Nemo Rangers top group, face Clonakilty in Cork Premier SFC quarter-finals

Cronin and Connolly's nine-point haul enough to see off Carrigaline.

Luke Connolly: scored four points.

Cork Premier SFC: Nemo Rangers 0-15 Carrigaline 1-9.

IF their goal was a direct route to the Cork Premier SFC semi-final, it wasn't nearly enough from Nemo Rangers but they may be happy enough with the extra game after topping their group courtest of this unconvincing victory over Carrigaline.

The result at Pairc ui Rinn, where St Finbarrs saw off Douglas by seven points means it's the Togher men who go into the knockouts as the No 1 seed - Nemo will now prepare for a tricky-looking quarter-final against Clonakilty in a fortnight.

There were no shortage of early chances for both sides in Ballygarvan. Jack Horgan’s low-drilled effort off the left peg was well-stopped by Carrigaline keeper Callum Dungan. Moments later Carrigaline's Kevin O’Reilly found himself clean through on goal but he got under the ball and put it over the bar instead of his intended destination.

Brian Coakley, one of Carrigaline’s go-to men, couldn’t get into the game in the first quarter and failed with a couple of frees. He also failed to convert a glorious goal chance midway through the half after Callum Barrett’s brilliant long ball found him with no one to beat but the keeper.

Nemo added two points, both vigorously contested by Carrgaline players and management to give them a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

Two Brian Coakley frees either side of the break kept Carrigaline in touch and minutes into the second half wing-forward Barrett was involved impressively for Carrigaline again. This time he beat three Nemo players with a solo run and buried the ball past Michael Martin in the Nemo net to level the game.

However, Nemo's long-held composure and experience was now on show in abundance, the reigning champions never panicking as they put over five points on the bounce to take control of the tie once more. Mark Cronin and Luke Connelly led the charge, contributing a couple of scores each.

Afterwards Nemo manager Paul O Donovan was happy at topping the group despite not booking that semi-final spot: “When you’re in a rough group all you want to do is get out of it, and to top it is a bonus too so we’re delighted. We just have to prepare the best we can for the next two weeks.” 

O’Donovan is also aware though that there is room for improvement.

“We have to get better at the business end up the field where the scores are to be got. We need to be more focused and start converting the 7/10 chance as opposed to the 4/10 chance. If we can get that right we’re not far off being a good team”.

Scorers for Nemo: M Cronin (0-5, 2f), L Connelly (0-4, 2f), P Kerrigan (0-2), O McElligott, K Fulignati, J Horgan and G Sayers (0-1 each).

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Coakley (0-4, 3f), C Barrett (1-0), N Coakley and K O’Reilly (0-2 each), J McCarthy (0-1).

NEMO RANGERS: M Martin; K Histon, B Murphy, K O’Donovan; C Molloy, K Fulignati, J Horgan; B Cripps, A O’Donovan; G Sayers, P Kerrigan, C Horgan; M Cronin, R Corkery, L Connelly.

Subs: L Horgan for J Horgan (30), R Dalton for C Horgan (30), B O'Driscoll for R Corkery (48), O McElligott for P Kerrigan (52).

CARRIGALINE: C Dungan; N Quirke, I Sheerin, C O’Herlihy; C Murphy, C Barry, J McCarthy; K Kavanagh, E Ryle; C Barrett, N Coakley, B Pope; B Coakley, O Barry, K O’Reilly.

Subs: N O’Keefe for B Pope (40), P Mellet for K Kavanagh (48), K McCarthy for E Ryle (52).

Referee: Robert Whelan (Gleann na Laoi).