Nemo breathe big sigh of relief

NEMO RANGERS manager Larry Kavanagh admitted that his team were lucky not to be caught by a late St Finbarr’s blitz as they held out to claim a record 20th county title at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. Having led by eight points before having to settle for a draw a week previously, here Nemo saw their city rivals reduce a 12-point margin to two deep in second-half injury time, but Nemo ensured that was as close as it came, with the game seen out as they held possession. It was bit too close for Kavanagh, who now joins Billy Morgan, Ephie Fitzgerald and Steven O’Brien in having captained and managed Nemo to county titles. ‘We were nervous but we got away with it. You have to go to the 65th minute.’ NEMO RANGERS: M Martin; Aidan O’Reilly, C McWhinney (K O’Donovan 9), A Cronin (K Fulignati 54); T Ó Sé, S Cronin, K Fulignati (J O’Donovan 30); A O’Donovan (M Dorgan 54), J Horgan; B O’Driscoll, P Kerrigan, C O’Brien (A Greaney 37); P Gumley, L Connolly, C Dalton. Scorers: P Kerrigan 1-2; J Horgan, L Connolly 1-1; A Greaney 1-0; C Dalton, P Gumley 0-2; T Ó Sé, K Fulignati, A O’Donovan, B O’Driscoll 0-1. ST FINBARR’S: D Murphy; D Quinn, J Burns, A McCarthy; A O’Connor, S Ryan (R O’Dwyer 57), G O’Connor (P Kennedy 59); I Maguire (captain), C Lyons (C Keane 46); D O’Brien (E Finn 42), M Shields, E Dennehy; R Leahy (C Myers Murray 46), R O’Mahony (I O’Callaghan 51), S Sherlock. Scorers: S Sherlock 2-7 (1-3f); E Finn 1-0; R O’Mahony 0-2; D Quinn, C Lyons, D O’Brien, E Dennehy 0-1. Referee: J Bermingham (Bride Rovers).