Cork Premier IFC: Nemo withstand remarkable Fermoy fightback in seven-goal thriller

Fermoy had just three points on the board and trailed by 18 at half-time but fought back, eventually losing by six 

Dara O'Sullivan scored 2-2 for Nemo Rangers in the victory over Fermoy. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Cork Premier IFC: Nemo Rangers 4-13 (4-2-9) Fermoy 3-10 (3-1-8) 

Nemo got the better of Fermoy in their McCarthy Insurance PIFC clash at Glenville on Friday night.

At half-time, few would have believed what the final score turned out to be as Nemo had totally dominated the first half and led by 3-12 to 0-3 at the break.

But full credit to Fermoy they came roaring into contention after the break as they made a few positional changes that paid off.

Former Cork star, Tomas Clancy, pushed up the pitch and Shane Aherne came out around the centre of the pitch to start winning a lot of the tussles for possession there.

Arlen Aherne came on at half-time and he also made a difference to the Fermoy, who must be left wondering if only they had played like that for the first 30 minutes.

Just two minutes in and Nemo got the first of their three first half goals, when Dylan O’Connor played Callum O’Neill in to score.

They added a point from the restart with Dave Calnan on target as Fermoy couldn’t get a foothold in the game.

With four minutes gone Nemo had their second goal, with Dara O’Sullivan scoring, as the Trabeg side led by 2-1 to no score.

A minute later and Fermoy got off the mark when Shane Aherne was on target, with David Lardner adding a second from a free.

With eight minutes gone Nemo increased their lead, with Jack Coogan scoring. Jack Horgan added another as Nemo were in total control.

It went from bad to worse for Fermoy as Nemo got their third goal, in the 10th minute from a defensive mistake.

Nemo latched on to a loose restart to see Conor O’Donovan set up O’Sullivan for another goal, to make it 3-3 to 0-2.

Martin Brennan got Fermoy’s third point, after 14 minutes and this proved to be their last score of the half.

O’Neill was on target again for the city side, and they could have had another goal, but Dale Dawson saved well from Horgan to deny him a green flag.

O’Sullivan increased Nemo’s lead, with two in a row from O’Donovan stretching it further.

With five minutes to half time we had the first two pointer when Nemo keeper Donagh O’Leary scored from a free.

Matthew Keenan increased Nemo’s lead to 3-10 to 0-3, before O’Leary got his second two pointer, from another free, to see his side lead by 3-12 to 0-3 at the break.

Arlen Aherne got the first score of the second half, with Nemo replying with their fourth goal, this time Jack Coogan finding the back of the net.

O’Sullivan added a point in the 37th minute but this proved to be Nemo’s last score of the game.

Fermoy then upped their game considerably with David Lardner goaling to start the comeback, He added a point before he got another goal, to make it 2-6 to 4-13, after 42 minutes.

Shane Aherne and Martin Brennan added points, before Fionn Lardner kicked a two pointer for Fermoy.

Arlen Aherne got their third goal with the last touch of the game as his side must be left wondering what might have been.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: D O’Sullivan 2-2 (2f), C O’Neill 1-1, J Coogan 1-1 D O’Leary 0-4 (2 2pt f), C O’Donovan 0-2, D Calnan, J Horgan, M Keenan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Fermoy: D Lardner 2-2 (2f), A Aherne 1-2, S Aherne, M Brennan, F Lardner (1 2pt) 0-2 each.

NEMO RANGERS: D O’Leary; C Molloy, C Coughlan, A Cronin; C O’Neill, E Nation, D Coughlan; E Kelly, D Calnan; O White, D O’Connor, J Horgan; D O’Sullivan, C O’Donovan, J Coogan.

Subs: M Keenan for J Horgan (16 inj), C Yellend for C O’Neill (46), P Kerrigan for J Coogan (50), S O’Dwyer for A Cronin (54).

FERMOY: D Dawson; J Molloy, B Daly, P O’Neill; F Lardner, T Clancy, M Brennan; P Murphy, J O’Brien; D Daly, G O’Callaghan, E Healy; B Twomey, S Aherne, D Lardner.

Subs: A Aherne for B Daly (ht), C Fitzpatrick for E Healy (46).

Referee: Brian Crowley, Castlehaven.