Nemo Rangers (Cork) 1-13
Stradbally (Waterford) 0-5
Tomás McCarthy at Fraher Field
JAMES MASTERS GAVE an exhibition of score taking under the Fraher Field floodlights to lead Nemo Rangers past a spirited Stradbally and into the Munster semis.
In front of 716 spectators, the former Cork forward knocked over three from play in the first half hour and his punched goal on 31 minutes ended the tie as a contest. The experienced attacker rolled back the years to claim 1-5 from his 49 minutes on the field.
Stradbally made three changes from the side that defeated Ballinacourty in the Waterford SFC final on Friday night. Oliver Costelloe, John Coffey and Paddy Kiely all earned places in Pat Curran’s fifteen. James Masters started instead of the injured Barry O’Driscoll for Nemo.
The Cork champions started with intent. Conor Horgan and Paul Kerrigan raised two white flags in as many minutes. The Nemo inside line had Stradbally in trouble and James Masters delivered two eye catching points to increase their lead to four. He then capitalised on a breaking ball to register an easy third as Stephen O’Brien’s side led 0-6 to 0-1.
On 17 minutes, Stradbally missed a glaring goal chance as Michael Sweeney slipped his shot wide. The Reds dominated the second quarter. Robert Ahearne grabbed their first score for 16 minutes before a fantastic right footed effort by John Hearne. This left the hosts 0-6 to 0-3 adrift at the break.
Any slight sniff of an upset from the 5/1 underdogs was ended 70 seconds in the second half. Nemo won a turnover ball deep in their own half and Paul Kerrigan exploited the space at the other end as he raced through on goal. He played the ball across for Masters to palm home.
O’Brien’s charges enjoyed a feast in the third quarter as Stradbally ran out of petrol. They dispatched five points in a row. The Nemo danger man chipped over two super frees off the floor before leaving the field.
Stradbally number two Kevin Lawlor received a straight red on 45 minutes for an off the ball incident. Michael Sweeney and Stephen Keane kicked consolation points as both sides emptied the benches. William Morgan and Dylan Mehigan put the finishing touches to Nemo’s eleven point win.
Scorers for Nemo Rangers: James Masters 1-5 (2fs), Conor Horgan, Paul Kerrigan (1f) 0-2 each, Colin O’Brien, Alan O’Donovan, Dylan Mehigan, William Morgan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Stradbally: Robert Ahearne, Tony Grey, John Hearne, Michael Sweeney, Stephen Keane 0-1 each.
Nemo Rangers
1. Michael A Martin
2. Aidan O’Reilly
3. Ciaran O’Shea
4. Alan Cronin
5. Kevin Fulignati
6. Tomás O Sé
7. Alan O’Donovan
8. David Niblock
9. Michael Dorgan
10. Dylan Mehigan
12. Paul Kerrigan
15. Colin O’Brien
13. Ciaran Dalton
17. James Masters
14. Conor Horgan
Subs: William Morgan for Masters (49), Peter Morgan for Niblock (53), Jack Horgan for Dalton (53), David O’Donovan for Fulignati (56), Shane Martin for O Sé (56).
Stradbally
16. Oliver Costelloe
2. Kevin Lawlor
3. Kevin Coffey
7. Luke Casey
6. Shane Lannon
8. Tony Grey
5. Tommy Connors
14. Shane Ahearne
19. Paddy Kiely
10. John Hearne
18. John Coffey
4. Jack Mullaney
13. Robert Ahearne
9. Michael Walsh
11. Michael Sweeney
Subs: Eoin O’Brien for J Coffey (22), David Grey for Kiely (43), Ciaran Cusack for Casey (43), Stephen Keane for Hearne (48), Trevor Curran for Mullaney (53), Cathal Cusack for K Coffey (56)
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)