Nemo Rangers held to a draw by Bishopstown in the opening round of the Seandún Junior A Football Championship

Bishopstown 2-10 (2-0-10)

Nemo Rangers 2-10 (2-1-8)

Defending champions Nemo Rangers were held to a draw by Bishopstown in the opening round of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship, before a good-sized attendance, at Ballinlough on Monday night.

Indiscipline was to prove costly for Nemo Rangers in the opening half as they gifted Bishopstown a 50-metre advantage from three frees. 

With the elements in their favour in the second half, the Trabeg side rallied to rescue the game, as they restricted Bishopstown to four points after the break.

Aaron Browne opened the scoring within two minutes of the throw-in with a pointed free for Nemo Rangers. 

This was cancelled out when Liam O’Driscoll converted a free for Bishopstown.

Wayward kick-outs were to be the Trabeg side’s undoing as Alan Power won possession from a Nemo Rangers kick-out, to set up Bill McCarthy for the game’s opening goal.

Bill Twohig responded with a point for the Trabeg side, but Bishopstown seized the initiative, as they had Nemo Rangers on the back foot.

Michael Power set up McCarthy for his second goal to increase Bishopstown’s lead to 2-1 to 0-2.

Bishopstown followed this up with a point from play by Michael Power. This was followed by a pointed free by Rob Clinton.

The Trabeg side responded with Browne’s second pointed free. 

In the 21st minute, Sean Nagle set up Twohig for Nemo Rangers’ opening goal, which left three points between the sides.

Bishopstown replied with unanswered points by Alan Power and Michael Power. O’Driscoll also chipped in with his second pointed free.

This left the half-time scoreline reading 2-6 to 1-3 in favour of Bishopstown.

Within a minute of the restart, Michael Power increased Bishopstown’s led to seven points with a point from play.

Twohig and Browne exchanged points with Bishopstown’s Dara Costelloe and Clinton.

The tide turned in favour of the Trabeg side as Jack Coogan landed the game’s only two-pointer from a free.

Nemo Rangers continued to have Bishopstown pinned back as Twohig added his third point from play.

Midway through the second half, Twohig set up Browne for the Trabeg side’s second goal, which left Nemo Rangers trailing by a single point.

Costelloe got Bishopstown’s only score of the final quarter, which gave Bishopstown a lead of two points.

The Trabeg side drew level, courtesy of two points by Coogan in the 49th and 53rd minutes.

Both sides sought a winner, but wayward shooting from placed balls was to prove costly for Bishopstown. 

Nemo Rangers also had their moments, but had several shots from play off target and they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Scorers for Bishopstown: B McCarthy 2-0; M Power 0-3; L O’Driscoll 0-2f; R Clinton 0-2 (0-1f); D Costelloe 0-2; A Power 0-1.

Nemo Rangers: A Browne 1-3 (0-2f); B Twohig 1-3; J Coogan 0-4 (1 2pt f).

Bishopstown: S Cronin; C Philpott, C Vaughan, I Barrett; J O’Mahony, E Byrne, J Scally; S Ó Deasúnaigh, S Foley; R Clinton, M Power, A Power; B McCarthy, L O’Driscoll, E Deasy.

Subs: D Costelloe for Deasy (h/t), D O’Rourke for Barrett (46), C Bohan for A Power (55).

Nemo Rangers: C Martin; S Mulcahy, D Egan, A McGowan; C Kavanagh, E Dilloughrey, D Mellerick; I Nolan, J O’Keeffe; P O’Dwyer, R Hogan, B Twohig; A Browne, J Coogan, S Nagle.

Subs: G Barrett for Mulcahy (46), R Kennedy for Hogan (52).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).