Fourteen-man Nemo dig deep to see off Bishopstown in U21 thriller

Bryan Hayes hits 2-6 as Nemo overcome second-half dismissal to book their place in the Pharmacare U21 A Football Championship semi-final

Nemo Rangers 2-17 Bishopstown 2-14

Author: Michael Morgan

Nemo Rangers produced a superb battling performance to overcome Bishopstown by three points in the Pharmacare U21 A Football Championship quarter-final at Ballinlough on Saturday afternoon.

Bishopstown have proved something of a bogey team for Nemo at this grade in recent seasons and, with several intercounty U20 players in their ranks, went into the game as favourites.

Nemo, however, reversed that recent trend despite playing most of the second half with 14 men.

Playing into the wind in the opening half, Bryan Hayes opened the scoring from a free before Daragh O'Sullivan landed an excellent two-point free from around the 40-metre arc.

Bishopstown responded with a seventh-minute goal after Nemo were turned over high up the pitch and soon moved a point ahead.

Nemo settled well, with O'Sullivan prominent in attack. Cian Power produced one of the scores of the game in the 26th minute, cutting inside and curling over against the wind, before Hayes added another free.

A crucial goal arrived on the half-hour when Hayes' free from the right found its way all the way to the net, with Morgan Corkery following in to put pressure on the goalkeeper.

Bishopstown replied with a two-point free in injury time, but Nemo had done an excellent job against the elements to lead 1-8 to 1-6 at half-time.

With the wind now behind them, Nemo flew out of the blocks after the restart. Captain Eoin Kelly won the throw-in and Nemo immediately worked the ball forward for Hayes to score. Power and O'Sullivan quickly followed with points to stretch the lead to five.

The game changed dramatically in the 36th minute when Colin Molloy was dismissed, leaving Nemo to negotiate the remainder of the contest with 14 men.

Instead of retreating, Nemo continued to attack.

Hayes added a point before Cian Power burst through the Bishopstown defence in the 42nd minute and was brought down inside the square. Hayes stepped up and calmly dispatched the penalty to the goalkeeper's right.

Bishopstown continued to chip away at the lead, but Hayes produced another huge score in the 52nd minute with a superb two-point free from way out on the right wing.

Substitute Bill Twohig then made an immediate impact, pointing after an excellent handpass from Hayes.

Bishopstown refused to go away. A free rebounded off the post in the 55th minute and they reacted quickest to fire home their second goal. Another point followed and, with Nemo down a man, the closing stages became increasingly tense.

Morgan Corkery then delivered the decisive score.

Collecting possession outside the 40-metre arc on the right in the 59th minute, Corkery took on the shot and used the wind brilliantly to send over a superb two-pointer.

Bishopstown responded with a two-pointer of their own deep into injury time, but Nemo had done enough.

The final whistle confirmed a 2-17 to 2-14 victory and a place in the next round.

The foundations were laid with an excellent first-half performance into the wind, but the most impressive aspect was Nemo's response to being reduced to 14 men. Against a Bishopstown side that has caused them plenty of problems at this grade in recent seasons, Nemo continued to attack and came up with the big scores when they were needed.

Hayes led the way with an outstanding 2-6, while O'Sullivan contributed 0-6. Power added two excellent points, Corkery's late two-pointer accounted for 0-2, and Twohig completed the scoring with a point.

Nemo Rangers scorers: Bryan Hayes 2-6 (1-0 penalty, 1-0 free, 0-2 two-point free, 0-2 frees), Daragh O'Sullivan 0-6 (0-2 two-point free, 0-2 frees), Cian Power 0-2, Morgan Corkery 0-2 (two-pointer), Bill Twohig 0-1.

Bishopstown scorers: B Cahill 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-2 f), G Holland 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), N Crowley, M Scally 1-1 each, J Tompkins, O Foley 0-1 each.

Nemo Rangers: Joe Lyons; Neville O'Shea, Colin Molloy, Dan Quinn; Cian Power, Callum O'Neill, Dave Coughlan; Eoin Kelly (capt), Dave Calnan; Matthew Keenan, Bryan Hayes, Tim O'Brien; Conor Yelland, Daragh O'Sullivan, Morgan Corkery.

Sub: Bill Twohig for Dave Coughlan (53).

BISHOPSTOWN: S Cronin; C Vaughan, H Wixted, R Lynch; M Scaly, K Murphy, O Foley; P Casey, S Sheridan; B McCarthy, J Tompkins, C Murray; B Cahill, G Holland, N Crowley.

Sub: A Collins for McCarthy (34).

Referee: Damian Taaffe.