Nemo turn on the power to secure final date with Naomh Abán

Nemo Rangers 1-15 Douglas 0-5

Indeed it was a busy week-end for the Cork kingpins. On Saturday they played the Laois U-21 side in Portlaoise and while many players got a run, there was no shortage of motivation or intensity when they faced their neighbours yesterday as the battle for places hots up.

True, Douglas have little work done, but this is a well-oiled Nemo machine and once they wore down their neighbours who were very competitive in the opening half there was only going to be one winner.

Nemo were quick off the mark and threatened to steamroll Douglas early on with the speed and precision of their play. Martin Cronin pointed, then Paul Kerrigan, and with Derek Kavanagh in good form at midfield it took a super save from Brian Boyle to deny James Masters.

But Nemo were also wasteful and it allowed Douglas get back into the contest after a sluggish start. Fergal O'Sullivan fired over two sweet frees and with Cormac Dineen and Eoin Cadogan coming more into the game it was 0-2 apiece after the opening quarter.

And Nemo got a kick up the backside in the 17th minute when Dineen put Douglas ahead with a fine point and suddenly it looked like being an interesting derby. But once Nemo upped the tempo with points from Masters and Dylan Mehigan and a brace from Alan Cronin, who had a good match, they never looked back and led 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Nemo were in cruise control in the second-half, limiting Douglas to just two points a third O'Sullivan free and one from play by Barry Fitzgerald as their superior fitness and teamwork began to open up a tired Douglas side. Alan Cronin kicked two terrific points and was always a thorn and with Kerrigan showing electric pace it was all over for Douglas in the 36th minute when Mehigan found the net after smart good work by Kavanagh and Martin Cronin.

Nemo were able to give run outs to Mick Daly, Joe Kavanagh, Liam O'Sullivan, John Paul O'Neill and Jerry Kearns subsequently and leading 1-11 to 0-4 entering the final quarter merely used the game as a spin for their big date against St. Gall's in two weeks time.

They looked real sharp all through, with Brian O'Regan sublime at centre-back. Fina opponents Naomh Abán have it all to do.

Scorers for Nemo: D. Mehigan 1-2, P. Kerrigan 0-5 (0-3 frees), A. Cronin 0-4, J. Masters (frees) 0-2, M. Cronin, M. Daly 0-1 each.

Douglas: F. O'Sullivan 0-3 (frees), C. Dineen, B. Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

NEMO RANGERS:D. Heaphy; G. Murphy, N. Geary, G. O'Shea; C. O'Shea, B. O'Regan, N. O'Sullivan; M. Cronin, D. Kavanagh; D. Niblock, S. O'Brien, D. Mehigan; J. Masters, P. Kerrigan, A. Cronin. Subs:M. Daly for N. O'Sullivan, J. Kavanagh for Masters, L. O'Sullivan for A. Cronin, JP. O'Neill for O'Brfien, J. Kearns for C. O'Shea,

DOUGLAS:B. Boyle; D. McSweeney, D. O'Connor, F. Tobin; N. Heffernan, R. Keating, T. Sheehan; C. Dineen, E. Cadogan; J. LAne, F. O'Sullivan, C. McCarthy; B. Fitzgerald, G. McLoughlin, R. McCarthy. Subs: A. Barry for Sheehan, M. O'Callaghan for R. McCarthy.

Referee: N. Barrett (Carrigtwohill).