Hard work pays as St Nicholas’ keep top status and reach last 16

St Nicholas 1-8 Clonakilty 0-7:

Pat O’Leary’s final whistle brought about raucous celebrations for the northsiders, who yet again ensured that senior status was retained and simultaneously booked their place in the last-16 draw.

St Nick’s are not unfamiliar with having to grind in order to stay senior — they haven’t won in the first round since 2007, and in 2012 and ’13 they had to win relegation play-offs — but manager Michael Brosnan felt that there were some benefits accruing from the high-wire act.