Kirwan claims six-point swing was decisive factor

WHEN a manager achieves senior championship glory in his first year in charge it is usually a noteworthy achievement.

It’s never easy to settle into a job and have such success so quickly, but at Nemo Rangers, where expectations are always high, Eddie Kirwan didn’t have too much of a choice.

Having worked as a selector during the reign of predecessor Ephie Fitzgerald, however, Kirwan knew what was expected of him, but at the same time was not taking anything for granted.

“Expectations are high but you don’t expect to win anything,” he said after yesterday’s county final win over St Finbarr’s.

“The league in Cork is very competitive, the top six teams in the league were all in the latter stages of the championship. It’s very tight all through the year. The Barrs had a few battles, we probably played against one of the top teams in Clon in the semi-final so you know there’ll be nothing easy.

“Today the main difference was Bríain Morgan making a save and then us going up and getting a goal, that’s a six-point swing and it was ultimately what the game boiled down to.”

Down 0-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes, it looked as if Nemo would be in for a tough afternoon, though a quick volley of scores saw them turn that scoreline on its head, Paul Kerrigan’s goal kick-starting the comeback.

That Nemo kept their composure when things seemed bad was crucial, in the eyes of Kirwan.

“We were seven points down to the Barr’s in the league and won that game, so you can’t panic,” he says.

“You’ve just got to make changes if things aren’t going right, if you’re good enough things will come right and if you’re not then they won’t.

“We brought a few guys on, those changes worked out, not panicking was the key. They still came back at us though, they got a goal and almost got another, it’s nip-and-tuck at this level.

That Nemo are so often on the winning side of that line is down to more than just good fortune, however. While the starting 15 is loaded with quality players, that the likes of Martin Cronin, James Masters and Dylan Mehigan can be summoned from the bench is also a huge plus for them.

“There is this strength there, that’s a fact,” Kirwan said.

“We were able to call on some very good players and they all managed to make a difference. Our level never dropped, which was crucial, we kept ahead, we’re very lucky to have such a strong squad.”

The strength of that squad will now be tested further as Nemo attempt to plot a successful journey through the Munster championship and, hopefully, beyond.

They are aided by the draw giving them a bye into the provincial semi-final on November 21, when they will play the winners of the tie between Waterford’s Stradbally or Doonbeg (Clare). Kirwan was not fully prioritising such commitments when asked how confident he was of winning Munster, though.

“I’m confident of getting through tonight and getting tomorrow and we’ll see after that, we might have to re-assess things on Tuesday!” he laughed.

“On a serious note though, it’s tough. Munster campaigns are dour, you could be down in Doonbeg or somewhere like that, there are no easy places to go really.

“Dr Crokes are on the other side of the draw, they’re looking good but that’s not something we’ll be worrying about straightaway. It’s a different campaign, a war of attrition to a big extent, but we’ll be ready.”