'All you want to do is win it' - Stephen Cronin eyes end to Nemo's final heartache

Nemo Rangers captain Stephen Cronin believes the club's enduring culture and resilience have once again driven them back to the biggest stage of all.

The Trabeg-based outfit will contest their fifth consecutive Premier SFC final on Sunday when they face holders St Finbarr's at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (4pm), determined to reclaim the Andy Scannell Cup for the first time since 2022.

Having lost finals to Castlehaven in 2023 and 2024 and to the Barrs last year, Nemo have become familiar with the pain that follows falling just short.

For Cronin, that ability to bounce back stems from a club culture that has been passed down through generations.

"I think it's probably based on the fact of people giving back," he said.

"Going back to the coaches that coached us from underage right through, there are so many fellas who have been there and done it before.

"Every player nearly rolls back in at underage and there is such an emphasis on everybody playing and everybody getting games. That probably shows up then as you get older.

"The lads just keep coming back and keep coming back."

Nemo's latest final appearance has come despite a campaign that contained its share of setbacks. They survived a difficult Division 1 league programme and also suffered an early championship loss to Newcestown, leaving their title ambitions hanging in the balance.

Since then, however, they have gathered momentum. 

Cronin believes the competitive nature of club football means margins are finer than ever.

"There's nothing between teams," he says.

"You look at this year and everybody has already lost. On your day, if you're off it at all, then you can be beaten by anybody.

"The new rules have probably highlighted that even more."

A long-time defender and former sweeper, Cronin has been among the strongest advocates of the new football enhancements.

"They're brilliant," he states. 

"I'd love to have seen them ten years ago.

"The championships have been brilliant to watch. Everybody wants to watch games now.

"My favourite rule is probably the two-pointer. It adds another dimension to the game and gives the really good kickers an opportunity to show their quality."

Nemo's strength in depth has also been a major factor in their return to the final. Several younger players have emerged during the league campaign while experienced operators continue to make valuable contributions.

The impact of substitutes in recent championship games has highlighted the depth available to the management team.

"You've lads making impacts coming off the bench and pushing hard for places," Cronin said.

"The league probably helped with that. We found a few fellas during the year who are now well able to put their hands up for a place.

"We feel we've got good depth and that's important because everybody deals with injuries and absences through the season."

While much attention has centred on Nemo's recent final disappointments, Cronin insists there has been little discussion within the camp about previous defeats.

Instead, the focus has remained firmly on the present.

"You can look at it two ways," he says.

"You've lost the last three finals but you've also been competitive enough to make those finals.

"It's not something we really focus on.

"At the start of the year you probably think about wanting to win it, but once championship starts it becomes about the next game and the next game after that."

Last year's final remains fresh in the memory. A draw looked likely before a dramatic late St Finbarr's winner denied Nemo.

Cronin expects Sunday to be just as tight.

"There was very little between the teams last year.

"Two teams that want to play football. The Barrs have good attackers, good defenders and lots of quality throughout.

"It probably shows the way championship football is now. Every game is close and every team feels they're only a score away from winning."