Kiskeam find killer touch

BRAVE Kiskeam staged a remarkable comeback to snatch victory from Nemo Rangers in an extraordinary Evening Echo Cork Co Premier IFC opening round game at sun-drenched Donoughmore yesterday.

Trailing by six points and looking totally outclassed entering the final quarter, Kiskeam dug deep to record a famous victory.

It was a sensational recovery by Kiskeam who, early on, looked doomed against a rampant Nemo side.

With backs and forwards combining brilliantly, Nemo put on a super show early on, one which Kiskeam had no answer to. Brian Twomey was outstanding at wing back as a powerful Nemo attacking unit, led superbly by wily veteran Joe Kavanagh, tore their opponents to shreds.

Kavanagh scored four points, three from frees, as Nemo opened up a 0-8 to 0-3 interval lead. Kiskeam did not look to be at the races.

And when David Kearney and Jerry Kerins extended Nemo’s lead to six points entering the final quarter it looked all over bar the shouting.

But, for some inexplicable reason, the well suddenly dried up for Nemo, who failed to score again. While, Kiskeam, with a goal out of the blue from wing forward David Scannell in the 53rd minute found a new lease of life.

Kiskeam levelled the game when Michael O’Herlihy found Sean Linehan with a great cross-field pass and the left half back made no mistake with a superb point. Then, three minutes from the end, Niall Cronin kicked over what was to prove to be the match-winning point for a jubilant Kiskeam team.

Nemo did come close to retrieving the situation but a shot at goal from David Kearney hit the upright, while another attempt for an equaliser from wing back Colin O’Brien went wide of the posts.

A sensational triumph for Kiskeam, a shock experience for Nemo.

Scorers for Kiskeam: D. Scannell 1-1; N. Cronin 0-4 (frees); B. Dennehy 0-2; S. Linehan 0-1;

Nemo Rangers:J. Kavanagh 0-4 (0-3 frees); M. Kearney, J. Kerins D. Kearney 0-2 each.

KISKEAM:J. Sheehan; D. Linehan, J. Dennehy, J. O’Connor; D. Cremin, P. O’Leary, S. Linehan; D. O’Herlihy, E. O’Mahony; M. O’Herlihy, T. Dennehy, D. Scannell; D. Fitzgerald, B. Dennehy, N. Cronin.

NEMO RANGERS:B. Morgan; M. Daly, S. Twomey, P. Brophy; C. O’Brien, B. O’Regan, B. Twomey; L. O’Sullivan, P. Morgan; J. Kerins, J.P. O’Neill, A. Morgan; D. Kearney, J. Kavanagh, M. Kearney.

Subs: R. Kenny for Kavanagh (injured).

Referee: P. O’Leary (Kilmurry).