Nemo Rangers back on track as Ross Corkery lands key scores against St Micheal's

Nemo Rangers 1-21 (1-1-19) St Michael’s 2-10 (2-2-6) 

Nemo Rangers are back in the mix following victory over St Michael’s in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier SFC in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

It was a comfortable eight points in the end (although referee James Bermingham recorded 2-11 for St Michael’s) with inside forward Ross Corkery scoring nine for Robbie O’Dwyer’s side.

Both teams came with an injury list, which meant key personnel were missing, including Cork senior footballer Mark Cronin and Conor Horgan for 2025 finalists Nemo Rangers.

Both teams also knew they needed to get points on the board having lost their opening games, so there was no room for further error, especially with Group 2 blown open after Valley Rovers’ win over Newcestown.

Nemo Rangers led 1-12 to 1-5 at the break, and that increased to eleven points, before James Ryan blasted a St Michael’s goal seven minutes from time after a high fetch by Rory Shaughnessy.

It gave the scoreboard a much healthier look.

Corkery started out as he meant to go on, he notched the first three points with two from play. When Luke Horgan batted the ball to the net in the sixth minute after Mikey O’Connell saved from Bryan Hayes, it was 1-3 to nil. Stephen Cronin and Kevin O’Donovan were involved as well, O’Donovan was excellent throughout, landing four points from wing-back.

It was the seventh minute when St Michael’s registered their first score through Rory Kavanagh.

A Luke Herlihy free left it 1-3 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.

Nemo powered on again six points to one they outscored St Michael’s.

Crucially a two-pointer from Adam Hennessey was a much-needed score for St Michael’s and when Hennessey fired to the net a couple of minutes before the break, they trailed 1-12 to 1-5.

The wind favoured Nemo Rangers in the second half and they lorded possession, scores aplenty including a two-pointer from Corkery. Bríain Murphy’s point in the 39th minute extended the lead to 12.

To give St Michael’s credit, they tried their best to get a foothold, and 1-3 kept them ticking over - Ryan’s goal making it a seven-point game, 1-19 to 2-8.

Nemo Rangers took over again, although St Michael’s did finish with a two-point free from Luke O’Herlihy.

But they have it all to do to stay in contention.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: R Corkery 0-9 (0-3 f, 1 2pt), L Horgan 1-1, K O’Donovan 0-4, B Hayes 0-3, A O’Donovan, B Murphy, R Dalton, C Moore 0-1 each.

St Michael’s: A Hennessey 1-2 (1 2pt), L O’Herlihy 0-5 (0-2 f, 1 2pt f), J Ryan 1-0, R Kavanagh 0-2, F Leahy 0-1.

NEMO RANGERS: M Aodh Martin; N O’Shea, M Hill, K Histon; K O’Donovan, S Cronin (c), K Fulignati, A O’Donovan, B Murphy; L Horgan, B Cripps, C Shalloe; R Corkery, R Dalton, B Hayes.

Subs: C Moore for K Histon (temp 29-30), C Moore for K Fulignati, C Molloy for C Shalloe (both 40), T O’Brien for B Hayes (53 inj).

ST MICHAEL’S: M O’Connell; R Ahern, J Golden, S Keating (c); R Kavanagh, F Leahy, L Carroll; E Hickey, A Murphy; E Sheehan, R O’Shaughnessy, J Ryan; L O’Herlihy, A Hennessey, S Murphy.

Subs: L de Búrca for E Hickey (18 inj), K Hegarty for S Murphy (45).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).