Fitzgerald not happy despite Nemo's victory
Their victory at Páirc Uí Chaiomh has set up a novel final pairing with St. Senan's, Kilkee but manager Ephie Fitzgerald was not happy with the performance.
"I suppose the result was never in doubt and, in fairness to Stradbally, they put it up to us in the last 15 minutes but, to be honest about it, I was disappointed with our second half performance," he said.
Paul Kerrigan put the game well and truly out of Stradbally's reach after 22 minutes when he got on the end of one of those piercing moves that typifies Nemo football. It began a long way out when Alan Cronin, a last minute nomination at full-forward, was playing deep, won clean possession and ran 20 metres before laying the ball off to Sean O'Brien who had his eye on the centre forward running into position.
Once Kerrigan got possession he was never going to be stopped and his goal gave Nemo a 1-7 to 0-2 lead.
Paul Kerrigan started for Nemo instead of centre-forward Michael Kearney, who was moved to wing forward alongside Sean O'Brien who had been originally named at full-forward. Alan Cronin was a late addition, slipping in on the fringe of the square and James Masters was moved to the corner.
With Stradbally dormant at midfield, all the play was directed at the Nemo attack and they revelled in it with smart, short passing movements that left the opposing defence helplessly adrift.
Niall Curran had a point for Stradbally from a free in the 10th minute and another 10 minutes had elapsed before he gave them their second, and when all was done and dusted, he would end up with a total of nine points to his credit eight from frees.
But his half-time total was four while Nemo had 1-9 on the scoreboard and when they came out and hit four more points without reply it was hardly surprising that they took their foot off the pedal.
Midfielder, John Hearne, had a point for Stradbally and then Niall Curran landed five more one from play as the pace dropped.
Nemo might have had another goal with a few minutes to go when substitutes Joe Kavanagh and Dylan Mehigan swept the ball out of defence. Michael Kearney, who had also just come on as a replacement, stepped into the line and laid the ball off to David Niblock but when the goalkeeper, Eoin Cunningham, came off his line to meet the challenge it was left to Oliver Costelloe at full-back to make the save.
"When you are nine or 10 points ahead subconsciously you may feel that the game is over," Ephie Fitzgerald admitted. "But we always like to identify weaknesses and this is something we will be looking at.
"We certainly were not as intense for the last 20 minutes as we were early on. As we stand we are one match away from a Munster championship and that was our aim at the start of the year.
"We have a fine panel and we intend to use them. We have used 26 players this year which is a tribute to them. They are a great bunch, excellent trainers, they work hard and they listen and learn.
"Historically over the years Clare club teams have been very good and we'll prepare for the next two weeks. Every round is a challenge and the teams are getting better. We'll be prepared and we will be up for it."
: Nemo Rangers: P. Kerrigan 1-5 (0-1 free), J. Masters 0-4 (0-2 frees), D. Niblock 0-2, S. O'Brien, A. Cronin and M. Kearney 0-1 each. Stradbally: N. Curran 0-9 (0-8 frees) and J. Hearne 0-1.
: B. Morgan; M. Daly, G. Murphy, G. O'Shea; C. O'Shea, B. O'Regan, N. O'Sullivan; M. Cronin, M. McCarthy; D. Niblock, S. O'Brien, P. Kerrigan; W. Morgan, A. Cronin, J. Masters.
: M. Kearney for J. Masters (41 mins), L. O'Sullivan for W. Morgan (41 mins), S. Twomey for G. O'Shea and P. Brophy for B. O'Regan (48 mins), D. Mehigan for M. McCarthy.
: E. Cunningham; D. Doyle, K. Coffey, O. Costelloe; S. Lannon, T. Costelloe, T. Grey; M. Walsh, J. Hearne; T. Curran, G. Power, S. Cunningham; N. Curran, G. Walsh, P. Weldon.
: S. Lawlor for T. Curran and J. Halpin for D. Doyle (46 mins).
: Michael Meade (Limerick).
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