ARCHIVES: Jim O'Sullivan of the Cork Examiner writes about our first senior County title

Nemo Capture Football Crown

Morgan leads talented 'Rangers' to first title

Author: Jim O'Sullivan

NEMO RANGERS 1-9
U.C.C. 0-8

Cork Examiner, Monday, November 20, 1972

AT LONG LAST, talented Nemo Rangers have finally achieved the big breakthrough in the Cork county senior football championship. Their convincing victory in yesterday's final at the Athletic Grounds was popularly received and richly deserved, and the pity is that so few people were present to witness how magnificently they played to win that elusive first title.

Favourites U.C.C. were outsmarted by a team which was hungry for success. They looked impressive at stages in the game, but Nemo's two second half goals and the combined brilliance of Billy Morgan and Denis Allen, caused their second successive defeat.

If only for their dedication alone, victory was wholly rewarding after the frustrations of the last five seasons. But it must have been especially satisfying to their great band of supporters after their wonderful display yesterday. Where Nemo had been inexperienced and immature in their previous final appearance two years ago, this time they were able to substitute confidence and maturity, and above all, an unbreaking faith in their ability.

To the students' credit they played their part in making this final a classic under the conditions, a game which was notable for its sportsmanship. It gripped the attention of all through the first half as both sides fought to assert themselves, and it throbbed with excitement following Allen's goal and the series of brilliant saves by Nemo's star goalkeeper, captain and leader, Billy Morgan.

UCC came to grips with the conditions. Their play was surprisingly imaginative. On very few occasions did they come to grips with the combined attacking play for which they are noted, and they looked to be commanding in vital areas. They fully disputed possession at midfield which allowed the students to get 80 per cent of the ball in that area.

Nemo were singularly successful in containing the threat from UCC. While Dan Kavanagh was prevented from being chief scorer, right half forward Denis Allen was the inspiration of the attack. His high work-rate, accuracy from frees and his goal at the beginning of second half were vital to Nemo's success. But probably more vital, Billy Morgan was brilliant all through, but particularly in the first minutes of the second half. He made one probably match-winning and match-losing save.

The final minutes of the first half were highlighted by a great save by the U.C.C. goalkeeper Noel Murphy, just before the break. It denied Nemo a certain goal and enabled U.C.C. to end the first half with a narrow lead. The scoring had been close right through the 30 minutes and the teams were level on four occasions.

Nemo took an early lead with a free from Denis Allen after 45 seconds. This score did much to settle them and for the next 10 minutes they exercised constant pressure on the College defense. In the circumstances, and against the wind, they probably did well to match scores with U.C.C., but with the possession they had in the first quarter, they could have been several points in front.

Nemo's failure to win possession regularly at midfield meant that the UCC forwards were rarely serviced properly. But the more important factor was the constant threat from Allen and Nemo's other wing-forward Liam Good which confined the College half-backs to a purely defensive role.

U.C.C. led for the first time with a free from Brendan Lynch in the 13th minute but they didn't hold it very long. Noel Morgan, always probing in the right corner and able to beat Seamus Looney almost at will, levelled for Nemo in the 14th minute. Seven minutes later the teams were again on equal terms, with pointed frees from Allen and Brendan Lynch.

Nemo's defense was well able to meet the challenge from the students' attack. Kieran Collins at left half forced Brendan Lynch out of the game with close marking and clever football, and Dick Bambury made little progress against Frank Cogan in the centre. Donal Murray, on the left, looked one of the few U.C.C. forwards capable of penetrating, but he got little scope from Der Cogan, and even less in the second half. Inside, the only player to worry Nemo was Dan Kavanagh but he got little of the ball. Eddie Brophy and Brian Murphy also defended well. Behind them all was Morgan, a superb leader.

Under pressure in the 10 minutes before half-time, Nemo's defense conceded a number of frees, two of which Brendan Lynch pointed. The second, in the 24th minute, came after the best students' move of the first half, with Paddy Lynch and Kavanagh combining before setting up Brendan, who pointed from about 45 yards. Allen, equally impressive with his free-taking, pointed in the 28th minute to leave the score at 0-6 to 0-5.

