Division 1 FL: St Finbarr's finish well as they sneak past Nemo Rangers

Nemo Rangers: 0-9 (0-1-7) 

St Finbarr’s: 0-10 (0-1-8) 

St Finbarr’s once more edged out rivals Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at Trabeg on Wednesday evening.

In a repeat of last year’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC final, which the Barrs won by a point, Brian Roche’s side won by the same margin here as they move on to five points after three outings.

Nemo Rangers remain on two points after suffering a second loss on the trot. Not for the first time they will have regrets after playing their old rivals. The Trabeg-based team had enough chances late on to get at least something out of the game.

St Finbarr’s though rallied in what was another comeback victory following on from their last match against Éire Óg. The reigning league winners kicked the last two points in this one to claim the win.

Conditions were difficult for both sides with a tricky wind and occasional showers.

In front of a sizeable crowd, St Finbarr’s hit their straps early with points from Cillian Myers-Murray and John Wigginton-Barrett.

It was a slow burner though with turnovers on both sides and wayward shooting.

Jack O’Brien kicked Nemo Rangers’ first score after 11 minutes before the teams traded points.

A pair of Ross Corkery efforts put the home side into the lead for the first time and it was deserved.

Robbie O’Dwyer’s charges were in control despite a slow start with Eoin Nation and Eoin Kelly effective around the middle.

Enda Dennehy drew St Finbarr’s level at 0-4 each after 21 minutes before a Ronan Dalton two-pointer gave Nemo Rangers a 0-6 to 0-4 half-time advantage.

It was wiped out within three minutes of the new half. Conor Dennehy and Myers-Murray white flags levelled up proceedings.

Corkery nudged Nemo Rangers ahead until two-point king Myers-Murray raised an orange flag for St Finbarr’s as they led 0-8 to 0-7 after 41 minutes.

It was a disjointed second 30 minutes with plenty of stoppages.

Sub Dara O’Sullivan drew Nemo Rangers level with six minutes remaining.

The same player pointed but in keeping with the close nature of the battle, Myers-Murray converted a free with the teams level at 0-9 each going into added time.

A draw was probably a fair result in truth, but the lively Bill O’Connell stepped up and bisected the posts as the Barrs eke out another win against their southside rivals.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: R Corkery 0-3, R Dalton (1 2pt), D O’Sullivan 0-2 each, S Cronin, J O’Brien 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: C Myers-Murray 0-6 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), J Wigginton-Barrett, C Dennehy, B O’Connell, E Dennehy 0-1 each.

NEMO RANGERS: F Dietze; C Moore, M Hill, N O’Shea; E Nation, S Cronin, T O’Brien; E Kelly, J O’Brien; O Whyte, R Dalton, L Horgan; R Corkery, C Horgan, S Burke.

Subs: D O’Sullivan for S Burke (h-t), A O’Donovan for O Whyte (41), B O’Neill for J O’Brien (43, inj).

ST FINBARR’S: C Haynes; D Quinn, J Burns, T Howe; B Hennessy, A O’Connor, C Dennehy; I O’Callaghan, C Crowley; B O’Connell, E Dennehy, A Lyne; C O’Sullivan, J Wigginton-Barrett, C Myers-Murray.

Subs: C Doolan for C Crowley (41), S Kirby for I O’Callaghan (49, inj), J Kennefick for C Dennehy (57, inj).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).