Ross developing a habit of winning

By Cois Farraige Saturday March 6th, 2010

Carbery

Rangers 0-16

Nemo Rangers 2-7



“It’s early days yet,” said a Nemo player after this cracking Tadhg Crowley Cup, senior football, final in Clonakilty on Sunday last, and there may be some truth in that, but on the evidence of this game former kingpins Nemo Rangers have a lot of work to do if they want to regain the Andy Scannell Cup while victors, Carbery Rangers, will face into the new season in buoyant mood.

This was a marvellous display by Carbery Rangers. Having already won the Kelleher Shield before Christmas, they are intent on winning every piece of silverware available to them and they are now playing with the style and panache that took them to All-Ireland honours in intermediate a few years back.

The only surprise about this result was that Ross didn’t win by much more in the end. So completely in control were they in the second half, cruising into a six-point lead, that one wondered if the real Nemo had turned up at all.

A momentary lapse of concentration in the 60th minute saw them conceding a goal to a James Masters’ free and their supporters were living on their nerves in injury time. It should never have come to that, so superior were the West Cork men.

A strong breeze into the town goal dominated this game and Ross laid the foundations for this win when facing into the elements in the first half. With Mícheál O’Sullivan and Michael Mennis grabbing control at midfield, Brian Shanahan prominent at centre back and John O’Rourke rampant at wing forward, Ross hit the ground running and after John Hayes had swapped early points with Brian Twomey, John O’Rourke kicked two superb points into the strong breeze, to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes.

Willie Morgan, doing well on the forty for Nemo, kicked a point, and Ross were happy to be in front by a point at the end of the first quarter.

Nemo finally began to settle with Peter Morgan impressing at wing back and midfielders Dylan Mehigan and, especially, David Niblock, coming more into the picture. In the 18th minute they struck for a goal out of the blue when a long ball by James Masters, who was well-mastered by Sean Hayes, was diverted to the Ross net by the seasoned Martin Cronin.

A minute later Declan Hayes was denied a goal by a fine block from Willie Morgan and when Masters pointed, it seemed that all Ross’s good early work might come to naught.

However, showing great maturity, they settled again and after John Hayes had swapped points with Willie Morgan, they finished the half in a blaze with three great scores from John O’Rourke, fist, following a fine run by John Hayes, wing back Stephen Murray and John Hayes.

It was all square at the break, 0-7 to 1-4, and Ross had the breeze to their backs in the second half, although it lessened a good deal in the third quarter.

Realising that the game was in danger of slipping away from them, Nemo restarted in a much more urgent mood, after John Hayes had shoved Ross back in front. Points from Alan Morgan and Paul Kerrigan, inconspicuous on the day, gave Nemo the lead again but there was no panic in the Ross ranks.

With the full back line of Seán Hayes, Gearóid Ryan and, especially, Paudie Hodnett, in control at the back, Ross surged forward in waves of attacks. Séamus Hayes, involved with UCC all the week, was much more energetic in the second half and he kicked the equaliser before the talented John O’Rourke shoved them in front in the 40th minute and they weren’t to be caught again.

James Fitzpatrick, very involved up front, and Séamus Hayes pointed to open a three-point gap by the end of the third quarter, 0-12 to 1-6.

Totally in control now Ross looked the class act as Nemo struggled to stay in contention, making numerous substitutions, but despite the best efforts of Mehigan and Niblock at midfield, they lacked leadership on the pitch and never really looked like hauling back the Ross lead. When Mícheál O’Sullivan kicked a mighty point from 60m and corner back, Paudie Hodnett, rampaged forward to raise the white flag, it seemed all over, with only the margin of victory to be decided.

To their credit, Nemo never gave up the chase but looked very limited indeed as they managed only a single point from a Masters’ free.

Classy Ross responded with two sublime points from John Hayes, a class performer on the day as he kicked six points, and even though Masters’ goal from a late, late free, set the nerves on edge, in truth Ross were in a different class on the day and on a score of 0-16 to 2-7, they fully deserved to take home the Tadhg Crowley Cup.

There was good reason for rejoicing as Ger Lane, PRO of the County Board, presented the cup to victorious captain Séamus Hayes, and on this form Ross will take a lot of beating this season.

Referee: Pat O’Leary, Kilmurry.

Scorers – Carbery Rangers: John Hayes 0-6, 0-2 frees, John O’Rourke 0-4, Séamus Hayes 0-2, Paudie Hodnett 0-1, Stephen Murray 0-1, Mícheál O’Sullivan 0-1, James Fitzpatrick 0-1 free. Nemo Rangers: James Masters 1-2, 1-1 frees, Martin Cronin 1-0, Willie Morgan 0-2, Brian Twomey 0-1, Paul Kerrigan 0-1, Alan Morgan 0-1.

Carbery Rangers: Maurice Maloney, Seán Hayes, Gearóid Hayes, Paudie Hodnett, Stephen Murray, Brian Shanahan, Stephen Hicks, Mícheál O’Sullivan, Michael Mennis, John O’Rourke, James Fitzpatrick, Declan Hayes, John Hayes, Séamus Hayes, Niall Hayes.

Nemo Rangers: Brian Morgan, Niall O’Sullivan, Brian O’Regan, Darragh Breen, Peter Morgan, Paul Brophy, Colin O’Brien, Dylan Mehigan, David Niblock, Martin Cronin, Willie Morgan, Brian Twomey, James Masters, Paul Kerrigan, Alan Morgan. Subs: Shane Martin, Aidan O’Reilly, Alan Cronin Jnr., Shane Marshall.