Nemo Rangers - Club History

The History Of Nemo Rangers Hurling And Football Club

My Club, Your Club, Our Club

The story of Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football club stretches back to before the start of the last century when in 1893 Rangers took part for the first time in the juvenile football championship. Rangers were based in the South Parish area and continued to perform well including winning the minor championship in 1907. The origin of the original Nemo team begins around 1910, when the pupils of the North Monastery were anxious to play hurling against the wishes of the school principal, who preferred to promote rugby in the school. A lay teacher, Seamus O hAodha invented the name Nemo, as he wanted the letters NM in the title and as latin was taught in the school, he came up with the name Nemo from the latin word meaning "nobody" - perhaps because they were outlawed by the powers that be. Pupils from the South Parish / Turners Cross area who were attending the North Monastery, then adopted the name and set up the Nemo club in 1915.

A lot of these original players would have practiced their hurling skills in a worked out quarry at the top of Windmill Road - known locally as "the Quash". This would have been close to the present Colaiste Chriost Ri School. And so the two clubs Nemo and Rangers existed side by side, until after a turbulent time in our country's history they decided to amalgamate in 1922, as membership of both clubs had fallen - some having emigrated while others were imprisoned for their part in the fight for freedom. Within six years, the new club had certainly made their mark winning the county Intermediate Hurling and Football Championships in 1928 - a feat that has never been equaled. The club's home ground for some time during the thirties was the present Turners Cross soccer Stadium, but by the late 1930's the club struggled for survival, before a combination of emigration and lack of employment during the war years saw Nemo Rangers withdraw from competitive games. In 1946 the club was reformed by among others the past club president Mr. Pat Lynch.

Those involved immediately went about organising street leagues, to provide games for the youngsters of the area. Club teams won many under-age and minor competitions in the first decade of the new Nemo existence, before the adult teams made their mark on winning the county Junior Football Championship in 1957 and then a record breaking five city Junior Hurling titles in a row from 1960 to 1964. At this stage the club had no home pitch or rooms and eventually got the use of a field on the Tramore Road in the mid sixties. The beginning of the seventies saw a major turning point in the club fortunes, as they acquired land off the South Douglas Road and after years of frustrating defeats, won their first county Senior Football title in 1972. The schools in the area, and in particular the work of the Presentation Brothers and the lay teachers, had played a major role in Nemo Rangers rise to fame. The next twenty five years were to prove a golden era of record success including the winning of ten county football championships, nine Munster club and six All-Ireland club titles. In the meantime the club has provided the county team with an array of talent including two captains of Sam Maguire winning teams - Billy Morgan and Denis Allen.

Throughout these great years an important emphasis has always been put on the enjoyable introduction of youngsters to our national games through the street leagues. Many great stars of today like Steven O' Brien and Joe Kavanagh started their careers playing their hearts out to help their teams in the club street leagues. But even of more importance were the friends they made and still have which makes Nemo Rangers - my club, your club, our club.

1902 - Rangers

Despite the fact that the juvenile competition lapsed once again Rangers remained active. Games against Catholic Boys Club and Cork Boys Brigade are recorded indicating that they were basically a youthful team. It would seem however that the above activity was unofficial as a County Board notice in the Cork Examiner of July 16th implies: “The match Shamrocks v Rangers arranged for Tuesday is illegal and competitors will be debarred from competing with affiliated clubs”. At any rate the Rangers seem to have ceased activity for a period after.

1906

Whilst we have only been able to trace two games, Rangers v Glen Rovers on a friendly and Rangers v Cloughdubh which the latter won in the first round of the minor hurling championship it is likely that Rangers were involved in competitions such as the Hospital Cup and Saturday Hurling League as the team was sufficiently mature to achieve success the following year.

