Robbie O'Dwyer on county final glory: Nemo had been written off

There was relief, pride and a deep sense of satisfaction in Robbie O'Dwyer's voice as he reflected on Nemo Rangers' 1-19 to 2-12 victory over St Finbarr's in Sunday's McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Trabeg club returned to the summit of Cork football for the first time since 2022 and, for O'Dwyer, the triumph was all the sweeter given the setbacks and disappointments his side had endured along the way.

Having fallen short in the last three seasons and suffered a disappointing championship loss earlier in the campaign to Newcestown, there were plenty outside the camp who doubted Nemo's credentials.

"Look, I just can't say enough about the lads," O'Dwyer said afterwards.

"In fairness to them, there were thoughts after the last final and other disappointments that maybe things wouldn't go our way, but they turned it around.

"They showed great composure when the pressure came on. I just can't admire the players enough for everything they've done and the commitment they've given.

"It's an amateur sport and the amount of work these fellas have put in to get to where we needed to get to and then get over the line today is magnificent."

The victory looked comfortable for long stretches. Playing with the breeze in the opening half, Nemo surged into an early lead and established control around the middle third, putting St Finbarr's on the back foot.

O'Dwyer revealed the message beforehand was simple: take the game to their city rivals.

"Obviously, the message was to go out and take the game to them. It worked out for us early on, but the Barrs were always going to come back into the game.

"There's always going to be a kick in them.

"The goal before half-time was huge and it put us six points up, but I always felt there was going to be another push from them in the second half."

St Finbarr's threw everything they had at Nemo after the interval and twice found the net, reducing the gap to the minimum and threatening to swing momentum completely in their favour.

"They pushed us right to the collar," O'Dwyer admitted.

"But the lads composed themselves. They dug deep, worked hard and got themselves back up the field. We got a couple of important scores and I think that was the difference.

"Even when the pressure was on, they kept their heads and saw it out.

"You do look back at what happened last year and in other seasons and you wonder, are we going to get over the line?

"If we didn't get over the line today, maybe there would have been more doubts creeping in.

"But that's finished with now. We've won the game and we're delighted."

The Nemo boss had special praise for Kieran Histon, whose disciplined display on Steven Sherlock helped limit one of Cork football's most dangerous forwards.

"He did it in last year's final and he did it again this year.

"We know Kieran and what he's capable of. We knew the job he had to do and we were confident he'd do it."

As Nemo supporters celebrated in the stands and on the pitch after the final whistle, O'Dwyer reflected on what the occasion meant to the club.

"It's huge. People had probably written us off after earlier results this year and didn't think we'd be here.

"But again, it's a testament to the players. They're a phenomenal bunch. Their hunger and drive are unbelievable.

"They never stopped believing."