PIFC: Four goals fire Nemo past Rockchapel into quarter-final

Nemo Rangers 4-11 Rockchapel 2-13 

NEMO got off to a dream start in Kilmurry on Saturday evening with a cracker of a goal from Ciarán Dalton and went on to reach the PIFC quarter-final.

Jack Curtin of Rockchapel opened the scoring for the Duhallow side and after another few tasty points, Jack Coogan converted a tight-angled free to settle Nemo. Thanks to his efforts, along with Conor Cusack, Eddie Mangan was able to find the net to put Nemo in a comfortable lead. 

Some skillful defense work from Eamonn O'Callaghan for Rockchapel initially prevented a third goal but James O'Donovan fisted the ball over the bar to stretch the advantage further. Séamus Hickey got Rockchapel ticking over but Kieran O Sullivan led Nemo’s attack once again to allow Dalton to get his second score. 

Mikey McAuliffe took matters into his own hands and rattled the net for Rockchapel, inspiring Jason O'Callaghan and Shane Curtin to get a super score each. Colm Kiely popped a Nemo point just before the half-time whistle: Nemo  2-4 Rockchapel 1-7.

Eddie Mangan and Shane Burke for Nemo Rangers came out all guns blazing in the second half but three wides was down to tight marking from the Rockchapel half-back line. Hickey got the first point of the second half before McAuliffe fisted another over. 

Coogan finally put the ball between the posts for the city side and added another though Curtin raised the white flag once more for Rockchapel. Coogan found his rhythm and kicked another point with Hickey responding. 

A Coogan free put Nemo in the lead in what was an increasingly physical game but Curtin put Rockchapel back in the running with a direct drive and a goal. The momentum was short-lived however due to Kiely rallying Nemo with a goal of his own. 

After some heated play, Kiely put the final nail in the coffin with another outstanding goal to secure the win.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: C Kiely 2-1, J Coogan 0-6 (0-1 f), C Dalton 1-1, E Mangan 1-0, J O Donovan, L O'Sullivan, S O'Dwyer 0-1 each.

Rockchapel:

J Curtin 1-5, M McAuliffe 1-2, S Hickey 0-3 (0-1 f), J O Callaghan 0-2, S Curtin 0-1.

NEMO: C Martin; T O'Brien, A McGowan, O Whyte; S Burke, K O'Sullivan, D Quinn; J O'Donovan, C Cusack; S O Dwyer, C Kiely, C Dalton; E Mangan, J Coogan, E Nation.

Sub: C Coughlan for E Mangan.

ROCKCHAPEL: C Casey; B Carroll, E O'Callaghan, P Curtin; S Curtin, M O'Keeffe, E Murphy; S Hickey, C Curtin; W Murphy, J Curtin, J O'Callaghan; M McAuliffe, C Curtin, J McAuliffe.

Sub: N Linehan for P Curtin.

Referee: Pat O'Leary.