Premier JHC: Josh Beausang to the fore as Russell Rovers reach final

Russell Rovers 1-19

Nemo Rangers 1-12

A tally of 1-11 from Josh Beausang was vital as Russell Rovers earned their place in the final of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier JHC with victory over Nemo Rangers at Carrigtwohill on Saturday.

Having topped their group in impressive fashion, Dave Dorgan’s side earned a quarter-final bye but Nemo Rangers’ premier senior football commitments meant that this game bridged a gap of six weeks of inactivity for Rovers.

While they were rusty at times, they led for almost all of the encounter and were good value for the win, which sends them through to meet divisional rivals St Catherine’s in the decider. For Nemo, the disappointment of the loss was compounded by a first-half injury for defender Bríain Murphy, who may now be a doubt for the Premier SFC decider against Castlehaven next Sunday.

The Trabeg side, winners of the junior A title last year, did well to compete until the end. They reduced what had been a ten-point lead at one stage down to five in the final quarter but a second goal looked essential if they were to spring an upset and Russell Rovers ensured that none was allowed.

Nemo’s first-half goal, a long-range Alan Cronin effort that deceived Ross Walsh, put them ahead for what proved to be the only time, 1-1 to 1-0 after Beausang had gambled and gone low with an early free.

In the wake of Cronin’s strike, both Beausang and Luke Duggan Murray had goal chances for Russell Rovers in quick succession, denied by James Masters, but the points began to flow for them while Nemo’s wides tally mounted.

Beausang’s dead-ball accuracy was to the fore as Rovers retired with a 1-10 to 1-3 advantage, Kevin Moynihan also on target, and Beausang was unlucky not to add a second goal in injury time, flashing an effort just wide.

Though Nemo’s Shane Horgan had the opening score of the second half from a free, four Rovers points – two from Beausang and one each for Brian Hartnett and Luke Duggan Murray – opened up that ten-point advantage. With James Kennefick dominant at centre-back and Kieran Walsh prominent at midfield, the game looked set to move towards an inevitable conclusion but instead Nemo found another gear.

A Masters free set in train a period where they scored six points out of seven, two of them by impressive sub Conor Horgan, and it was 1-15 to 1-10 with nine minutes left. That was as close as they came, however – a pair of Beausang frees settled Russell Rovers again, though they did lose Kennefick to a somewhat harsh red card which may rule him out of the final.

Nemo pushed for a late goal to erode the deficit but their efforts were repelled and it was fitting that Beausang had the final say.

Scorers for Russell Rovers: J Beausang 1-11 (1-8f, 0-1 65), C Sheehan 0-3, K Moynihan 0-2, F Murray, L Duggan Murray, K Walsh 0-1 each.

Nemo Rangers: S Horgan 0-6 (0-5f), A Cronin 1-0, C Horgan 0-2, M Cronin, A Burns, J Masters (0-1f), A O’Donovan 0-1 each.

RUSSELL ROVERS: R Walsh; K O’Brien, E O’Sullivan, K Tattan; F Murray, J Kennefick, R Cummins; D Moynihan, K Walsh; L Duggan Murray, K Moynihan, M O’Dwyer; J Beausang, C Sheehan, B Hartnett.

Subs: D Ruddy for O’Dwyer (37), J McGrath for K Moynihan (60, injured), P Lane for O’Brien (60+4, injured).

NEMO RANGERS: J Masters; S Cronin, J Cowhig, B Murphy; B O’Neill, A O’Donovan, C O’Donovan; A Cronin, M Cronin; E Dilloughery, B Cripps, S Horgan; J Coogan, K O’Donovan, J Kearney.

Subs: A Burns for Murphy (24, injured), C O’Neill for Cowhig (half-time), C Horgan for Dilloughery, C Kiely for Kearney (both 45), G Barrett for O’Neill (56).

Referee: M Farrell (Newtownshandrum).