Cork SFC Final/Nemo Rangers 0-12 Ilen Rovers 0-9:Ilen Rovers were within 15 minutes of causing one of the biggest surprises in the history of the Cork football at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. The west Cork club, who were only founded in 1973, the year after Nemo's first county title, led by 0-8 to 0-5 following Brian O'Sullivan's third point.
Ilen, who lost to Nemo by 15 points in the first round in April, were full value for their lead as they hustled their opponents and clearly rattled the city side. An indication of this high-pressure approach was reflected in Kieran Daly's handling of Cork star James Masters, who failed to score, though his opponent's tactics brought a new dimension to the term "man-marking".
Yet, when the need was greatest Nemo came up with the critical scores, scoring five times in a blistering spell from the 47th minute, when substitute Peter Morgan began the sequence.
This devastating period coincided with a series of important changes which helped Nemo break Ilen's midfield grip. They brought man-of-the-match Derek Kavanagh from full back, via centre back for a while, to partner David Niblock, who had started at centre forward. Between them they disrupted David Coughlan and Fachtna Collins and Nemo managed to at last string some passes together.
Scores flowed accordingly as a couple of quick-fire Paul Kerrigan points restored parity at 0-8 apiece, only the third time the sides were level. Then, Nemo pulled away. More slick, enterprising play created space for Alan Cronin to edge his team in front for the second time before Kavanagh surged forward to curl a shot over the crossbar for a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.
Sloppy play in defence offered Ilen, a senior club since 2004, renewed hope, however, and Kevin O'Sullivan, a constant threat throughout, pointed to make it a one-point game with four minutes' regulation time remaining.
Despite five minutes' injury-time, Ilen couldn't score again as Nemo broke twice to seal their 16th title and sixth in eight seasons with late points from Cronin and Kerrigan.
Nemo, who were seeking their second three-in-a-row of the decade, began promisingly enough, scoring the opening two points and leading by 0-4 to 0-2 after the first quarter, when they had wind advantage.
Ilen, though, dominated the remainder of the half. Building on their midfield superiority Ilen put the Nemo defence under intense pressure and scores duly arrived. They were level at 0-4 each by the 20th minute after Kevin O'Sullivan and Edward Sheehy and then the O'Sullivan brothers combined to leave their side 0-6 to 0-4 in front at the break.
The pattern remained the same on the resumption as Ilen took the game to Nemo with Brian O'Sullivan finding the range with a couple of fine points either side of Masters failing to rise a close-in free which goalkeeper Gary Coakley accepted gratefully.
The champions looked in big trouble at this stage, but they showed why they're top dogs on Leeside with a brilliant closing quarter.
NEMO RANGERS: B Morgan; N Geary (capt), D Kavanagh (0-1), B O'Regan; G Murphy, G O'Shea, C O'Brien; M Cronin, M McCarthy; A Cronin (0-2), D Niblock, S O'Brien (0-1); P Kerrigan (0-7, four frees), J Masters, D Kearney. Subs: P Morgan (0-1) for Kearney and D Mehigan for McCarthy half-time, M Daly for C O'Brien 42.
ILEN ROVERS: G Coakley; S Holland, Diarmuid Duggan, J Sheehy; C O'Driscoll, L O'Driscoll, K Daly; F Collins, D Coughlan (0-1); F O'Donovan (capt), J Wycherly (0-1, free), E Sheehy (0-1); Donie Duggan, K O'Sullivan (0-3, 0-1, free), B O'Sullivan (0-3). Subs: D Whooley for Donie Duggan 50, S Casey for Wycherly injured 57, A Holland for O'Donovan 58.
Referee: G Sweeney (Cork).
