Division 1 FL: Cillian Myers-Murray on fire as St Finbarr's defeat Nemo

Nemo Rangers: 0-12 (0-1-10) 

St Finbarr’s: 0-14 (0-3-8) 

Cillian Myers-Murray was in red-hot form as St Finbarr’s defeated Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at Trabeg on Thursday evening.



As a result of this southside derby, Brian Roche’s side move top with six points from three games, with Nemo now two points behind along with Clonakilty.

St Finbarr’s were full value for this third successive victory despite being down a number of players including Steven Sherlock, who had an injury.

They did trail early on, but once they got going, they were always the likely winners. The Togher side showed the benefits of the two-pointers with three, all from Myers-Murray, who in total scored 0-10.

Despite a relatively strong team, Nemo Rangers were surprisingly flat and were over-reliant on Conor Horgan up front. Veteran Paul Kerrigan did come on and make a difference.

Played under heavy rain for the majority of the contest, Nemo hit the first two points through Horgan frees before a period of a combination of lateral passing and both defences on top.

St Finbarr’s showed the advantage of a two-pointer with a Myers-Murray free to draw level after 10 minutes.

Myers-Murray nudged the away side in front with a great point following a brilliant driving run and pass by midfielder Ciarán Doolan.

The aforementioned Myers-Murray added another two-pointer, this time from play, as St Finbarr’s led 0-5 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.

Horgan, the only Nemo scorer of a disjointed opening 30 minutes from their point of view, kicked the last two points of the half, as they trailed by a point at the break, 0-5 to 0-4.

The home side drew parity a minute into the new half. No surprise it was Horgan once more.

The sides then traded points with Cian O’Sullivan firing over for St Finbarr’s while Colm Kiely pointed for his team.

Eoin McGreevy and a Myers-Murray two-pointer from a free handed St Finbarr’s a 0-9 to 0-6 advantage after 40 minutes.

Nemo were struggling to penetrate a resolute St Finbarr’s defence, but a beauty from Kerrigan did keep his team just about in touch.

The Barrs were the better team from the start and three unanswered points pushed them 0-12 to 0-7 clear with 10 minutes to go.

Horgan (free) and Jack Coogan efforts did keep Nemo in touch and they also had two goal chances, but Kerrigan and Ciarán Dalton were denied by St Finbarr’s goalkeeper Cian Haines. That period of pressure from the home side was in isolation. 

There would be no denying St Finbarr’s. They landed two of the next three points before a Kerrigan two-pointer was a mere consolation for Nemo with the final whistle sounding seconds later.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: C Horgan 0-6 (0-4 f), P Kerrigan 0-3 (1 2pt), J Coogan 0-2 (0-1 f), C Kiely 0-1.

St Finbarr’s: C Myers-Murray 0-10 (2 2pt f, 1 2pt, 0-2 f), E McGreevy 0-3, C O’Sullivan 0-1.

NEMO RANGERS: D O’Leary; E Nation, M Hill, D Quinn; O Whyte, K Fulignati, S Cronin; A O’Donovan, C McCartan; C Dalton, A Cronin, B Cripps; C Kiely, C Horgan, J Coogan.

Subs: C O’Neill for M Hill (29, inj), P Kerrigan for A Cronin (h-t), C Coughlan for K Fulignati (38), C Moore for D Quinn (47), C Shalloe for C McCartan (58).

ST FINBARR’S: C Haines; B O’Connell, J Burns, E Hurley; M Ahern, A Lyne, E Dennehy; C Doolan, T Egan; J Brady, L Hannigan, S Kirby; C O’Sullivan, C Myers-Murray, E McGreevy.

Subs: R Barrett for J Brady (40), A McCarthy for L Hannigan (53, inj).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).