U21 Football: Bryan Hayes and Dara O'Sullivan send 14-man Nemo past Bishopstown

Nemo Rangers 2-17 (2-3-11) Bishopstown 2-14 (2-2-10)

Nemo Rangers have qualified for the decider of the PharmaCare Seandún U21 A Football Championship, where they will meet Douglas, after they defeated Bishopstown in their semi-final at Ballinlough.

While Bishopstown played a more open game, scoring opportunities from play were at a premium for Nemo Rangers in the opening half. For most of the second half, Nemo Rangers were down to 14, as Colin Molloy was red-carded.

Nemo Rangers opened the scoring with a free by Bryan Hayes. This was followed by a two-pointer from a free by Dara O’Sullivan, which gave Nemo Rangers a three-point lead.

Bishopstown opened their account when Mark Scally capitalised on a defensive error by Nemo Rangers, to level matters with the game’s opening goal.

Gary Holland’s point from play gave Bishopstown the lead for the first time in the contest, but O’Sullivan equalized with a pointed free.

Holland and O’Sullivan exchanged points. Bishopstown added four unanswered points, which included a two-point free by Holland.

Nemo Rangers responded with three unanswered points, including two frees.

Hayes put Nemo Rangers back in the lead with a goal from a free shortly before the interval. This left Nemo Rangers leading by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.

Nemo Rangers stretched the margin to five points, courtesy of three unanswered points from play. Bishopstown responded with two points, including a free by Holland. Hayes replied with a point for Nemo Rangers.

Nemo Rangers were awarded a penalty, from which Hayes scored Nemo Rangers’ second goal in the 41st minute, to increase their lead to 2-12 to 1-8.

Bishopstown replied with three unanswered points. Holland’s effort for Bishopstown rebounded off the upright, but Neil Crowley gained possession to score Bishopstown’s second goal.

In the closing stages, Morgan Corkery got the game’s only two-pointer from play for Nemo Rangers. Bill Cahill converted a two-point free for Bishopstown.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: B Hayes 2-6 (1-2 f, 1-0 pen; 1 2pt f), D O’Sullivan 0-6 (1 2pt f; 0-2 f), M Corkery 0-2 (2pt), C Power 0-2, B Twohig 0-1.

Bishopstown: B Cahill 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-2 f), G Holland 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), N Crowley, M Scally 1-1 each, J Tompkins, O Foley 0-1 each.

NEMO RANGERS: J Lyons; N O’Shea, C Molloy, D Quinn; C Power, C O’Neill, D Coughlan; E Kelly, D Callanan; M Keenan, B Hayes, T O’Brien; C Yelland, D O’Sullivan, M Corkery.

Sub: B Twohig for Coughlan (52).

BISHOPSTOWN: S Cronin; C Vaughan, H Wixted, R Lynch; M Scaly, K Murphy, O Foley; P Casey, S Sheridan; B McCarthy, J Tompkins, C Murray; B Cahill, G Holland, N Crowley.

Sub: A Collins for McCarthy (34).

Referee: Damian Taaffe (Passage).