Nemo missing key players for clash with Bantry

COUNTY champions Nemo Rangers will be without three of the team which recently won the All-Ireland club title when they clash with Bantry Blues in the second round of the Permanent TSB SFC at Dunmanway tomorrow night (7pm).

Steven O’Brien, Kevin Cahill and William Morgan are all missing for what team coach Billy Morgan sees as a very difficult hurdle for his charges. O’Brien has retired, Cahill is taking a break, while Morgan is in America for the next six months on work experience and, given the defeat of their intermediate team at the weekend, it will be interesting to see if the replacements are up to the required standard.

“Only time will tell,” said Billy Morgan. “We are going into tonight’s game with no match practice which is a bit of a drawback. The lads won’t have lost all their fitness over the last five weeks, but I’m concerned about our lack of a competitive match since the All-Ireland club final.

“There is a lot of talk that Bantry are not the force they were, but I don’t accept that. They have a lot of first class players who won’t need any motivation when it comes to playing Nemo.

“They have a lot of pride and have the advantage of a championship match under their belt. It’s only a couple of weeks since the club final and I hope our lads have the stomach for another season.”

These are difficult times indeed for Bantry. It wasn’t too long ago they were top of the pile but, following a disastrous run of defeats, they have slipped alarmingly.

A victory over the defending Cork, Munster and All-Ireland champions would do much to restore confidence, but it may be asking too much of the West Cork side, despite the fact that Nemo will be without key players.

There are two IFC ties down for decision tonight, the pick of which is the meeting of last year’s junior champions Kiskeam and Ilen Rovers in Macroom at 7pm. Kiskeam are making their debut at this level against a side who won the junior title just two years ago. It promises to be a cracking contest with the Rovers getting the nod to advance.

Fresh from their surprise but well merited senior victory over Bantry last week, St Nicks face Killavullen in the intermediate grade at Glenville tonight (7pm) with high hopes of continuing on their winning ways.

The North Cork side are slight favourites, but the Blackpool club is enjoying something of a football revival and won’t be easily beaten.