There were just seconds left to the interval when Nemo came close to goaling. Jimmy Barrett, who had earlier moved up from midfield to the attack, picked up a clearance from Frank Cogan in the centre and broke through and shot towards the left corner. It looked a goal all the way until Murphy sprang across to deflect it, and Liam Good, following up, kicked the ball into the side netting.

It could have been the turning point until Nemo dramatically scored their first goal, 40 seconds after the resumption. They were awarded a free directly following the throw-in and Frank Cogan's shot broke loose to Denis Allen out on the left wing. He first-timed the ball on the ground from 30 yards and with the goalkeeper and full-back Ross Keane apparently expecting it to run wide, it went into the net off the butt of the right upright. Two minutes later, Allen pointed from Noel Morgan's pass, and Nemo were a goal in front.

They might not have held that lead—and I'm of opinion they wouldn't have—if Billy Morgan had not made two brilliant saves in succession. The first was from Nial O'Sullivan in the 30th minute, the second from Dan Kavanagh in the 42nd minute. Kavanagh's shot deserved a goal, after he had combined in sparkling style with Donal Murray.

These saves, coming soon after Allen's goal, ensured Nemo's victory. But there was one period where they looked in trouble. U.C.C. had dropped four points behind after another Allen point from a free in the 36th minute, and in the 41st minute, Brendan Lynch attempted a goal. His first shot was blocked and he almost scored from the rebound. A minute later Brendan Collins narrowed the gap with a point from play in the 42nd minute, and then Paddy Lynch hit a free wide, and Paddy Lynch had a point from play in the 43rd minute, to leave two points in it.

Again it was consistent clearance work in defense and the great work of Billy Cogan in midfield with Donal Hurley (who resumed there after half-time) that swung the game back in Nemo's favor. Denis Allen pointed from 50 yards in the 47th minute, and three minutes later, Seamus Coughlan's goal finally crushed the U.C.C. challenge. Billy Murphy found Liam Good with a long relieving clearance on the left wing. Good picked out Seamus Coughlan in the center, and the Army cadet soloed through before crashing the ball to the back of the net.

Billy Morgan and Denis Allen may have been the heroes, but this was essentially a victory for teamwork. Others to shine were Brian Murphy, Kieran Collins, Der Cogan, Billy Cogan and Liam Good. U.C.C.'s best were Noel Murphy, Joe Gleeson, Paddy O'Shea, Paddy Lynch, Donal Murray and Der Kavanagh. Referee Frank Halbert deserves his share of praise for his excellent handling of the game.

Scorers: Nemo Rangers: D. Allen 1-6 (0-5 from frees); S. Coughlan 1-0; N. Morgan 0-2; F. Cogan 0-1. U.C.C.: B. Lynch 0-4 (0-3 from frees); P. Lynch 0-2; D. Coffey 0-1.

Nemo Rangers: B. Morgan (Capt.); J. Corcoran, E. Brophy, B. Murphy; D. Cogan, F. Cogan, K. Collins; B. Cogan, D. Hurley; D. Allen, S. Coughlan, L. Good; N. Morgan, J. Barrett, M. O'Donoghue.

U.C.C.: N. Murphy; J. Gleeson (Capt.), M. Keane, S. Looney; J. Barrett, P. O'Shea, T. Looney; N. O'Sullivan, P. Lynch; B. Lynch, R. Bambury, D. Murray; S. Kavanagh, D. Kavanagh, N. Coffey.

Subs.: D. Herlihy for S. Kavanagh (23rd minute); S. Kavanagh for Bambury.

Ref.: Frank Halbert.

Mr. Derry Gowen, Cork County Board Chairman, presented the cup to the Nemo Rangers captain, Billy Morgan.

The attendance at the Athletic Grounds was 3,128. Gate receipts (£805).