Castlehaven-Nemo Rangers meetings in west Cork have been entertaining

Since the change in championship system in 2020, the semi-finals of the Premier SFC have had a largely familiar look.

From 2020-2024 inclusive, Castlehaven and St Finbarr’s were ever-present in the last four, playing each other five times, the Haven edging that series 3-2. Nemo Rangers were on the other side of the in all but one campaign – the exception was 2021, when the delayed 2020 final win over the Haven was just a week before the new championship started.

Last year brought a change as the Barrs’ six-goal salvo against the Haven came at the quarter-final stage – Newcestown and Ballincollig were the other semi-finalists – and this time around there will only be a maximum of two of the ‘big three’ in the last four.

Clonakilty is the setting for a big double-header on Sunday afternoon, with the meeting of the Barrs and Carbery followed by the clash of the Haven and Nemo. The Togher outfit will be favourites to maintain their record of always making the semi-finals but one of the other two forming the triopoly of titles since 2017 will be missing out for the second time.

The Haven and Nemo were of course the county finalists in 2023 and 2024 – the west Cork side winning on each occasion – and those meetings followed on from pairings in the decider in 2013, 2015 and 2020. Perhaps surprisingly, prior to that 2013 clash, while Nemo had been in 21 finals and the Haven in seven, the twain had never met with the Andy Scannell Cup on the line.

Those present on Sunday will hope that it is as entertaining a tussle as recent clashes in west Cork.

Before that final clash of 2013, they had met in the first round in Bandon. At a time when swarm defences were making football unwatchable, this was a meeting of two attacking sides and it was fitting that it should end in a draw after extra time, Castlehaven scoring 16 points and Nemo 1-13 (the game doubled up as a Kelleher Shield clash and so for league purposes it was recorded as a 0-12 to 1-9 draw, the score at the end of 60 minutes).

The replay two and a half weeks later was dominated by one man, though. Brian Hurley was in simply unplayable form that night, scoring 2-5 and setting up another for Shane Nolan in a 4-10 to 1-12 victory, a real statement of intent.

With Damien Cahalane and Mark Collins also excellent that night, the Haven were installed as favourites to repeat their feat of 2012 and Brian Hurley again shone against Nemo in the final as they retained the title for the first time.

After being the Haven in that delayed 2020 final, Nemo couldn’t find momentum in the 2021 championship. An early exit meant they were unseeded in the draw for 2022 and so ended up in a tough section with the Haven, Clonakilty and Newcestown.

In the opening set of games, Nemo beat Newcestown while the Haven got the better of Clon, which meant the pressure was off to a degree for the heavyweight clash at Ahamilla on Saturday, August 13.

While Luke Connolly’s penalty goal put Nemo into an early lead, Damien Cahalane set up his brother Conor for a Haven green flag soon after and it set the tone for what was to come. Kevin Fulignati’s goal helped Nemo to retire with a 2-9 to 1-6 half-time advantage and the margin might have been more but for a couple of excellent Anthony Seymour saves.

The Haven were excellent on the restart though, with Brian and Michael Hurley among the points as they ate into the deficit and Mark Collins tied the match at 2-11 to 1-14 with four minutes left.

Brian Hurley put the Haven in front for the first time since early in the first half but Ronan Dalton levelled and Connolly was to have the final say with a marvellous goal to give Nemo victory. They would end the year as champions again, marking the club’s centenary in ideal fashion.

If they are to get back to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, they will have to overcome the Haven – it could be a cracker.