St Finbarr’s 1-14 | Nemo Rangers 1-13
St Finbarr’s are the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football Champions after a thrilling one-point victory over city rivals Nemo Rangers in front of a crowd of 6,949.
Substitute Cillian Myers Murray struck the winning point in the 62nd minute to secure the Togher club’s 11th county title and, crucially, their first final victory over the famed Trabeg club, having lost their four previous final meetings.
Nemo Rangers, seeking redemption after back-to-back final defeats, took a two-point lead at the break, 1-9 to 0-10, after a pulsating first half. The Barrs had initially led, but a well-taken goal from Kevin O’Donovan, set up by Mark Cronin, helped Nemo seize the momentum. Crucially, Steven Sherlock’s free right before the whistle cut the deficit from four points to two.
The second half was a different affair. Playing against the wind, The Barrs dominated the third quarter, holding Nemo scoreless. The crucial score came when Sherlock fed Rickey Barrett, who unselfishly squared the ball for Man of the Match Brian Hayes to palm to the net, putting the Barrs in front. A point from Cork hurler Ethan Twomey stretched the lead to 1-12 to 1-9.
Nemo battled back, sparked by a Mark Cronin free, and they clawed their way to parity in injury time when Conor Horgan landed a superb two-point score. However, St Finbarr’s had the final word. From the resulting kickout, substitutes Enda Dennehy and Eoin McGreevy combined to set up Myers Murray, who coolly fired over the winner. Nemo had one last chance, but Horgan’s late effort struck the post.
Scorers
Scorers for St Finbarr’s: Steven Sherlock 0-5 (1 2pt, 2fs), Brian Hayes 1-2 (1 2pt), William Buckley, Ethan Twomey 0-2 each, Conor Dennehy, Rickey Barrett, Cillian Myers Murray 0-1 each.
Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Mark Cronin 0-5 (2fs), Kevin O’Donovan 1-1, Bryan Hayes 0-3 (1 2pt), Conor Horgan 0-2 (1 2pt), Mark Hill, Stephen Cronin 0-1 each.
Teams
St Finbarr’s: Darragh Newman; Sam Ryan, Alan O’Connor, Dylan Quinn; Billy Hennessy, Jamie Burns, Donor Dennehy; Ian Maguire, Brian Hayes; Etha Twomey, Ciarán Doolan, William Buckley; John Wigginton Barrett, Steven Sherlock (c), Rickey Barrett.
Subs: Enda Dennehy for Burns (h/t), Luke Hannigan for Wigginton Barrett (h/t), Eoin McGreevy for Hayes (45-46, blood sub), McGreevy for Twomey (60+2), Cillian Myers Murray for Barrett (60+2).
Nemo Rangers: Micheál Aodh Martin; Colin Molloy, Kieran Histon, Mark Hill; Ciarán McCartan, Stephen Cronin, Kevin Fulignati; Alan O’Donovan (c), Briain Murphy; Colm Kiely, Barry Cripps, Kevin O’Donovan; Conor Horgan, Mark Cronin, Bryan Hayes.
Subs: Ronan Dalton for Kiely (43), Paul Kerrigan for Fulignati (43), Conor Moore for McCartan (51), Luke Horgan for Hayes (59).
Referee: Conor Lane (Lyre).