1907 - Rangers win hurling title

Eight teams entered for the minor hurling championship for which the draws were: St. Finbarr’s v Rangers Blackrock v Glen Rovers St. Mary’s v Redmonds Bride Valley v Annmount Rangers defeated St. Finbarr’s and Glen Rovers to qualify for the final against St. Mary’s the holders. The game was played on the Cork Athletic Grounds on July 22nd and resulted in Rangers winning their first title on the score 2-7 to 0-11.

1908 - Minor Hurling Championship

Defending their title Rangers overcame Fermoy Gaelic League and Annmount to qualify for the semi-final with Mallow. This game took place at the North Cork venue where the home team were convincing winners on the score 4-13 to 2-2.

1909

The Silver Jubilee Year of the Association marked a milestone in the story of Rangers who had perhaps their most successful year to date. Buoyed up by their experience in the Saturday Hurling League they took the major step of entering the Intermediate Hurling Championship which was introduced for the first time that year by the County Board.

1910

This proved to be another successful year. Whilst not enjoying the same level of league success as in 1909 the club made significant progress in the Intermediate Hurling Championship. Four players were selected to play for the first ever Cork Junior Hurling Team. They were the first intercounty players produced by Rangers. Toward the end of the year the first ‘Nemo’ hurling team made an appearance.

Nemo

There has been much speculation about the origin of Nemo. In fact the original Nemo team was the North Monastery School Hurling Team of 1910-1944. Seamus O Haodha invented the name for the club – Nemo. At the time students wore a cap and blazer on which were emblazoned the letters NM in blue lettering. Latin was the popular third language taught in all secondary schools in those days. Nemo, which means nobody, was a common Latin word. O hAodha to keep the connection invented the name Nemo thereby preserving a link with the established and popular name North Mon.

1911

Rangers won second county title. After two very long years Rangers level of activity diminished somewhat this year. Nevertheless they fielded teams in five different competitions and won a second county title.

1912

Rangers playing assets were somewhat depleted this year as a result of revival of two adjacent clubs (Evergreen & Quarry Road). Despite this setback they took part in seven different competitions but not surprisingly they met with only limited success.

Ranger’s fortunes revived somewhat this year. The intermediate team on the Sunday Hurling League while the minors also made solid progress when winning three rounds of their grade.

1914 - Nemo: The Beginning

At the time a worked out quarry at the top of Windmill Road – Carrolls Quarry – known locally as the ‘Quash’ played an outstanding part not only in the formation of Nemo but as a nursery for Rangers, Blackrock and Redmonds, many of whose members learned their hurling skills on the stony level patch near the ‘Cats & Dogs’ an animal’s home.

An interesting point is that ‘The Quash’ long since filled in is now part of the Colaiste Chriost Ri complex. How appropriate that the school should now be such a valuable nursery for Nemo Rangers.

1916

Both clubs fielded teams in Intermediate, Junior, Minor hurling and in the Sunday League. Nemo also competed in the Minor Football grade. Both clubs were in action in the Intermediate Hurling Championship on July 4th and both were successful. Nemo’s joy was short lived however as they were ruled out after an objection. Nemo reached the semi-final state in Junior and Minor hurling and minor football while Rangers reached the minor hurling semi-final.

1917 - Nemo v Rangers

Because of the continuing unsettled state of the country and the priority which the newspapers gave to reporting on the progress of the First World War details of both clubs’ activity are very difficult to obtain. Nemo were the more active of the two taking part in the Beamish Shield, Intermediate, Junior and Minor grades of hurling and in Minor football. Rangers took part in Intermediate and Minor hurling. As luck would have it Nemo and Rangers were pitted against each other in the Intermediate Hurling Championship. In the event Nemo won by five points.

1918 - Nemo won Intermediate Hurling Title

Continuing the quite notable progress they had been making since their establishment three years previously Nemo captured the Intermediate Hurling Championship after a series of runaway victories.

Final - Cork Athletic Grounds
Nemo 7-5 Mallow 0-1

1919 - Nemo enter senior ranks

Nemo had a difficult introduction to the senior ranks when they were drawn against near neighbours Redmonds in the first round of the championship. In the event Nemo gave a good performance when going under to a Redmonds team that had most of their 1917 winning players on duty.

