Premier SFC: Conor Horgan's happy memories of Nemo Rangers' 2022 win over St Finbarr's

The script hadn’t necessarily been written, but there was a handy narrative to hand.

Having ended a 29-year wait for the Cork hurling title in 2022, St Finbarr’s stood on the brink of the first county senior double in four decades.

The Togher outfit had impressed throughout the Premier SFC - now, ‘all’ they needed to do was beat Nemo Rangers in the final to create history.

Anyone who has ever paid any bit of attention to Cork football will know that Nemo can never be written off; another factor that deserved to be mentioned in the mix was the fact that they were celebrating the 100th anniversary of two previous clubs, Nemo and Rangers, joining forces.

The centenary was marked rather than the double achieved: Nemo won by 1-16 to 2-9 as the Barrs’ late and valiant fightback fell short. As well as the eight-point haul of captain Luke Connolly, Nemo were grateful for the 1-3 scored by Conor Horgan - naturally, it’s a display that the wing-forward remembers fondly.

“In all the years I have been playing, it is one of the most memorable days, not just because my own contribution, but the team,” he says.

“It was as close to a complete performance as we have ever put together. With us sometimes, that can be the most frustrating thing. We are brilliant at turning on for 20 minutes or half an hour, but we rarely put the full 60 together.

That day was unbelievable, just class. 

"If we could replicate that performance, it would go a long way to getting the right result.”

As memorable as that tally was, it was the exception rather than the rule - but Horgan is the kind of player who is a coach’s dream in that he does his job to a high level while putting the team first.

“I've always known my place and role in the team,” he says.

“I don't think anyone is going to argue that Paul [Kerrigan] was our star forward and then Luke took over than mantle and then Mark [Cronin] has taken over that mantle, but I just enjoy playing with them because they are three of the best forwards in the county over the last 15 years.

I enjoy playing with them because they bring everyone's standard up. And it definitely sometimes can take the pressure off too.

“In the league this year when Mark was away with Cork, we had to spread the scoring load a bit more and there is a bit more onus to maybe try and deliver in those instances, but when it comes to championship, not that we step back and leave them do what they are going to do.

“We know what they are capable of and try and help facilitate them as best we can.”

Three years on from the last final meeting, the Barrs are again favourites, but only slightly - after all, Nemo did take the top seeding after the group stage and earn a direct semi-final spot, beating Newcestown after extra time.

“In fairness to the Barrs that year, not only were they flying form-wise,” Horgan says, “the momentum that they had gathered from the hurling win, as well, it was a bit of a juggernaut.

“It probably played into our hands that way alright, in that we came in under the radar which is something we are not used to. That is not the case this year, but I do think the Barrs are still favourites after the result against Haven in Clon.

TURNED IT ON

“Everyone sat up and took notice of them after putting six goals past the Haven - no one knows better than us how hard that is to do. Their performance against Ballincollig, while they weren't at their best in the first half, they showed real experience in how they turned it on when they had to in the second period.

“It was a very controlled performance is how I'd put it. We are very evenly matched. It will be about who can deliver the big moments when they present themselves.”