Superior experience should see Nemo through

IT’S hardly a coincidence that Dublin’s comparatively poor football record on the national stage is mirrored by the lack of success of clubs from the capital in the AIB All-Ireland club championship.

If one excludes UCD, twice champions in the mid-seventies with strong inter-provincial representation, and Kilmacud Crokes, it’s remarkable that St Vincents are the only team to win a title. Opponents of Nemo Rangers for the second time in a final in Croke Park next Monday (3.45), they achieved that distinction back in 1976 with a side including current manager Mickey Whelan and, other than going under to Castleisland Desmonds in 1985, they haven’t been back there since.

Contrast that with the success rate of Cork clubs. Apart from Nemo’s phenomenal record of seven wins, St Finbarrs were winners three times and another title was annexed by O’Donovan Rossa. And, as you would expect from a county with such a rich tradition, Kerry clubs have been to the forefront also. Apart from a win by divisional side East Kerry in the first final in 1971, the Andy Merrigan Cup has been captured by Austin Stacks, Laune Rangers, Desmonds and Dr Crokes.

The St Vincents line-up includes players from a number of outside counties – with ex-Kerry minor Micheál Ó Shea from Castlegregory partnering Hugh Mockler from Tipperary at midfield and two Mayo players also involved. The full-back on the team, Eoin Brady, is a son of Kevin Brady who won a medal with Nemo in 1979, but he is a Dublin native. What’s interesting is that Vincents were previously known for their ‘home-grown’ players, not that it brought them much success, even in the county championship.

It promises to be a fascinating contest, all the more intriguing because of the threat posed by James Masters and Tomas ‘Mossy’ Quinn in the respective attacks. Nemo lost two finals in a row before winning the last of their titles in 2003 and that was followed by a defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final by St Galls two years later. But, these blips apart, they have to be expected to live up to the club’s proud tradition.

Clearly, while Masters and Quinn have vital roles to play (indicated by their returns of 0-23 and 3-15 respectively, in the provincial and All-Ireland series), the team which emerges victorious will be the one which achieves the better balance on the day. Against Ballina, Nemo showed that they are as well equipped as any of their previous winning sides to triumph and, if Peter Morgan and Maurice McCarthy can be as effective, their superior experience should see them through.