Mighty Nemo well tested by Aghada

Nemo Rangers 0-13 Aghada 0-9

Backed by the wind, Aghada threw down the gauntlet, stormed into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes, led 0-8 to 0-6 at half time, and were still in the hunt with 15 minutes to go.

Aghada's tactic of pumping the long ball into Flaherty and O'Connell had the Nemo defence in all sorts of trouble and with Eoin O'Neill sparkling on the 40, they were full value for their 0-3 to nil lead after five minutes.

Nemo were hardly out of their own defence, and it took until the seventh minute for James Masters to open their account. However, Aghada were back for two further points and, at 0-5 to 0-1 in front after 10 minutes, there was a hint of a shock result.

However, the experience of Derek Kavanagh, Martin Cronin and Mick Daly was very evident and after they switched their two corner backs, Kavanagh showed his class when he took off on a 50-metre solo run from his own defence before kicking over an inspirational point.

Brian O'Regan did exactly the same a couple of minutes later and the margin was down to the minimum after William Morgan landed his side's third point on the trot.

At half-time Aghada were full value for their 0-8 to 0-6 lead after Ger Melvin pointed a difficult free from out near the sideline.

Clearly stung by the ferocity of the Aghada challenge, Nemo never allowed the Aghada defenders to come forward as they did in the first half and they restricted the East Cork side to just one point for the entire second half.

As the half wore on Nemo's pace was telling but still the scores weren't coming and it took them until the 45th minute to go in front for the first time when Joe Kavanagh kicked a point.

For all their outfield superiority in that closing quarter Nemo could only muster three points and all credit to the Aghada defence for that. In the end Nemo were four points to the good and the manner in which they were forced to dig out the result will stand them in good stead for next Sunday's final.

Scorers: Nemo: W. Morgan, J. Masters (0-1 free, 0-1 45) 0-3 each; B. O'Regan 0-2; D. Kavanagh, S. O'Brien, A. Cronin, M. McCarthy, J. Kavanagh 0-1 each. Aghada: E. O'Neill 0-5 (0-3 frees); J. Crowley, P. O'Neill, J. O'Connell, G. Melvin 0-1 each.

NEMO RANGERS: D. Heaphy; G. Murphy, N. Geary, G. O'Shea; B. O'Regan, D. Kavanagh, M. Daly; M. Cronin, M. McCarthy; J. Kavanagh, A. Cronin, D. Niblock; W. Morgan, S. O'Brien, J. Masters.

Subs. P. Kerrigan for J. Kavanagh; A. Morgan for A. Cronin.

AGHADA: E. Kennedy; J. Connolly, JP O'Connor, P. Kilbane; B. Crowley, R. Dwane, K. O'Connor; P. O'Neill, A. Kelleher; E. O'Neill, G. Melvin, T. O'Neill; J. O'Connell, B. Flaherty, D. Creedon.

Sub. S. O'Keeffe for Melvin.

Referee: J. Geaney (Kilshannig).