LAST UPDATE | 2 Oct 2022
Results – Cork premier senior football semi-finals
- Nemo Rangers 1-16 Ballincollig 0-9
- St Finbarr’s 2-17 Castlehaven 1-16
*****
THEY HAVE SHARED the last five senior titles between them in Cork, in that sense it is fitting that Nemo Rangers and St Finbarr’s will contest this year’s decider in the battle for football supremacy in the county.
A Páirc Uí Chaoimh double-header concluded with St Finbarr’s, the reigning champions, despatching Castlehaven with four points to spare. That second game was a pulsating affair, only truly settled when Brian Hayes cantered clear for a 56th minute goal that put the game beyond Castlehaven’s reach.
Nemo Rangers enjoyed a more straightforward route to success in the opening game, their mastery of knockout stage scenarios was visibly demonstrated as they defeated Ballincollig by ten points.
The outcome maintains the St Finbarr’s ambition of landing a county senior double. They last contested both finals in the same season in 1993 and it is 40 years since they last lifted both titles. For four of today’s football starters (Jamie Burns, Billy Hennessy, Ethan Twomey and Brian Hayes), the dream of glory is still alive, while Ben O’Connor came off the bench and is another dual star.
The Cahalane brothers suffered defeat on the football front today but will rejoin the St Finbarr’s hurling camp now a fortnight out from county final day.
The attacking figureheads for both teams were reliable today, Luke Connolly smashing home 1-6 for Nemo and that tally was matched by Steven Sherlock later for the ‘Barrs, all of his scores posted on the board in open play.
Sherlock’s most critical intervention arrived in the 48th minute as he crashed a shot to the roof of the net. On a day when St Finbarr’s failed to convert a hatful of goal chances, their first green flag pushed them 1-16 to 1-13 clear. The teams had been level nine times in the first half and three times in the third quarter, the tight nature of the contest hinting that extra-time and penalties could be in the offing, just as it was in the two blockbuster clashes Castlehaven and St Finbarr’s had served up in their last two semi-final meetings.
Michael Hurley drilled home a superb finish for Castlehaven’s goal in the 27th minute that sent them three points clear. Yet St Finbarr’s rattled off three points to round off the half as the teams were level 1-8 to 0-11 at the break.
Sherlock knocked over five first-half points from play and finished with 1-6, but there were other valuable scoring returns for the winners. Brian Hayes hit 1-2 while there was three points apiece for Cillian Myers-Murray and Eoin McGreevey.
The Hurley brothers carried the fight for Castlehaven with Brian shooting 0-8 and Michael grabbing 1-2, while Cathal Maguire notched three excellent points.
It was McGreevey and Ian Maguire who split the Castlehaven rearguard with four minutes left, allowing Hayes to sail through, sidestep the goalkeeper and finish calmly for the goal that wrapped up this win for St Finbarr’s, who also saw Sam Ryan produce a brilliant late block to keep out a goalbound effort from Mark Collins.
- Scorers for St Finbarr’s: Steven Sherlock 1-6, Brian Hayes 1-2 (0-1 mark), Cillian Myers-Murray 0-3, Eoin McGreevey 0-3, Enda Dennehy 0-2, Jamie Burns 0-1.
- Scorers for Castlehaven: Brian Hurley 0-8 (0-5f), Michael Hurley 1-2, Cathal Maguire 0-3, Robbie Minihane 0-1, Andrew Whelton 0-1.
A fifth title since 2015 remains within the grasp of the regular Cork kingpins Nemo as a formidable second-half showing seeing them breeze into the 2022 decider. They may have lost out to Ballincollig at this juncture six years ago but there was no slip up here as they took a firm grip on this game after the break.
Connolly’s emphatic finish to the net from a 44th minute penalty had the feel of a game-defining score, an opening created by a terrific run from Mark Cronin in breaking the cover before he was fouled. It pushed Nemo ahead 1-11 to 0-8 and indeed they outscored Ballincollig 1-7 to 0-1 after the 36th minute.
Connolly ended the game as top scorer, a few superb displays of placed-ball kicking in that tally, while Conor Horgan caught the eye in the second half as he picked off three tidy points.
Ballincollig’s first-half had featured some impressive scores of their own, Cian Dorgan and Darren Murphy both bagging a brace from play. The teams were level twice in the first half and both enjoyed moments of scoreboard superiority.
Nemo had edged ahead 0-7 to 0-6 by the interval before the teams traded two points apiece early in the second half, Ballincollig’s efforts registered in style by attacking wing-backs Cian Kiely and Luke Fahy.
