Brilliant Nemo Rangers make history - and a point

Nemo Rangers 4-15 Monaleen 0-6

The Cork champions had history to make and a point to prove in Killarney yesterday and Limerick's finest weren't much of an obstacle to either.

This AIB Munster Club SFC title is Nemo's third in a row, bestowing a historical end-line to a hopeless

mismatch, and it will convince some that Nemo won't be claiming any unwanted page in the records as the first side to reach and lose three All Ireland finals.

Of course, reaching three finals is an extraordinary achievement in itself, and one frequently overlooked by footballing naysayers.

However, All Ireland semi-final opponents, Tyrone's Errigal Ciaran, won't be throwing in the towel just yet. Mickey Harte's men have seen off Crossmaglen and Ballinderry in

Ulster's club championship minefield, and their representatives at Fitzgerald Stadium yesterday must have been

anticipating the landslide they witnessed in front of 1,200 people. Undoubtedly they will arrive at the semi-final battle-hardened. Battle weary? Time will tell.

What they couldn't deny yesterday was Nemo's unquestionable hunger for another All Ireland, sharpened by those losses to Crossmolina and Ballinderry and the back street whispers around Cork that Munster was the height of their ambition this year.

"We use the fact that people are writing us off quite a lot," reckons excellent wing back, Gary Murphy. "People think that we're no longer as focused but I think we're getting hungrier.

"But the fact that we've lost the last two final gives us a huge incentive this year. There's a real spring in our step."

No one from Monaleen is inclined to disagree. Coach Ger Lawlor was disappointed their first county championship winning campaign in 24 years ended with a 21 point pummelling, but took a perverse enjoyment in watching his conquerors at work.

"They're awesome. When they got the early goals our heads dropped, but I must admit, I thought we'd have the legs on them, that we'd give it a right go. We weren't expecting them to be as hungry as they were."

Laois man Lawlor has been a fan of Nemo's standards and tradition for some time, but being at the business end of their ruthlessness wasn't much fun. "They're fired up but you've got to look at the team and their substitutes bench. That lad who came on (James Masters) would be knocking on the door of most inter-county teams, and he can't get on the Nemo fifteen!"

Perhaps that last observation will please Billy Morgan most. No one has ever doubted Masters' ability but his attitude now looks to be as impressive as his goal and two wonderful points from frees were yesterday. No one in the Nemo full forward line can feel safe ahead of February's semi final.

"It's a level playing field across the 30 players," Gary Murphy reckoned. "There's fellas snapping at your heels all the time."

Masters will certainly bring an added potency to an attack frequently charged with over-reliance on Colin Corkery, but Joe Kavanagh also looked to be relishing his football after a dreadful time with injuries and Alan Cronin picked up a man of the match award for his foraging efforts when the match still resembled one.

"It will take a very good team to beat them," Lawlor reckoned. "The game with Errigal will be some match. The Tyrone lads will ask questions. They both have quality sets of forwards but Nemo look to be bigger physically, certainly around the middle of the field."

Whatever about possible fatigue and certainly, ahead of their Munster semi final win over Kerins O'Rahillys, Nemo looked sluggish. Morgan and his selectors now have eight weeks to prime their troops.

However, the portents are good. Martin Cronin was quick and inventive in his new centre back role (Steven O'Brien was a substitute), and Sean O'Brien at corner back is playing like someone who knows what it's like to be a substitute, and doesn't want to go back there. Murphy must be one of the most active wing backs in club football, while Cahill and Kavanagh at midfield retain an extraordinary work ethic. Both had registered a score by the 20th minute yesterday, at which point Nemo were already 1-6 to 0-1 to the good, Alan Cronin grabbing the goal after full back Niall Geary underlined Nemo's fluidity by setting him up after a penetrating burst upfield.

Monaleen full back John Cormican began well on Corkery, but lost the will to fight once the Nemo captain had strolled though for a second goal after 26 minutes. Two minutes later William Morgan's surge towards goal was unfairly interrupted by Alan Kitson, and Corkery converted the penalty to give the Cork side a 3 6 to 0 2 advantage.

Two Monaleen points before half time might have given them hope, if Nemo's defence didn't clamp tight at the beginning of the second period. It took the Limerick champions 16 minutes of the second half to score, by which time Nemo had added four more points, making it 3-10 to 0-5.

Steven O'Brien added a point upon his introduction, before James Masters made his statement of intent.

He's not the only one looking forward to Nemo v. Errigal Ciaran.

Nemo Rangers scorers: C. Corkery (2-3, 2 frees, 1 pen), J. Masters (1-2, 2 frees), A. Cronin (1-1), J. Kavanagh (0-3), G. Murphy (0-2), K. Cahill, D. Kavanagh, W. Morgan and S. O'Brien (0-1 each).

Monaleen: M. Gavin (0-3, frees), C. O'Boyle, J. O'Brien and E. Keating (0-1 each).

NEMO RANGERS: D. Heaphy, L. Kavanagh, N. Geary, S. O'Brien; G. Murphy, M. Cronin, M. Daly; K. Cahill, D. Kavanagh; A. Cronin, J.P. O'Neill, M. McCarthy; J. Kavanagh, C. Corkery (capt), W. Morgan. Subs: S. O'Brien for O'Neill (37 mins); D. Mehigan for McCarthy (43); J. Masters for Corkery (49); L. O'Sullivan for A. Cronin (49).

MONALEEN: B. Berkery; D.Burke, J. Cormican, D. McAuley; F. Nash, M. Cummins, F. Melody; B. Geary, J. Marsh; C. O'Boyle, A. Kitson, J. O'Brien; J.P. Stokes, M. Gavin, E. Keating. Subs: A. McEntee for Marsh (24 mins); D. McInerney for B. Berkery (inj, 31); K. O'Boyle for Keating (38); J. Coneely for Stokes (51); S. O'Brien for D. McAuley (55).

Referee: B. Tyrrell (Tipperary).