Cork SFC: how Castlehaven came out on top against Nemo Rangers
Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley celebrates at the final whistle. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
A first half sorely lacking in bite ended with Nemo a point ahead, 0-8 to 0-7. Not the worst outcome for Castlehaven facing into the breeze but they were not at all happy.
Mark Collins signposted that they forced only one turnover in the first half and that came in stoppage time when Brian Hurley robbed a dawdling Barry Cripps for Michael Hurley’s closing point.
“We just didn’t get enough contact on, we were very standoffish, and didn’t put Nemo under enough pressure,” said Collins. They answered that charge in the second half, led by their captain.
Of their nine points after the break, six came from turnovers and one from disrupting a Nemo kick-out.
Their opening score arrived after Thomas O’Mahony intercepted a pass on his own 21. After three minutes of possession, Brian Hurley landed his first from play. Things were clicking into gear.
Hurley punished another Nemo giveaway before corner-back O’Mahony rose highest under a Micheál Aodh Martin kick-out that led to Michael Hurley’s fourth.
Two more times, they were hauled back within a point. In the first instance, Jack Cahalane twice knocked the ball loose from Nemo hands for Rory Maguire’s point.
Then, Mark Collins’ diving blockdown on Paul Kerrigan was followed by Andrew Whelton diving on the ball to win a free. They moved downfield for Brian Hurley’s fourth.
As Nemo gave chase, the Haven picked them off. Collins’ interceptions turned defence into attack for Conor O’Driscoll and Jack Cahalane points.
By contrast, only one of Nemo’s points came from a turnover in the second half.
Across the entire contest, the Haven had 14 turnovers to Nemo’s 10 and converted that into eight points compared to Nemo’s 0-3.
Castlehaven reckoned they might not have Damien and Conor Cahalane for the full hour so their use of the bench was always going to be pivotal.
In the end, Conor replaced his brother at half-time and gave his usual whole-hearted contribution. Against the Barrs, he charged forward to assist a couple of points. Here, he pushed them two ahead with a stylish 40th-minute effort.
Conor O’Driscoll came on in the 46th minute and quickly had a pair of attempts at the posts, converting his first.
Their latest rising star Micheál Maguire was introduced in the 52nd minute and he wrapped it up with the clincher at the end of stoppage time.
He wheeled away in celebration as the bench lined the sideline in gleeful anticipation of the full-time whistle.
Castlehaven may not have scored a goal in their last three games but they didn’t need to with Darragh Cahalane’s goal so secure at the other end.
The Haven stopper hasn’t conceded a goal since the first half of their group-stage opener against Clonakilty. That blip was the only green flag they allowed all championship.
Nemo’s only chances came through hopeful stoppage-time efforts from Conor Horgan. Cahalane tipped away one and the other flew high and wide.
Nemo have hit the net the last six times they claimed the Andy Scannell Cup but Haven have held them out in back-to-back goalless finals.
4. Finishing
The Haven and Nemo both created a similar number of shots across the hour but while Nemo converted half, the West Cork men ranked closer to 70%.
Michael Hurley kicked four from four, while Brian Hurley and Jack Cahalane kept the umpires busy too.
Ronan Dalton and Bryan Hayes were Nemo’s leading lights with five first-half points between them but neither got a shot off thereafter.
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