Too easy for Nemos against Bantry

Nemo Rangers 3-18, Bantry Blues 0-7

The Kelleher Shield game played at Ballincollig on Saturday afternoon last involved two of the fancied senior teams in the county, Nemo Rangers and Bantry, so a good hour's football was anticipated. It never materialised, however, as the in-form Nemo Rangers side won as it pleased and the result was a foregone conclusion at a very early stage in the exchanges. Both teams contesting last Saturday's game were under strength and Bantry were the worst off in that regard but it was still expected that the West Cork men would give a good display considering the impact that they have made in senior football in Cork in recent years.

They posed little problems for the finely tuned men from Capwell, however, and the winners showed that they are well prepared for their forthcoming All-Ireland club final. Nemo only fell behind once during the course of last Saturday's encounter, but that was very early in the game and Nemo subsequently stamped their authority and as their forwards put scores on the board on a regular basis, they quickly put the game out of Bantry's reach.

Nemo scored first when Colin Corkery scored a point and Bantry then replied with points from Donal O'Shea and Shane O'Neill to take the lead for a brief period. Nemo then turned on the style, however, and a period of effective attacking play got the desired return. Colin Corkery pointed a free to tie the scores and the Capwell side went ahead when Alan Morgan pointed from play. Colin Corkery, who was in great form at full forward, added on two points from play and there was no respite for Bantry as the winners kept up the pressure. Joe Kavanagh, David Niblock and Alan Cronin all raised white flags to significantly improve the Nemo position and Bantry's situation became even more bleak when a penalty was conceded four minutes before the break.

Colin Corkery found the net in expert from the resultant kick and Nemo were now well on the road to victory. Bantry got a point back when Paul O'Rourke pointed a free but Nemo replied before the break when Liam O'Sullivan, from play, and Colin Corkery from a free, raised white flags. Nemo's mentors at the interval decided to withdraw some of the leading performers from the action and they could clearly afford to try out other member of their panel as their superiority over Bantry was very pronounced. Colin Corkery increased Nemo's lead when he scored a point from play and Bantry then made a brief fight back. Two points from the West Cork side by Donal O'Shea gave a slight lift to their fortunes, but Nemo promptly re-established their superiority when an excellent movement ended with Alan Cronin finding the Bantry net.

A timely interception by corner back Larry Kavanagh ended a Bantry attacking effort and Kavanagh subsequently initiated a counter attack which ended with Cronin securing a goal. The game was now clearly over as a contest with Bantry scoring only two additional points during the remaining period of play, while Nemo greatly improved their position on the scoreboard. Kevin Cahill scored a long-range point and that score was followed by two Liam O'Sullivan points.

Alan Cronin, who was in great form in the Nemo attack, then raised two white flags and he followed those scores with his own second and Nemo's third goal. The winners scored two more points before the final whistle sounded when Liam O'Sullivan and substitute Niall Corkery were on target, so they gained two Kelleher Shield points in a very comfortable fashion.

Their supporters will be happy that the team as a whole displayed such good form a week before their All-Ireland club final encounter and they can face that challenge with a good degree of confidence. Players who particularly impressed in Nemo's resounding victory on Saturday were Larry Kavanagh, Gary Murphy and Martin Cronin in defence, and Colin Corkery and Alan Cronin in attack.

Bantry's best were Padraig Cremin, Eric Sheehan, Paul O'Rourke and Donal O'Shea.

Nemo Rangers: Don Heaphy, Larry Kavanagh, Niall Geary, Ivan Gibbons, Gary Murphy, Kieran Connolly, Martin Cronin, Kevin Cahill, Maurice McCarthy, Alan Morgan, David Niblock, Liam O'Sullivan, Joe Kavanagh, Colin Corkery, Alan Cronin.Subs, William Morgan for Joe Kavanagh, Dillon Mehigan for Alan Morgan, James Masters for Don Heaphy, Niall Corkery for Colin Corkery, John Paul O'Neill for David Niblock.

Bantry Blues: Des McAuley, Niall Canty, Mark O'Connor, Michael Lynch, Padraig Cremin, Andy O'Shea, Eric Sheehan, Jerdy Barry, Shane O'Neill, Kieran O'Sullivan, Sean McCarthy, Paul O'Rourke, Finbarr Harrington, Donal O'Shea, Declan O'Shea. Subs, Brian Harrington for Finbarr Harrington, D.J. Murray for Andy O'Shea.