherington for S Kirby (35), S Kennedy-Osubar for S Fenton (40), T Howe for G Murphy (51), C Hegarty for J O’Keeffe (65).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).

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