'People didn’t think we were going to be here' - Pride for O'Dwyer as Nemo get over line

The Trabeg outfit went one better against the Barrs in the Leeside decider. 

Stephen Cronin, captain lifts the cup after the win for Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Premier Senior football

Nemo know-how does not and has never allowed for doubt. To do so would go against the ingrained ability of Nemo players not to panic, no matter what the on-field situation.

Doubt was again absent from their corner on the concluding Sunday of Cork senior football. They created the early conditions where the potential for self-doubt never knocked on their door until well into the fourth quarter. And when it eventually did, they ignored and carried on.

Off the field, though, doubt was an unwelcome and unwanted presence early in this campaign. The factors behind its presence called into question Nemo’s continuation beyond the group phase. Its presence questioned their capacity to challenge beyond the group phase.

Nemo’s first championship game following last October’s third consecutive county final defeat was a comprehensive beating by Newcestown on the last weekend of July. Entering the final quarter at Cloughduv, the Trabeg outfit trailed by 10 points.

If three consecutive county final losses was uncharted territory for the famed black and green, further new ground was such a first-round non-showing in the company of opposition who are not even part of Cork football’s big three.

Corner-back Colin Molloy missed the Newcestown defeat because of injury. The physio list began to swell worryingly in the weeks after. Heading into their must-win final-round group outing against Valley Rovers, they were minus the starting quartet of Barry Cripps, playmaker Mark Cronin, Bryan Hayes, and Conor Horgan.

And even though the necessary points were mined, doubt surrounding this group refused to cease lurking about the place. It is why they found themselves in the most unusual position of firm underdogs travelling down to Clonakilty for their quarter-final clash with Castlehaven.

“At the start of the year people had us written off, especially after the Newcestown game. People didn’t think we were going to be here,” said Nemo boss Robbie O’Dwyer.

“You have to look back at what happened last year and the year before. You just think, are we going to get over the line at all? Are we going to win the game? And look, I just think if we didn't get over the line today, maybe there'd be more doubts creeping in.

“But look, that's finished with now. We've won the game, and we're just delighted.” 

That doubt has given way to delirium is attributable to the playing collective and nobody else.

“They’re a phenomenal bunch of players and their hunger and drive is unbelievable,” O’Dwyer added.

Said hunger and drive manifested itself in a multitude of departments over the hour. They pummeled the Barrs' middle-third giants in the opening half. They won the first six restarts the Barrs sent long and returned four scores - one of which was orange - back between Darragh Newman’s posts. In total, they claimed nine of the Barrs’ 13 first-half kick-outs.

Steven Sherlock was the Barrs’ 2-30 top-scorer arriving into Páirc Ui Chaoimh. He was held scoreless. Rickey Barrett delivered a semi-final 1-1. He too was held scoreless.

“We know Kieran [Histon] what he’s capable of. We knew he had a job to do, and we knew he was going to do it. We were quite confident in that,” O’Dwyer opined of Sherlock’s non-existent involvement.

And lastly, when the Barrs came within the minimum for the first time in proceedings on 57 minutes, Nemo's ice-cold response was to throw over four of the next five scores. Good riddance to doubt and final day disappointment.

“There was bound to be a kick in the Barrs. They pushed us right to the collar, but then we composed ourselves and we got a breach. It still could have gone anyway in the last couple of minutes. I’m just delighted with the players because when the pressure was on, they composed themselves. They dug it out, worked their way up the field, and got a couple of scores,” the manager continued.

“I just can't admire the players enough for everything they've done, and their time and commitment given to this. It's an amateur sport, as you know, and the amount of work these fellas have put in to get to where we needed to get to and then get over the line today is magnificent.” Captain Stephen Cronin spoke repeatedly of relief. Understandable too, such was the backdrop of the 2023, ‘24, and ‘25 near-misses.

“There is huge relief. There was huge emotion. You could see it on the pitch. Jesus, I was struggling to speak lifting that Cup,” said the centre-back.

“Having lost the last three [finals], without even realising it, [there is] that pent up emotion. It’s great to be able to break that and enjoy it.”