Ed Ó Mír leads Naomh Abán into PIFC knockouts after overcoming Nemo

Naomh Abán: 1-19 (1-2-15) 

Nemo Rangers: 1-14 (1-2-10) 

Naomh Abán did enough to move past Nemo Rangers’ second team and qualify for the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC knockout stages after a hard-fought battle in Ballincollig on Saturday.

This final game in Group 3 was winner-takes-all and it wasn’t pretty at times, but job done for Naomh Abán as their quest to reach a third semi-final on the trot remains on. 

They will meet Rockchapel in the quarter-finals following this five-point win.

It wasn’t overly impressive, but led on by sharpshooter Ed Ó Mír, the Muskerry team were the better-balanced side. 

Their ten-point advantage in the second half was whittled down to three, but they finished well to get over the line.

Nemo goalkeeper Donagh O’Leary deserves huge credit. As well as making a couple of tidy saves, he finished as his side’s top scorer with 0-5, including two orange flags from frees.

Naomh Abán set the early tempo with two of the first three points, while Darragh Ó Laoire and Aodhán Ó Luasa had goal opportunities. Nemo did have four wides early on and were punished when Ó Laoire finished to the net after he was allowed run and run 14 minutes in.

He followed it up with a tidy point, with Dónal Ó Ceallaigh involved in pretty much every Naomh Abán move. 

A splendid two-point free from goalkeeper O’Leary left Nemo 1-3 to 0-3 behind.

The sides traded points before O’Leary converted a super free for the Trabeg-based outfit. Ó Mír, though, tacked on two unanswered points as his side led 1-6 to 0-5 approaching the short whistle.

Nemo did get the last score of a half low on quality and excitement as Conor O’Donovan bisected the posts, leaving it 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time.

Naomh Abán came out for the second half with an improved collective performance as Ó Mír landed a two-pointer and a white flag, while Seán Ó Riordáin kicked over an effort to make it 1-10 to 0-6 after 33 minutes.

Ó Mír came into his zone in this half as he raised his second orange flag, with the Muskerry team now in firm control. 

Conor Yellend landed a much needed-point for Nemo, but the direction of travel was going one way.

Naomh Abán tacked on two points on the trot to lead 1-14 to 0-7 after 39 minutes.

The introduction of Paul Kerrigan gave Nemo a lift as they hit three points without response, Dave Coughlan’s effort the pick of them.

Naomh Abán looked to have steadied the ship with two of the next three white flags as they led 1-16 to 0-11 after 52 minutes. But their opposition goaled seven minutes from time when Yellend finished low into the net.

Aodhán Ó Luasa put six points between the teams, but a Kerrigan effort and another two-point free from netminder O’Leary left just a goal in it approaching added time. Jack Coogan also rattled the post during that Nemo scoring spree.

Naomh Abán were hanging on, but they had the answers as Dónal Ó Ceallaigh and Ó Mír gave their team a five-point victory.

Scorers for Naomh Abán: E Ó Mír 0-9 (2 2pt, 0-1 f), D Ó Laoire 1-2, Dónal Ó Ceallaigh 0-3, S Ó Ríordáin, C Ó Donnchú, A Ó Luasa, P Ó Liatháin, Dermot Ó Ceallaigh 0-1 each.

Nemo Rangers: D O’Leary 0-5 (2 2pt f, 0-1 f), C Yellend 1-1, C O’Donovan 0-3, E Nation, D Coughlan, O Whyte, J Coogan (f), P Kerrigan 0-1 each.

NAOMH ABÁN: G Ó Luasa; S Tinsley, C de Róiste, É Ó Críodáin; S Ó Loingsigh, D Ó Loingsigh, S Hendy; S Ó Riordáin, C Ó Donnchú; A Ó Luasa, E Ó Mír, P Ó Liatháin; Dónal Ó Ceallaigh, D Ó Laoire, Dermot Ó Ceallaigh.

Subs: W MacCárthaigh for P Ó Liatháin (49), C Ó Luasa for S Hendy (51), C Ó Críodáin for Dermot Ó Ceallaigh (57).

NEMO RANGERS: D O’Leary; D Quinn, C Coughlan, A Cronin; C O’Neill, E Nation, D Coughlan; E Kelly, D Calnan; O Whyte, M Keenan, C Yellend; J Coogan, C O’Donovan, J O’Brien.

Subs: P Kerrigan for J O’Brien, C Kiely for E Kelly (both 39).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).