AIB Munster Club SFC: Nemo impress in second half

AIB Munster Club SFC Quarter-Final

Nemo Rangers 0-19 Loughmore-Castleiney 1-8

By Stephen Barry at Páirc Uí Rinn

Nemo Rangers got their Munster return off to a winning start with an improved second-half showing to burn off Loughmore-Castleiney by eight points in front of 1,301 spectators at Páirc Uí Rinn.

The sides were level at half-time, but Nemo exhibited greater scoring quality to pick off eight successive points. They put just three shots wide as Mark Cronin finished with 0-9 (four from play).

The hosts won the second half by 0-13 to 0-5 to earn a home semi-final against Limerick champions Fr Casey’s for a fortnight’s time.

Playing their 60th Munster Championship game, the Cork kingpins have now won 52, drawn three, and lost just five. They have always won their next game after a county title apart from their 2022 defeat to Clonmel Commercials, which was put to bed here against Tipperary opposition.

Following their county final triumph against St Finbarr’s, Conor Horgan replaced Bryan Hayes in the Nemo team. Tomás McGrath and Liam Treacy came into the Loughmore line-up for Ed Meagher and Joey Quinn.

Loughmore didn’t score for over 18 minutes, but they did have chances. They showed a willingness to kick in direct ball, although it only stuck some of the time. Ed Connolly whacked an early goal chance wide, while Briaín Murphy and Luke Horgan snagged important turnovers.

At the other end, Cronin won and pointed a free, Kevin O’Donovan handpassed over, and when Tommy Maher was sanctioned for stepping inside when kicking a sideline ball, Conor Horgan jinked forward to score.

Remarkably, it was the second successive game where Nemo had held their opponents scoreless for 18 minutes, but this time their head start was only three points. Their best sight of goal, from Ross Corkery, spilled wide.

Loughmore had bypassed them by the 24th minute. Liam McGrath had a goal chance saved by Micheál Aodh Martin, but John McGrath made sure from the rebound, picking his spot in the roof of the net. Noel McGrath then pumped over a huge two-pointer for a 1-3 to 0-4 lead.

With their tails up, Loughmore had a couple of penalty shouts waved away. Ed Connolly was brought to ground under pressure from Stephen Cronin in a move that ended with Philip O’Connell hitting the butt of the post. Liam McGrath then had a claim that he was impeded by Martin when going past the keeper.

They got no return and Nemo saw out the half with Ronan Dalton and Mark Cronin’s second points to go in level; 0-6 to 1-3.

Their full-back line poured forward after the break, with Kieran Histon pointing before Colin Molloy and Mark Hill teed up Corkery to score.

The high-fielding Ciarán Connolly got a deserved point before Conor Horgan responded, curling over and winning a free for Mark Cronin to slot. When Cronin swung over a two-pointer, the hosts led by five.

Kevin O’Donovan won the kick-out break to push them further ahead before another Cronin two-pointer, this time from a free. Cronin’s eighth point completed the eight-point burst and made it 0-16 to 1-4.

Corkery tacked on a late brace while John McGrath booted a late two-point free for Loughmore.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Mark Cronin 0-9 (1tp, 1tpf, 3fs), Ross Corkery 0-3, Kevin O'Donovan, Ronan Dalton, Conor Horgan 0-2 each, Kieran Histon 0-1.

Scorers for Loughmore-Castleiney: John McGrath 1-2 (1tp), Liam McGrath 0-3 (3fs), Noel McGrath 0-2 (tp), .Ciarán Connolly 0-1.

Nemo Rangers: Micheál Aodh Martin; Colin Molloy, Mark Hill, Kieran Histon; Kevin O’Donovan, Stephen Cronin, Jack Horgan; Alan O’Donovan, Bríain Murphy; Mark Cronin, Luke Horgan, Conor Shalloe; Ross Corkery, Ronan Dalton, Conor Horgan.

Subs: Bryan Hayes for Shalloe (41), Conor Moore for J Horgan (43), Neville O’Shea for K O’Donovan (60+3), Eoin Nation for Hill (60+4).

Loughmore-Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Tomás McGrath, John Ryan, Lorcan Egan; Tommy Maher, Eoin O’Connell, Daragh McCahey; Noel McGrath, Brian McGrath; Ed Connolly, John McGrath, Ciarán Connolly; Liam McGrath, Philip O’Connell, Liam Treacy.

Subs: Joey Quinn for P O’Connell (39), Aidan McGrath for Treacy (51), Paul McCahey for T McGrath (57), Mikey Ryan for Maher (59), Willie Eviston for Egan (60).

Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare).