Division 1 FL: Nemo Rangers put four goals past Cill Na Martra to win SFL game at Trabeg

Nemo Rangers 4-9

Cill Na Martra 1-9 (1-1-7)

Nemo Rangers made it two wins from two in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League by defeating Cill Na Martra 4-9 to 1-9 at Trabeg on Tuesday evening.

Two first half goals from Ciaran Dalton and Conor Horgan at the 19th minute effectively sealed the win for the home side.

This helped Robbie O’Dwyers team take a 3-3 to 0-4 half-time lead against a side group operating one division below them in championship.

The goals made the difference as the two clubs were level at 0-2 apiece up until that point with Cill Na Martra having the majority of possession against a Nemo back-line that never gave an inch.

In the end, it was a comfortable win for the last season’s Cork Premier Senior Football Championship’s beaten finalists, a group that opened their league campaign by seeing off Newcestown at the beginning of March.

Nemo wasted no time and led 0-2 to no score inside two minutes through white flags raised by Conor Horgan and Jack Coogan. 

Steven Cronin played a big part in these as the corner-back came forward and created space by linking up play in front of the square.

Cill Na Martra then pushed up and started winning the ball in midfield, and with that came chances in front of the posts.

Two fell to Seán Ó Foirréidh and the corner-back got his club back into the game and an opportunity to go into the lead went wide when Jason Mac Cárthaigh missed a 45 at the 15th minute.

Nemo regained composure once they got the ball back and with that came Conor Horgan’s green flag. 

Ciaran Dalton followed that up, just seconds later, and Nemo surged in front at 2-2 to 0-2.

Ciarán Ó Duinnín retaliated for Cill Na Martra and instead of being the start of a comeback, the kick-out was the beginning of a passage of play that ended with Ciaran Dalton hitting the back of the net for the second time.

Seán Ó Foirréidh raised a white flag at the other end and the first-half closed out with Alan O’Donovan running through and splitting the posts, to make the scoreboard read 3-3 to 0-4.

The game restarted with Paul Kerrigan coming on for Nemo and the 2010 All-Ireland winner found the target after just five minutes on the pitch.

At that stage of the game, the home side were further in front at 3-5 to 0-4 after Alan O’Donovan got another from play and Conor Horgan curled the ball over.

This felt significant, the passage of play that truly turned the game in their favour and made sure of no great rescue mission in the second half by Cill Na Martra.

Damien Ó hUrdail did get his name on the score-sheet late-on and Micheál Ó Deasúna
put over a free which was followed by a quick goal chance taken by Seán Ó Foirréidh.

In between all of that Kerrigan got his second of the night, and Nemo remained in front at 3-6 to 1-6.

There was nothing that Cill Na Martra could do late-on to ignite something. 

Even when Micheál Ó Deasúna got a two pointer from a free, Nemo remained in control and it showed with a 58th minute Eoin Nation goal.

Kerrigan set that up and the ball was scrambled in by the defender, rounding out the victory.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: C Dalton 2-0; C Horgan 1-2, E Nation 1-0, P Kerrigan 0-3, A O’Donovan 0-2, J Coogan, C O’Donovan.

Cill Na Martra: S O’Foirreidh 1-3; M O’Deasuna 0-3 (3f, 1 2pt), D O hUrdail and C O’Duinnin both 0-1.

Nemo Rangers: D O’Leary; E Nation, M Hill, D Quinn, C Coughlan, S Cronin, A Cronin, A O’Donovan, C Shalloe, B Cripps, C Hogan, C Dalton, G Sayers, J Coogan, S Burke.

Subs: P Kerrigan for Sayers (HT); C O’Donovan for Burke (50).

Cill Na Martra: J Mac Cartaigh; M O’Cathasaigh, T O’Corcora, F O’Faolain, D O hUrdail, S O’Foirreidh, C O’Foirreidh, S O’ Ceileachair, G O’Goillidhe, E O’Conaill, M O’Deasuna, A O’Loingsigh, M O’Duinnin, C O’Duinnin, S O’Duinnin.

Subs: D Buckley for O’Ceileachair (HT); J O’Loingsigh for S O’Duinnin (45), A O’ O’Duinnin for O’Cathasaigh (45).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).