Old hands Nemo likely to have the edge
Nemo Rangers’ appearance in tomorrow’s Cork SFC final has a Groundhog Day feel to it; they are bidding for a fabled four-in-a-row and the fact that it is their eighth final appearance in the last 10 years underlines the stunning consistency of the Trabeg outfit.
Douglas is the heart-warming tale of the club who skirted with relegation last season and have risen brilliantly in this campaign to their first-ever county senior final. The fact that all that separates the two club grounds is the six lanes of the South Link road adds to the intrigue.
If you concentrate on the statistics of cups lifted and finals reached, then this match is a closed book. But this final cannot be viewed in such basic terms, despite the ridiculous chasm that exists in the bookmaker odds. Douglas have a very real chance of success here with a choice of causes for optimism. They have four good wins under their belt this summer, flamboyant successes like their win over Naomh Aban and determined battles like their victory over Ilen Rovers.
Their defence is as miserly as they come, not a goal conceded all season and only once has any team reached double figures in points scored against them. Eoin Cadogan is in outstanding form at full-back, while Frank Tobin and Ray Keating have shone as well. While in attack, the Ilen replay showed they have found the right mix in their starting sextet with Shane McCarthy and Mark Harrington the lethal duo.
What of Nemo? They meandered their way to another final, with some blistering performances and other occasions where they needed all their wits to survive. They had excellent second-halves against Carbery Rangers and in the Castlehaven replay, but there were rocky periods in the drawn Castlehaven match and early on against Duhallow.
Their attacking prowess has been critical with a different forward stepping up to lead the way in different ties. Paul Kerrigan against Carbery Rangers, James Masters in the Castlehaven replay while Barry O’Driscoll was the go-to guy against Duhallow. If one clicks tomorrow, Douglas are in trouble.
If Douglas are to triumph there need to be certain elements to their performance. A goal is crucial yet they have not struck the net since the 53rd minute of their third-round tie with Naomh Aban in June. The Douglas defence needs to remain watertight against the best attack they have faced all year, while it’s probably going to need the input of Alan Barry to win the midfield sector.
The derby element to the game has been downplayed by both camps but for Nemo a defeat here would spook them for generations. That prospect will place them on their guard and in the last quarter their experience will be invaluable. It’s not going to be an emphatic success, but it should be a familiar success.
Verdict: Nemo by three.
