Clonakilty 0-14

Nemo Rangers 2-11

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

CLONAKILTY’S hopes of making this year’s McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 county football league final were dented by Nemo Rangers.

The West Cork club began their penultimate league fixture level at the top of the table. Yet, it was Nemo who travelled to Ahamilla and registered only their third league win.

The Brewery Town will head into their concluding fixture, away to Éire Óg, needing a win and hoping other results go their way if a league final berth is to be attained.

‘Last year, getting to a league final would have been one of our targets. This year, not so much,’ Clonakilty coach Eoin Ryan told The Southern Star.

‘I think we’re using the league to get as many fellas as we can out on the field. The important thing for us was to survive in Division 1 and we’ve done that.

‘So, whether we get to the league final or not, it’s actually not part of our preparation for this year’s championship but if we do, we do.’

A disappointing first quarter ended with the sides level at 0-2 apiece. Darragh Gough and Des Kenneally scored for Clon. Ronan Dalton and Jack O’Brien replied for Nemo.

Clonakilty were punished for a rare defensive lapse after 21 minutes. Ronan Dalton seized upon a loose Clonakilty pass and rounded the goalkeeper before finding the net at the second attempt.

Ross Corkery added a point before Alan O’Donovan punched to the net as Nemo threatened to pull away. O’Donovan kicked another point before Corkery’s free for a three-up infringement made it 2-5 to 0-2. Clonakilty finished the half positively with Ross Mannix and a Jack O’Mahony two-pointer leaving two in it at the interval.

A flurry of scores at the beginning of the second period saw Mannix and Dalton raise white flags at either end. Ben Ridgeway and Conor Horgan swapped scores before Dan Darragh’s point reduced the deficit, 2-7 to 0-8, with 20 minutes remaining.

Ross Corkery restored Nemo’s six-point advantage but Clon hit a purple patch immediately after.

Darragh Gough, Seán White and Ridgeway scores made it a two-point game with five minutes left. Nemo goalkeeper Donagh O’Leary steadied nerves before a hotly debated three-up infringement saw Ross Corkery edge his side four clear. Conor Horgan converted another free deep into injury-time. Ross Mannix replied with a superb two-pointer late on but Nemo Rangers held out.

Scorers 

Clonakilty: R Mannix 0-4 (1 2pt); D Gough 0-3 (1f); J O’Mahony (2pt), B Ridgeway 0-2 each, D Kenneally, D Darragh, S White 0-1 each.

Nemo Rangers: R Dalton 1-2; R Corkery 0-4 (2f); A O’Donovan 1-1; C Horgan 0-2 (fs); J O’Brien, D O’Leary (f) 0-1 each.

Clonakilty: J Leahy; D Lowney, D Peet, N Barrett; J O’Mahony, T Clancy (captain), C Kenneally; B Ridgeway, B White; D Kenneally, D Ó Sé, C Ryan; D Gough, R Mannix, S McEvoy.

Subs: D Darragh for B White (ht); S White for N Barrett (43); A Cullinane for C Ryan (45).

Nemo Rangers: D O’Leary; N O’Shea, M Hill, C Moore; L Horgan, S Cronin (captain), E Nation; A O’Donovan, B Murphy; O Whyte, R Dalton, B Cripps; R Corkery, C Horgan, J O’Brien.

Subs: C Shalloe for R Dalton (50); K Fulignati for E Nation (52).

Referee: Liam O’Shea (Carbery Rangers).