Patrick Kelly: Brave and smart, Nemo drew on traditional final knowhow

30th October 2022 Nemo Rangers players and supporters celebrate after defeating St. Finbarr's in the Bon Secours Cork County Premier Senior Football Championship final at at Pairc Ui Chaoimh . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Going into yesterday’s final I felt that St Finbarr's had been operating at a higher level of intensity than anybody else in the county, Nemo Rangers included, over the past two seasons, and that this would be enough to power them over the line for a famous double. Nemo, as they have done time and time again, proved why it takes a brave, if not foolish, man to bet against them in finals. They produced their best display of the year when it was needed most.

Right from the off Nemo were on it. They got everything spot on from match-ups to their tactical approach. This was the first time since their opening encounter in July against Castlehaven that a team hadn’t gone with what could be described as defensive tactics against them. Newcestown, Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers and to a lesser extent ourselves, Ballincollig, paid them the respect of dropping numbers and looking to stifle their attacking threats. St Finbarr's, as expected, went toe to toe with Nemo and as a result we were treated to a traditional Nemo masterclass of accurate kick passing and lovely forward interplay.