Nemo win gripper as brave Clon pay penalty

A GAME to savour on a fabulous Newcestown sod on Saturday, champions Nemo Rangers drawing on all their reserves to edge past Clonakilty in an Evening Echo Cork Co SHC third round replay that buzzed throughout.

The huge crowd were treated to some delightful passages of football, but, in the end, a 41st minute penalty, won and converted by David Kearney, proved decisive in a Nemo victory that looked assured at half-time.

But Clon are no quitters and gave the city kingpins a right rattle in a second-half that was certainly a long one for the champions.

Nemo coach Ephie Fitzgerald, still rankled at having to play such an important game so soon after Cork’s All-Ireland semi-final success, was clearly a happy camper afterwards. “I’m delighted, very proud of the players, they gave it everything tonight. We had so many guys missing, even Liam O’Sullivan came out of retirement. Then we lost a few more with injuries in a tough battle we always knew we’d get from Clon.

“Yes we were motivated. We were a little flat the last day and felt we didn’t do ourselves justice. It was good, at last, to see five of our players who were on county duty. Fair play to Clon they are a good side, but I think our lads showed great character tonight.”

Not to mention solidarity. Pádraig Griffin may have given Clon a third minute lead, but it was Nemo, tactically correct all through a lively opening half, who began to make the waves. Sean O’Brien scored a difficult point out on the right and then David Niblock, after skinning Timmy Anglin, put Nemo ahead.

Already the champions were in control. Playing just two inside — Peter Morgan aiding two competitive midfielders in Martin Cronin and Maurice McCarthy — Nemo were mean and tight as three terrific points – two frees — from Paul Kerrigan put the champions in a commanding 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes. Denis Murphy, who worked so hard all through, did get a point back for Clon, but Kerrigan struck again for Nemo in the 15th minute, firing over his third free after being denied a goal by referee John Geaney’s whistle.

There was much to admire about Nemo’s play. Sean O’Brien worked like a beaver up and down the park and was a huge loss when he retired injured before the break. But the Nemo bandwagon kept rolling as first Alan Cronin set up brother Martin for a fabulous point, and then Maurice McCarthy put the excellent Kearney in for another as Nemo, in total control, led 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time.

What a difference a half makes though, as clued-in Clon immediately began to made life difficult for Nemo, who could only manage two second-half scores, one calculated to win the contest.

Clon moved Pádraig Griffin to full-forward and had Conor McManus helping out around the middle of the park. Alan Cronin missed two easy point chances to stretch Nemo’s lead but, subsequently, they played second fiddle to a tigerish Clon side in a huge second-half battle.

Callanan, who pointed just before the break, started the charge with two pointed frees. McManus kept the momentum going with two superb points from play and had Griffin availed of a good chance, it would have been level pegging by the 40th minute. Then a sloppy free by Conrad Murphy and Clon paid dearly.

Clon coach Teddy Holland takes up the story. “We had them on the run. I felt the game was there for the taking, just like the previous one. But then that free kick to nowhere enabling Nemo to break away for the penalty and we never really recovered.”

It came following Griffin’s miss in the 41st minute. Murphy’s free went nowhere; Alan Cronin’s long ball was won by Kearney and when he was upended, the corner-forward blasted home a peach of a penalty to Eamonn Harte’s right.

Leading 1-8 to 0-7 entering the final quarter, it proved the decisive score. Kerrigan did kick his fifth point in the 48h minute, but the champions were then hit by an all out bombardment by plucky Clon. The Nemo bench were worried now but lucky Derek Kavanagh and Gearóid O’Shea were on top of their games in defence.

Two pointed Clon frees from Conrad Murphy and two sweetly struck 65s by substitute Colin O’Donovan reduced the gap to the minimum with time running out. But referee Geaney, always in control, was in no mood for a long night and called time on a terrific battle, leaving Nemo to prepare for a quarter-final clash with either Bishopstown or Na Piarsaigh.