Castlehaven knock out the champs as Nemo fail to score in the first half

CASTLEHAVEN blew the county senior football championship wide open by stunning the Cork and Munster champions, Nemo Rangers, in a surprisingly one-sided quarter-final in Dunmanway on Sunday.

The west Cork club inflicted a barely credible 1-11 to 0-4 defeat on the beaten All-Ireland club champions, who went 43 minutes without a score.

It was a strange game, dominated by a very strong wind, which the Haven had at their backs in the first-half, but could only lead by 0-3 to 0-0 at half-time.

The first-half had only one score from play-Chris Hayes after nine minutes- but nine Nemo wides and six by their opponents summed up the poor quality on view.

A third quarter scoring spurt, including 1-1 from Michael Hurley, helped the winners surge 1-7 ahead before Luke Connolly finally opened Nemo’s account.

“I think our fellows wanted to play more than Nemo. They fought like tigers for every ball and got it.

“They put Nemo under severe pressure all over the field and I thought the fight was with us throughout the game,” said Castlehaven manager Liam Collins.

They now meet Duhallow in the semi-final with St Finbarr’s taking on Carbery Rangers in the other.

Both games are scheduled for the weekend after next, probably on a double-bill at either Páirc Uí Chaoimh or Páirc Uí Rinn.

Duhallow repeated last season’s win over Valley Rovers with deserved 0-13 to 0-10 success, marked by six points from captain Donncha O’Connor.

The ‘Barr’s 2-8 to 0-11 victory over Douglas was marred by an unfortunate injury to goalkeeper Declan Murphy, who suffered a broken leg during the second-half.

First-half goals from Stephen Sherlock and Enda Dennehy put the ‘Barr’s in the driving seat, sweeping nine points clear before Douglas rallied.

Carbery Rangers followed up their three-point first-round win over Clonakilty with a more resounding 1-18 to 0-11 triumph to set-up a repeat semi-final with the Togher club.

Mark Hodnett claimed the only goal as John Hayes and John O’Rourke showed the way with a succession of points.