But then the competitive nature of the contest fizzled away, Nemo’s superiority becoming more pronounced as they picked off points and Ballincollig unable to source the goals they desired as Nemo’s rearguard held firm.
- Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Luke Connolly 1-6 (0-3f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 ’45), Conor Horgan 0-3, Barry O’Driscoll 0-2, Mark Cronin 0-1 (0-1f), Jack Horgan 0-1, Alan O’Donovan 0-1, Barry Cripps 0-1, Kevin O’Donovan 0-1.
- Scorers for Ballincollig: Cian Kiely 0-2, Darren Murphy 0-2, Cian Dorgan 0-2, Sean Kiely 0-1, Darragh O’Mahony 0-1, Sean Kiely 0-1.
Wow the second Andy Lee article in a few days and six short paragraphs well done lads. At least it wasn’t a copy of a newstalk interview like the previous one. The 42 has spend the last 6 months banging on about MMA and Conor Mcgregor relentlessly. Multiple articles a day. All the while Andy Lee, an actual World Champion, has been pretty much ignored. The coverage before his last fight was utterly pathetic one article the week of the fight. One!
Might top that this time round. Although Conor McGregor might tweet something during the week so that will probably take up sometime.Lee is a class act and a complete gentlemen and gets involved in none of the nonsense seen at the convention centre last week. Maybe ye guys could give someone the whole country can rally around a bit more prominence.
Well said
Boxing as a sport is living off its past glories. It is boring and slow these days, when compared to other forms of combat.
It says it all that the biggest fight in boxing is between a pair of old men. If boxing wanted to help itself, it should have forced may weather and pacman to fight years ago….instead they are doing it now when they are both well past their prime and looking for one last paycheck.
Don’t get me wrong…..Andy lee is a great ambassador and I wish him well, but boxing is the past…mma is the future
You’d swear you had to pay for the 42..
Skippy, well said.
Patrick, your meaningless twaddle could’ve been condensed a tad itself
In fairness Patrick not many media outlets are covering Andy lee and I’m not sure why, possible because he is based in New York the last few years. It’s bad form but there is no need to knock MMA because of it. MMA fans have waited a long time for a genuine contender to back and support and mcgregor, for all the show boating and publicity stunts is a disciplined hard working athlete.
Never has there been so little fuss about an Irish World Champion as Andy Lee
Its a disgrace. Im a big Andy fan n rate him as one of Irelands best ever but its neither Conors nor MMA’s fault the media tend to over look his achievements n how well he’s represented Ireland throughout his career.
Conor is breaking new ground n he is doing an AMAZING job for Ireland in wat is still a new sport.
Andy has done an amazing job so far representing us in a traditional & established sport n the media coverage he doesnt get from the national press is disgusting but that isnt Conor’s nor MMA’s fault.
Theres room for both sports n theres room for two superstars on our island, give Conor his due n leave him outa yer idiotic “Either/Or” equations when talkin about Andy
Absolutely.
I think Conor is fantastic. Just wish Andy Lee got a bit more recognition.
MacGregor has certainly put MMA on the map in Ireland
Technically Andy right now is boxing better than any Irish boxer Ive ever seen n Id go so far as to say that technically he is now shoulder to shoulder with GGG.
Not many will agree because he doesnt get the coverage n respect he deserves but its theres a more battle proven, harder punching boxer with better stamina right now then its maybe Kovalev whos my Lb for Lb number 1 right now or Golovkin who I dont say much good about coz hes in tha same division as Andy & Jay Quigley.
Right now Adny Lee is the fighter we were all expecting to come outa the Kronk Gym. Hes like a coiled spring n is hitting harder than ever like a cobra striking, like the Motor city Cobra himself Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns a genuine all time great.
Im not joking when I say that Andy is Irelands Tommy Hearns, hes the Limerick City Cobra. Nobody in the sport has paid the dues Andy Lee has n the wealth of knowledge he has acquired in the sport from Training with the likes of Tommy Hearns is now all starting to shine.
Andy is the Real McCoy n after he KO’s Quillin on sat night not just the Irish Press will be kissin his ass but the Brits will be too.
Carl Froch ?
Hes a Good’un but Andy isnt more than 3 high level defences away from him.
Roy Jones Jr had a great lead hook but Andy Lee has the most powerful lead hook Ive seen since Mickey Wards.
Its disgusting the lack of acknowledgement he gets n it can be coz of nothing other than politics.
As far as i am aware the42.ie have been known to sponsor an MMA fighter and his corner recently so it would make reasonable sense that they would promote the sport. You also cannot argue with the growth in MMA interest lately