Mark Cronin the hero as Nemo Rangers book spot in another final  

Cronin’s point arrived 30 seconds after Duhallow midfielder Mark Ellis had punched the ball to the net to level proceedings in injury time

Mark Cronin of Nemo Rangers in action against Micheal Mahoney of Duhallow during the Cork Premier SFC semi-final. Cronin kicked an injury-time winner for the defending champions. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Cork Premier SFC: Nemo Rangers 0-14 Duhallow 2-7

In a game that swayed hither and thither for 63 minutes, it took Nemo just 34 seconds at the death to remind us exactly why they wear the title of county champions.

Having been put to the pin of their collar for the first time this season, Nemo looked as if they were going to be dragged into an extra-time scrap after Duhallow midfielder Mark Ellis punched to the net on 63 minutes to tie this semi-final for the sixth time. But instead of accepting the seemingly inevitable extra-time, goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin immediately put the ball back in play and off went Nemo in search of a winner.

Possession was worked to Jack Horgan in front of the main stand and he proceeded to spray a perfectly weighted pass to Mark Cronin in the right corner. The young forward turned inside his marker before swinging over the winner with his left boot, exactly 34 seconds after Ellis' fisted effort had hit the net at the far end.

Duhallow were unable to fashion another equalising score, their campaign ending at the hands of Nemo for the third time in four years. This was far and away the closest they have come of Cork’s dominant force in recent times, but once again, the divisional men came out the wrong side of the result.

To say they were crestfallen at the final whistle doesn’t half do justice to the collective disappointment of Padraig Kearns’ panel.

Across the other side of the field, Nemo smiles - and their passage to the county final - had been hard earned.

“We could have played the conditions a bit better, but, look, we are in a final. Whether it was by one point or 10 points, we are in a final and that is where we set out to be at the start of the year,” said manager Paul O’Donovan.

The winning manager was full of praise for the manner in which his charges responded to the setback of conceding an injury-time goal.

Seamus Hickey of Duhallow scores his sides first goal, netting past Michael Aodh Martin. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

“Micheál Aodh had the ball out on the tee within seconds. He put it out to the wing and we worked it from there. Jack gave a great ball into Mark and Mark showed great composure to finish. When I saw him turning in, I was saying I hope he doesn't go for a goal, but he did the right thing.

“After their goal, I asked the linesman how long is left. He said, ‘there is 20 minutes left now’. He was wrong, we showed the composure and got the score.” Nemo enjoyed numerical advantage from the 47th minute onward, Donncha O’Connor’s black card following the yellow he picked up in the first-half. His sending-off arrived directly after a Duhallow 1-1 sent last year’s beaten finalists, who were playing into the teeth of a near gale, 1-7 to 0-7 in front.

Séamus Hickey supplied the goal after Ronan Dalton had been turned over, with Hickey then fisting over an O’Connor free. That 46th minute point, however, was to prove their last score until Ellis’ green flag 17 minutes later.

Nemo gathered themselves after the concession of this 1-1, reeling off six points in-a-row to lead by 0-13 to 1-7 heading into injury-time. Paul Kerrigan and impressive sub Conor Horgan both landed a pair of points during this comeback burst, with Luke Connolly claiming and converting a pivotal mark.

They were again rocked by a Duhallow goal thereafter. But their response was superb and their reward is to move within one hour of back-to-back county titles.

The first-half was a far more drab encounter, Duhallow failing to take full advantage of the elements. They did lead 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, but three wides and two further efforts dropped short meant their advantage was nowhere near as sizable as it could have been.

The divisional side, who had a number of players in club action on Saturday, took 12 minutes to open their account, Paul Walsh the provider, and did not lead for the first time until the 26th minute, a Donncha O’Connor free the last of a Duhallow three-in-a-row spell.

“I was delighted with our first-half against the elements,” said O’Donovan.

On they march.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: M Cronin (0-4, 0-2 frees); P Kerrigan (0-3); C Horgan (0-2, 0-1 mark), L Connolly (0-2, 0-1 mark, 0-1 ‘45); J Horgan, B O’Driscoll, C O’Brien (0-1 each).

Scorers for Duhallow: M Ellis, Séamus Hickey (1-1 each); D O’Connor (0-2, 0-1 free); P Walsh, C O’Callaghan, F O’Connor (0-1 each).

Nemo Rangers: M Aodh Martin; A Cronin, K Histon, B Cripps; K O’Donovan, S Cronin, J Horgan; P Morgan, J McDermott; C O’Brien, R Dalton, B O’Driscoll; M Cronin, L Connolly, P Kerrigan.

Subs: C Horgan for Dalton (43), A O’Reilly for Cripps (47); A O’Donovan for Morgan (48).

Duhallow: P Doyle (Knocknagree); J McLoughlin (Kanturk), D O’Mahony (Knocknagree), M Mahoney (Knocknagree); K Cremin (Boherbue), Shane Hickey (Millstreet), C O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe); P Walsh (Kanturk), M Ellis (Millstreet); F O’Connor (Knocknagree), E McSweeney (Knocknagree), B Daly (Newmarket); J O’Connor (Boherbue), D O’Connor (Ballydesmond), Séamus Hickey (Rockchapel).

Subs: A Browne (Newmarket) for F O’Connor (42); C O’Keeffe (Newmarket) for Hickey (59).

Referee: A Long