Nemo defeat Mayfield in five-goal thriller to secure Seandún Junior A title

Nemo Rangers 3-15 (3-2-11) Mayfield 2-11 (2-0-11)

It was a case of third time lucky for Nemo Rangers as they defeated Mayfield to claim the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football title, before a sizable attendance at Ballinlough.

The Trabeg side have also avenged their 2023 final loss to Mayfield as they bridged an 18-year gap and now face Duhallow champions Castlemagner in the County Championship.

Wayward shooting was proving to be costly for both sides in the opening exchanges of a game, which produced an evenly contested first half. In the second half, the Trabeg side put the game beyond Mayfield’s reach as they landed two scores from outside the Mayfield 40-metre arc, in addition to their third goal.

Nemo Rangers broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when Dave Callanan set up Dara O’Sullivan for the game's opening goal. This was followed by a point from Gavin Barrett. Mayfield opened their account in the 11th minute as Dilan O’Donovan set up Dave O’Neill for a goal. This was immediately cancelled out as Pádraig O’Dwyer set up Barrett for the Trabeg side’s second goal. This left Nemo Rangers leading 2-1 to 1-0.

Mayfield responded with points from play by O’Neill, MJ Coffey and Dilan O’Donovan to leave the minimum between the sides.

Nemo Rangers’ Aaron Browne exchanged points with Shane O’Donovan. This was followed by further points for the Trabeg side by Browne and Matthew Keenan, before O’Neill replied for Mayfield.

Mayfield were awarded a penalty, which Dean Grainger converted on the stroke of half-time. This left the scoreline reading 2-5 to 2-4 in favour of Mayfield.

Dilan O’Donovan converted a free for Mayfield within a minute of the restart, before the Trabeg side took a grip on proceedings.

Dara O’Sullivan tagged on a point from play. This was followed by Nemo Rangers’ third goal by Keenan, as he capitalised on a defensive error by Mayfield.

Mayfield had the Trabeg side pinned back and they regained the lead as Joey Gibson and Grainger each added points from play. Gibson and Dilan O’Donovan also converted a free each to give their side a one-point lead.

Nemo's third team seized the initiative entering the final quarter as super sub Ross Corkery landed two two-pointers, before the final whistle was greeted with jubilant scenes by the Trabeg side’s supporters.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: D O’Sullivan 1-3; R Corkery 0-5 (2 2pt); M Keenan, G Barrett 1-1 each; J Lyons 0-2f; A Browne 0-2; S Nagle 0-1.

Mayfield: D O’Neill 1-2; D Grainger 1-1 (1-0 pen); D O’Donovan 0-4 (0-2f); J Gibson 0-2 (0-1f); C Moynihan, S O’Donovan 0-1 each.

NEMO: F Dietze; S O’Dwyer; I Nolan, A McGowan; C Kavanagh; J O’Brien, E Dilloughrey; D Callanan, M Keenan; B Twohig, G Barrett, P O’Dwyer; D O’Sullivan, A Browne, J Lyons.

Subs: S Nagle for P O’Dwyer (38), A O’Reilly for Kavanagh, R Corkery for Twohig (both 44), D Egan for Callanan, D Kelly for Browne (both 60+).

MAYFIELD: E Cusack; L Malone, B O’Leary, C Moynihan; D O’Neill, J Courtney, MJ Coffey; E O’Sullivan, S O’Donovan; N Kelly, J Gibson, E Scanlon; R O’Keeffe, D Grainger, D O’Donovan.

Subs: L Foley for Moynihan (h/t), D Malone for Scanlon (52), C O’Donovan for Grainger (55), C Bond for Kelly (57, inj).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).