MUNSTER CLUB SFC SEMI-FINALS Broadford/Dromcollogher 0-7 Nemo Rangers 0-6:FAVOURITES NEMO Rangers were dumped out of the Munster club football championship in a heart-stopping and low-scoring semi-final by Limerick champions, Broadford/Dromcollogher.
Nemo were appearing in the Munster championship for the 17th and had lost only twice, to Thomond College in 1977 and Dr Crokes in 2006. But the 7 to 1 outsiders produced a sensational display and can now look forward to a first final appearance, which will also be played in Limerick.
When this game had to be switched from Dromcollogher to Limerick Gaelic Grounds it looked sure to favour the Cork side.
Boosted before the kick-off when Limerick player Jason Stokes passed a fitness test, Drom Broadford opted to play into the gale-force wind and the decision by veteran Tom McLoughlin proved a wise one as, amazingly, they led 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval as Nemo registered six wides compared to two for the Limerick side.
Points from Seán O'Brien and Barry O'Driscoll gave Nemo an early 0-2 to 0-1 lead once Garret Noonan had opened Drom's scoring. But a fisted point by Seanie Buckley levelled the game before Michael Reidy and Buckley again had the Limerick side sensationally in front at the break.
Nemo made a far better start to the second half after bringing in Brian Twomey and Dylon Mehigan for David Kearney and Alan O'Connor at the break.
Barry O'Driscoll scored a point to leave only a score between the teams but a Michael Reidy free restored the two-point advantage. Paul Kerrigan (a free), and James Masters' delightful effort for Nemo tied the game at 0-5 each at the end of the third quarter. But a superbly-taken point by Derry McCarthy after 48 minutes and another three minutes later by Garrett Noonan put Drom-Broadford back in front by two points once again. Try as they might, Nemo could manage only a late final point by Masters in reply.
BROADFORD/DROMCOLLOGHER:E Scollard, D O'Leary, T Stack, M Clancy; N Conway, T McLoughlin, E Barry; P Donnelly, J Stokes; D McCarthy (0-1), M Reidy (0-2, two frees), S Buckley (0-2); G Egan, R Lynch, G Noonan (0-2). Sub: J O'Kelly for Stokes (68 mins).
NEMO RANGERS:B Morgan, N Geary, P Brophy, S McKeown; M Cronin, B O'Regan, C O'Brien; M McCarthy, D Niblock (0-1); S O'Brien (0-1), J Masters (0-1), A Cronin; B O'Driscoll (0-2), D Kearney, P Kerrigan (0-1, free). Subs: B Twomey and D Mehigan for Kearney and O'Connor (ht), G O'Shea for S O'Brien, A Morgan for McCarthy, K O'Shea for C O'Brien.
Referee:M Condon, Waterford.