Mick Murphy of Rangers was a member of the Cork team that regained the All Ireland title after a sixteen lapse.

1920 - War of Independence

Following the landslide victory of Sinn Fein in the November 1918 election. The volunteers pledged an allegiance to the Dail and became the Army of the Republic. In time they became known as the Irish Republican Army although that title was never officially adopted. In the ranks of the volunteers were to be found many members of both Nemo and Rangers. In the course of the campaign some including patsy O’ Donoghue, a founder member of Nemo made the supreme sacrifice while others suffered extreme hardship from which they never recovered properly and had their lives shortened as a result.

1922 - Nemo reconvene

The Cork Examiner of Tuesday, February 22nd advertised the AGM of Nemo Hurling Club at the County Board rooms the following night.

Nemo and Rangers clubs decided to amalgamate shortly afterwards. The prime movers behind the amalgamation were Paddy O’ Keeffe and Denny Hegarty of Rangers who had become close friends as officers of the volunteers.

Officials of the new club were:

Chairman	Paddy O’ Keeffe
Vice Chairman	Jack Kelly
Secretary	Nelius Doyle
Treasurer	Ned Corcoran
Co. Board Rep	Con Connolly

New colours

As Nemo had been playing in green and black and Rangers in black and white it was agreed that the new colours would be black – the common denominator – with a green stripe to represent Nemo’s green and a white shamrock (which was later discarded) to represent Rangers’ white.

Around this time the unfortunate Civil War was in full swing particularly in Cork which was captured by Free State Forces in early August. As a result the County Board found it increasingly difficult to carry out its programme.

1923

Nemo Rangers entered teams for the Senior and Intermediate Hurling and Intermediate Football Grades. It must be remembered that although the conflict was drawing to a close the people as a whole were war weary having endured nearly ten years of unrest. Some players were still ‘on the run’ making it impossible for them to prepare adequately. Many of these arrived at the venues and disappeared as soon as the game finished. At any rate Nemo Rangers lost all three first round games.

1924

Despite the fact that the conflict was over part of its legacy lingered on.

After the disappointing results of the previous year coupled with the loss of Bertie Mullis to Redmonds the club regarded to Intermediate status in hurling. They were reasonably successful winning the city section of the Intermediate championship. The footballers also competed at Intermediate level but with less success.

1925

The club continued to compete at Intermediate level in both codes. The hurlers were unlucky to be eliminated in the second round of the championship as a result of conceding a late goal in a game they dominated throughout. The footballers were paired with Cobh who gave a walkover being unable to travel to Monkstown due to inclement weather. The junior hurling team competed in the newly form City Division competitions.

1926

Despite the fact that no honours were won this proved to be a most successful season- the prelude as it turned out of better things to come. The intermediate hurlers defeated Geraldines in the first round of the championship but were ruled out later. It was in the domestic city competitions that the club came nearest to success.

1927

Continuing the progress they had made the previous year the various teams achieved more tangible benefits as the year progressed. All three hurling teams succeeded in entering the winners rostrum whilst the footballers showed promise of better things to come.

1928

In terms of success this was the club’s greatest year to date. In the process of winning their respective shampionships the Intermediate teams established a number of records which still stand today.

Their feat of winning the Intermediate Hurling and Football championships in the one year has not been equalled by any other club before or since.
The footballers defensive record of conceding only two points over the entire championship is an all time low.
The hurlers help Buttevant scoreless over the two games (one abandoned after 25 minutes) it took to decide the final.

1929

Competing in the top grade in both hurling and football was a difficult task for two newly promoted teams. Nevertheless, the senior hurlers despite losing to UCC in the first round of the championship more than held their own in the league and tournament games. The footballers defeated Lees in the first round of the championship but were no match for Collins and they were always struggling in the Kelleher Shield.

1930