Brian Hurley scored four points for Castlehaven. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Cork SFC Final
Castlehaven 0-16 Nemo Rangers 0-11
By Stephen Barry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Castlehaven have made it back-to-back Cork PSFC titles with a second consecutive final victory over record champions Nemo Rangers.
The Hurley brothers, Michael and Brian, accounted for four points each while man of the match Jack Cahalane landed 0-3.
Captain Mark Collins matched Haven manager Seanie Cahalane’s feat of lifting the Andy Scannell Cup in back-to-back years.
They can now look forward to their Munster title defence, beginning with a titanic tussle away to Kerry champions Dr Crokes.
Nemo have only been beaten in six finals in their history, but the last three of those defeats have now come against the Haven.
There was little to separate them in a first half where the teams were level six times and ended with Nemo 0-8 to 0-7 ahead having played with the wind.
Two of the Haven’s opening three points came from Michael Hurley cutting in off the left sideline to curl over.
Cork senior Mark Cronin had a lively start for Nemo, kicking their first score and assisting the next three for Bryan Hayes and Ronan Dalton (0-2).
Seán Browne and Jack Cahalane’s second edged the Haven back ahead, but Hayes levelled again.
Brian Hurley, scorer of 0-11 in the semi-final, was well marshalled by Nemo full-back Bríain Murphy in the first half but he did get off the mark with a free. Disciplined defending meant it was the only scoreable free conceded in the half.
Hurley later produced a rob in his own half which led to a closing point for his brother Michael.
In between, Nemo got a grip on the Haven kick-out and reeled off points from Paul Kerrigan, Dalton, and Conor Horgan to lead by one into the break.
Damien Cahalane had been passed fit to start for the Haven, while his brother Conor was named on the bench. That duo traded places in a half-time switch.
Haven restarted brighter, holding onto the ball for three minutes before Brian Hurley opened his account from play. He tagged on a free before younger sibling Michael sent a towering kick between the posts to make it 0-10 to 0-8.
Kevin Fulignati and Conor Cahalane traded points before Kerrigan and Cronin slotted their first placed-ball opportunities to narrow the gap to one with 13 minutes remaining.
But Castlehaven were not easily deterred while Nemo wouldn’t score again.
Brian Hurley pointed a long-range free and then laid on another for substitute Conor O’Driscoll.
They padded it out to four points with a 60th-minute counter-attack. Jack Cahalane went for goal at first, saved by Micheál Aodh Martin, but the ball was deflected back into his path and he settled for a point.
Nemo were desperate for a goal but Darragh Cahalane tipped away an acute Conor Horgan attempt before the same player volleyed wide from a ball floated into the square.
Micheál Maguire became the third substitute to register with a point as the Haven bench lined up to begin the celebrations.
Scorers for Castlehaven: Brian Hurley (3fs), Michael Hurley 0-4 each; Jack Cahalane 0-3; Rory Maguire, Seán Browne, Conor Cahalane, Micheál Maguire, Conor O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Ronan Dalton 0-3; Mark Cronin (1f), Paul Kerrigan (1f), Bryan Hayes 0-2 each; Kevin Fulignati, Conor Horgan 0-1 each.
Castlehaven: Darragh Cahalane; Johnny O’Regan, Damien Cahalane, Thomas O’Mahony; Rory Maguire, Jack O’Neill, Mark Collins; Andrew Whelton, Robbie Minihane; Jamie O’Driscoll, Cathal Maguire, Jack Cahalane; Seán Browne, Brian Hurley, Michael Hurley.
Subs: Conor Cahalane for Damien Cahalane (h-t), Conor O’Driscoll for Minihane (46), Micheál Maguire for Browne (52), Jamie Walsh for O’Neill (60+1), Roland Whelton for M Hurley (60+3).
Nemo Rangers: Micheál Aodh Martin; Kevin O’Donovan, Bríain Murphy, Stephen Cronin; Colin Molloy, Eoin Nation, Kevin Fulignati; Alan O’Donovan, Barry Cripps; Conor Horgan, Paul Kerrigan, Jack Horgan; Mark Cronin, Ronan Dalton, Bryan Hayes.
Subs: R Corkery for Hayes (45), L Horgan for J Horgan (45), Ciarán McCartan for K O’Donovan (54), Alan Cronin for Murphy (60+2).
Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).
