Brave Kiskeam bow out with heads held high

IT is hard to be tough on Kiskeam after what they have achieved over the last two years or so.

The little Duhallow club has been an inspiration (this season in particular) to all in the area and beyond as they battled against some of the biggest and the best clubs in senior football since the championship kicked off.

Outside of the camp you wouldn’t have thought that anyone really expected Kiskeam to see off the might of Nemo last weekend, but that didn’t stop the fans making their way to Macroom to support their local heroes.

Kiskeam were favourites to be in the relegation places this season when the year began but credit to all concerned the boys in black and white went on a serious charge that showed the regulars in senior football that they weren’t here just to make up the numbers.

2-20 to 0-11 is actually a fair reflection of how this one went as Nemo just cut loose on the North Cork side – putting down a marker to all comers that they really are the real deal again this time out.

This one was over by the break, in fact it was over by the 20 minute mark as Nemo had already amassed a 13 point lead when the game was only heading into the third quarter 1-11 to 0-1 but credit to the vanquished side they fought to the interval bagging three points to Nemo’s one in the only real period when you could say they were on top. (1-14 to 0-4 at the break).

Kiskeam got an incredibly unfortunate start to the game when keeper Anthony Casey sent a short kick-out straight to Paddy Gumley who sent it back with interest to the back of Casey’s net.

It must be said that while Casey was culpable for the opening goal he had a terrific game overall with some magnificent saves from what at times was a rampant Nemo Rangers outfit. The city side kept up the pressure after the early three pointer, smelling blood in the water and seemingly keen to get out of site by the short whistle.

Any questions of a genuine fightback ended soon after the restart when Cork Captain Paul Kerrigan fisted home a cross from Luke Connolly. This, Nemo’s second goal showed the dangers of what can happen when a side is forced to attack against a side of such quality but again credit to the Duhallow men they stuck to their guns.

Referee David Murnane was busy dishing out cards as the game got a little too physical with three players, two from Nemo, heading for an early shower.

Gene Casey with four points (three from play) and Sean O’Sullivan with six (three from play) were the stand out players for the beaten side but on the day this one was all about the victors.

Kiskeam will sit out the rest of this season’s Championship however the experience garnered will benefit the team, the club and indeed the parish for many years to come.

For the victors? Nemo Rangers have again emerged as genuine title contenders and if they can continue at the levels of intensity shown last weekend they will take some beating.