Strong second half sees Nemo overcome Ballincollig

After a mediocre first half, that left the sides tied at 0-3 each, Nemo upped the tempo of the game significantly on the resumption.

Fri, 26 Jul, 2024 - 21:40

John Coleman

McCarthy Insurance Cork PSFC: Nemo Rangers 0-11 Ballincollig 0-6

When it matters, Nemo Rangers tend to get the job done, and this was the case in Ballymaw as they defeated Ballincollig in the opening round of Group A in the McCarthy Insurance Cork PSFC.

After a mediocre first half, that left the sides tied at 0-3 each, Nemo upped the tempo of the game significantly on the resumption. Their old reliables all came to the fore with Alan O’Donovan outstanding at midfield while their entire half-back line also split the posts to supplement the usual menace of Paul Kerrigan and Mark Cronin up front, with Ross Corkery also showing plenty of promise Ballincollig did not lack endeavour, but they could not work the necessary opportunities and when they did threaten, Colin Molloy was there to stop them in their tracks.

A Kerrigan free put them ahead in the opening minute of the second half and they showed their intent on the resultant re-start with Cronin and Corkery forcing another free that Cronin converted. Sean O’Neill answered with a super score for Ballincollig, and it seemed that game of football might break out.

Nemo had other ideas, however, as they continued to bend the game to their will as they began to move the ball with a lot more pace and purpose. Kevin Fulignati and Kerrigan combined to set Corkery free for his second score before Corkery returned the favour, setting up Fulignati for a super point that put them 0-7 to 0-4 ahead.

Stephen Cronin then charged forward to make it double scores as a Nemo side that had only managed three points in 30 odd minutes now had kicked five in ten. The pace of the game then dropped, as Ballincollig probed and probed with Peter O’Neill working hard and Luke Fahy looking to come onto the ball at pace. However, they could not punch any significant holes in the Nemo defence.

A superb ’45 from Cian Dorgan brought them to within three going into the final quarter, but there was never any sense at all that there would be an upset. Points from Cronin and Kerrigan stretched their lead to five before wing back Ciarán McCartan put the cherry on top of a satisfactory win for the Trabeg side.

When, the sides met at this stage last year Nemo punctured Ballincollig’s ambitions with two early goals. There was no danger of that here. In what could be best described as a tepid opening half, there was very little to separate the sides.

As mentioned, they retired to the dressing rooms tied at 0-3 each. Nemo had five wides to Ballincollig’s four while the only sniff of a goal had come when in the seventh minute when a good pass from Paul Kerrigan put Alan O’Donovan in behind the Ballincollig defence. O’Donovan then squared to Oisín Whyte who palmed to the net, but unfortunately, for him, James Bermingham had adjudged him to have entered the square too early.

Whyte was making an impact, however, and two smart passes from him set up Corkery and Kevin O’Donovan for Nemo’s opening points. Cian Dorgan had cancelled out Corkery’s effort in the twelfth minute, before Fahy injected some pace and class into the game with a brilliant point to level the game at 0-2 each.

Mark Cronin then slipped Nemo ahead after being set up by Corkery before smart thinking from Evan Cooke allowed Sean O’Neill to level the game again with seven minutes to the break. Both sides then huffed and puffed to no avail up until the short whistle.

The second half belonged to Nemo as they look as ominous as ever. They will play Éire Óg when next time out while Ballincollig will have it all to do when they play Newcestown.

Scorers for Nemo: M Cronin (0-3, 0-2 frees), R Corkery and P Kerrigan (0-1 free) (0-2 each), K O’Donovan, C McCartan, K Fulignati and S Cronin (0-1 each).

Scorers for Ballincollig: C Dorgan (0-1 free) and S O’Neill (0-2), L Fahy and D O’Mahony (0-1 each).

NEMO RANGERS: MA Martin; K O’Donovan, C Molloy, E Nation; C McCartan, K Fulignati, S Cronin; A O’Donovan (c), B Cripps; L Horgan, R Dalton, O Whyte; R Corkery, M Cronin, P Kerrigan.

Subs: None made

BALLINCOLLIG: J Gibbons; N Galvin, L Jennings, C Moore; L Fahy, H Ahearne, JP Murphy; P O’Neill, D Desmond; C Dalton, D O’Mahony, E Cooke; D Dorgan, C Dorgan, S O’Neill.

Subs: S Murphy for Galvin (inj, 41), T O’Connell for Cooke (45), B Dore for D Dorgan (55), Cooke for O’Mahony (inj, 60)

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).