Cork football final player ratings: Briain Murphy brilliant for Nemo Rangers from box to box
STAR MAN: Nemo Rangers' Briain Murphy celebrates with supporters with the trophy. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile.
Solid in general. Pulled off a fine save from Wigginton-Barrett on 26 mins and while the Barrs won their share of his kickouts it was usually from breaks, rarely caught clean.
Shadowed his man diligently all through, and won a key break after the Barrs had scored 1-2 without reply.
Actually ended up on the opposite square to win a free for the game’s opening score, and generally covered his own well. Looked like he was fouled rather than tackled in the lead-up to the Barrs’ first goal.
Okay, so he didn’t see much of the ball, but so what when it meant the county’s leading marksman and All-Star nominee Steven Sherlock barely saw it too – and was remarkably held scoreless.
Had a fine duel with William Buckley, his fifth-minute block on the dual star signalling Nemo’s intent for the game.
Crucially provided the assist for Nemo’s goal, keeping his eye on his namesake Mark’s ballooned attempt at a two-pointer. Used the ball well all through.
Another tidy halfback in possession, providing the assist for Nemo’s first score from play in both halves.
All four midfielders on view here were heroic, not least O’Donovan, though he’d have the least senior inter-county experience of the lot. Didn’t let a couple of wayward shots or long foot-passes deter him, bouncing back to kick two fine points off his left foot, while he was relentless winning and showing for ball.
Brilliant, from pillar to post and box to box. Stopped numerous Barrs’ attacks, most memorably getting back to stop Brian Hayes getting a shot off on Micheál Aodh. Won multiple kickouts clean and on the ground, and then used the ball magnificently, laying on several assists and kicking a spendid two-pointer against the wind.
Underlined what a crafty, classy footballer he is. Scored five of the game’s opening 10 points as he kept swinging from two-point range and tapping over the frees, while he played a delightful ball from the corner to set up Ronan Dalton’s late point that put Nemo’s lead back out to two.
Palmed home Nemo’s goal and carried the ball well.
Another workmanlike performance, kicking a neat point at the start of the second half before handing over the baton to Conor Horgan.
Struggled to convert all his possession into scores – was only on one point going into injury-time when he could have had 2-2 – but more than compensated by putting in two magnificent track-back tackles in the last quarter and then having the bottle to take on and kick the game’s penultimate score.
: Came out the field to use the ball and was particularly an excellent outlet in the last quarter to finish with three points from play.
Scored a terrific point in the third quarter, coming outfield to make a huge relieving run and put it over the bar.
Neville O’Shea, Conor Horgan and Dara O’Sullivan were thrown in when the game was on the line but instantly got to the pitch of the game, constantly seeking out the ball and using it intelligently to help Nemo close out the game.
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Kickouts consistently sent towards the middle third and solid for the most part, even with Nemo’s supremacy. Caught for one short kickout which gifted Rangers a point.
A solid showing throughout, marking and keeping Bryan Hayes shackled for much of the contest.
Tough time across the hour. Caught on a couple of occasions and forced to remain on his toes by Ronan Dalton.
Very fortunate not to concede a penalty in the first half, with Nemo only getting a free for the foul, but was otherwise solid in keeping Ross Corkery’s influence to the minimum.
Spent much of the game marshalling Luke Horgan and did a decent job across the hour.
Outstanding display for the Barrs. Assisted 1-2, made a crucial block to stop a point and was a big factor in the Togher side’s second-half resurgence.
Quiet in the opening period but really came into the game in the second period. Assisted 0-1 and was big on the kickouts.
Had a couple of uncharacteristic wides but was so prominent. The Barrs would be lost without his work-rate, and Maguire chipped in 0-1, assisted 0-2 and was involved in another 1-1.
Shared a brilliant battle with Briain Murphy across the hour, both while at midfield and full-forward. Assisted 0-2 and took his goal brilliantly.
Quiet throughout the opening period as the Barrs struggled to create anything. Egan was the first man to be withdrawn.
A couple of good points, and showed good work-rate across the hour.
Brightest spark in the forwards for the Barrs. Three points and was involved in the second goal. Only one miss from four.
The pre-game talk hinged on whether Nemo could find an answer to Steven Sherlock. Kieran Histon answered that call and kept him scoreless from three efforts, one of which was a two-point free from outside the arc. Still, he’s had another excellent championship and ends it with 2-30.
Finished with 1-2 but could have been 2-1, only for a great save from Micheál Aodh. Very lively for the Barrs.
Struggled to exert influence against a very strong Nemo defence, a testament to Nemo’s defending given the form the Cork U20 has brought. Also held scoreless.
A phenomenal two-point effort and another point after as the Barrs briefly looked like they might turn it around. As great an impact from the bench as they could have hoped for from Murray.
Brought in to replace Conor Dennehy and was solid.
Late change.
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