Slimmed-down Corkery stakes Cork claim
A trimmer Corkery, under the watchful eye of his club and Cork coach Billy Morgan, had some good moments, scoring 1-5 despite the attention of wary Newmarket full-back Mark Murphy. Niall Geary, too, came into the picture when he replaced Paul Brophy. But it was the exciting Kerrigan who really caught the eye, scoring four terrific points.
Newmarket’s staggering 21 wides was their undoing and even classy corner-forward Tony O'Keeffe, who gave Nemo corner-back Ivan Gibbons a torrid time, couldn’t get a score.
Reflected Nemo selector Michael Hogan: “We took our chances, played well at times and we never took the game for granted. Hard to know what team we’ll have out the next day, but we’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
Nemo were quickly on the scoreboard, Alan Morgan pointing, but Newmarket had plenty of chances to worry the Capwell side, with Mick Cottrell missing two good opportunities and Sean F. O’Connor off target with a free.
Indeed it was Newmarket’s squander-mania - 13 first-half wides - that went a long way towards their downfall as Nemo, gently easing through the gears, took their scores with aplomb.
Neil O’Sullivan had their second point in the sixth minute and Kerrigan, a real handful for Donie O’Sullivan and later Mark Reidy, as Nemo led 0-3 to 0-1 after the opening quarter, Newmarket’s point though a fine effort from O’Connor.
Corkery, quiet in the opening half, then kicked a superb free to open his account and as Newmarket continued to waste their chances. Nemo nibbled away with points from wing back Ciarran O’Shea, a beauty from Corkery and then Alan Hogan to lead 0-7 to 0-2 at the break, with Kerrigan also hitting the post with goalkeeper Jim Morgan beaten.
Corkery stamped his class on the early second-half proceedings with two outstanding points. Newmarket needed something to happen quickly, and it did in the 38th minute when great work between O’Keeffe and Hourigan set up substitute Maurice Feehan. He gave Brian Morgan no chance.
O’Connor and Barry O’Leary should have followed with points, as indeed should Willie Morgan at the other end for Nemo. But at the end of the third quarter it was still Nermo leading 0-10 to 1-3.
Nemo were moving well now. Peter Morgan and Brian Twomey were all over the park as three sublime points from Kerrigan put Newmarket out of their misery. Willie Morgan also got on the scoresheet and to round things off, Corkery finished off a move started by Willie Morgan and Alan Hogan.
It’s Cill Na Martra next for the Capwell men.
: Nemo Rangers: C. Corkery 1-5 (0-2 frees), P. Kerrigan 0-4, A. Morgan, N. O’Sullivan, P. O’Shea, A. Hogan, W. Morgan 0-1 each. Newmarket: M. Feehan 1-0, S.F. O’Connor, M. Hourigan, M. Cottrell 0-1 each.
: B. Morgan; L. McCarthy, R. Murphy, I. Gibbons; N. O’Sullivan, P. Brophy, C. O’Shea; P. Morgan, B. Twomey;l P. O’Shea, J.P. O’Neill, P. Kerrigan; W. Morgan, C. Corkery, A. Hogan.
Subs: N. Geary for Brophy, S. Marshall for O’Neill.
: J. Morgan; D. Murphy, M. Murphy, G. Sheehan; D. O’Sullivan, D. O’Brien, M. Reidy; G. McCarthy, B. O’Leary; D. Flynn, M. Cottrell, K. O’Connor; T. O’Keeffe, M. Hourigan, S. F. O’Connor.
Subs: M. Feehan for K. O’Connor, J. Cronin for S.F. O’Connor, M. Hourigan for Flynn.
: N. Barrett (Carrigtwohill).
