Kavanagh strikes late to earn Nemo replay with Glanmire
The former county senior player has been an outstanding servant to Nemo over a long and distinguished career and apart from his match saving point, made a telling contribution when moved to centre-forward at a time when his side were struggling to stay in touch.
While both sets of players will be glad of another day out, the replay will cause headaches for Nemo’s senior footballers and Sars senior hurlers, both still very much in contention for county honours.
Both sides had a brimful of exciting players. William Morgan must surely have played himself onto Nemo’s senior team for Saturday’s semi-final with Duhallow after scoring eight points, four magnificent efforts from play.
County minor Daniel Molden was equally effective at full-forward for Glanmire, scoring five points, three from play. Michael Cussen at midfield was another to make a telling contribution for the Riverstown side with some superb high fielding.
Glanmire made the early running playing into the wind, mainly due to Cussen’s aerial dominance. After Molden had given his side a 40 second lead, Nemo were grateful for an excellent save by ‘keeper Brian Morgan from James Murphy. It was all Glanmire in the early minutes, but Nemo settled and the sides were level twice in the opening quarter before the Capwell side’s slick football and Wm Morgan’s superb kicking had them 0-6 to 0-3 in front after 20 minutes.
The tactic of breaking the ball away from Cussen worked well for Nemo, but after Conor Mulvihill was switched back on Morgan, their principle source of scores dried up and the Riverstown side finished the half strongly with Molden kicking two excellent points which helped his side to go in on level terms, 0-7 apiece, at the break.
Despite Nemo continuing to break the ball away from Cussen, the Glanmire midfield continued to win more than his share of possession and with Ray Ryan and Kieran Murphy providing excellent support they had stormed into a three point lead by the end of the third quarter, courtesy of two excellent points by their tall midfielder.
However, with Kavanagh now influential for Nemo on the forty, the Capwell side came forward in droves and two further points by Morgan left just the minimum between the sides by the end of the third quarter. Glanmire were under the cosh as Nemo looked for an equaliser but in a breakaway attack Molden eased the pressure for his side with a pointed free and Nemo had it all to do again.
However, as time ticked away Morgan had the deficit down to the minimum again with a point from a free. In a welter of excitement Glanmire looked to have weathered the Nemo storm as Kerry Mulvihill came away with the ball, but a careless pass gave the ball to Kavanagh who accepted the chance to level the match for the fourth and final time with an excellent 30-metre point.
Glanmire: D. Molden 0-5 (0-1 free, 0-1 45); J., Murphy 0-3 (0-2 frees); M. Cussen 0-2; B. O’Callaghan, P. Meaney 0-1 each. Nemo Rangers: W. Morgan 0-8 (0-4 frees); D. Kearney 0-2; M. Kearney, J. Kavanagh 0-1 each.
: M. Byrne; D. Kenneally, P. Hanley, Declan O’Connell; Don O’Connell, R.Ryan, C. Mulvihill; M. Cussen, K. Murphy; B. O’Callaghan, B. Kirby, K. Mulvihill; P. Meaney, D. Molden, J. Murphy.
F. O’Reilly for Kirby; F. Duggan for Meaney; C. Keane for K. Mulvihill.
B. Morgan; L. McCarthy, S. Twomey, S. McKeown; A. O’Brien, I. Gibbons, E. Weldon; L. O’Sullivan, P. Morgan; C. Allen, JP O’Neill, D. Kearney; W. Morgan, J. Kavanagh, M. Kearney.
M. Dorgan for Allen; P. Hogan for O’Neill; P. O’Shea for D. Kearney.
P. O’Leary (Kilmurry).
